My 4WD won't engage

jdc580 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-09-2002, 01:40 PM

I cannot get my 4WD to engage properly. I push the 2/4Hi button, and it sounds like it is engaging, but the indicator light on the dash and the button just flashes. And it will not go into 4LO either. Any suggestions before it goes to the dealer?

Thanks all,

Blender · #2 (**permalink**) 06-09-2002, 09:02 PM

my truck did this to me once, but i couldn't get out of 4wd. Have you tried driving forward and backwards (slowly) while the light is flashing? That's how i got out of 4wd and fortunatly havn't had any problems since. If you've already done that, take it to the dealer

jdc580 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-10-2002, 02:19 PM

yeah, I have followed the directions in the manual to a T, no luck.

It goes to the dealer on Friday.

Thanks.

Tundra4x4 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-10-2002, 06:23 PM

I had the exact same problem. I tried it several times with no luck. So then I decided to flip it on and then back up about 15ft and it worked. Haven't had a problem since.

Philip

red's tundra · #5 (**permalink**) 06-10-2002, 06:43 PM

Others have had this problem and it turns out the actuator (sp?) was bad. OakTRD's truck wouldn't go into 4lo...and the actuator (sp?) was the problem. THere were a few others that had this problem in the past...haven't heard to much about it lately. Your dealer should still take care of it.

DevinSixtySeven · #6 (**permalink**) 06-10-2002, 06:45 PM

2K Tundras have an incorrectly sized pin in the 4wd actuator and the transfer case. Yours may have fouled...this happened on mine, and they replaced the actuator as well as the front differential. It is a TSB but I don't remember the number.

-Sean

fyr145 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-10-2002, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdc580
I cannot get my 4WD to engage properly. I push the 2/4Hi button, and it sounds like it is engaging, but the indicator light on the dash and the button just flashes. And it will not go into 4LO either. Any suggestions before it goes to the dealer?

Thanks all,

A quick reminder;

Tundras have FULL TIME HUBS. this means that you must drive a few feet in either direction to FULLY engage them. Simply pushing the button doesnt engage the syetem completely. The transfer case may be in 4WD, but the hubs are not. Thats why the indicator flashes at you.

The old part time hubs required you to actually get out and go lock them down by turning the hub mechanism from the "FREE" position to the "LOCK" position.

Now, you can do it without getting out. BUT you cannot wait till you get stuck and THEN try to engage them, it wont work.

BEFORE you get into something that might cause you to get stuck....lock the hubs PRIOR to going in.

Hope this helps......

nhparrot · #8 (**permalink**) 06-26-2002, 06:27 AM

I have not been able to locate any TSB regarding the Actuator.

Dave Smith · #9 (**permalink**) 06-26-2002, 03:03 PM

>>>Tundras have FULL TIME HUBS. this means that you must drive a few feet in either direction to FULLY engage them. <<<

I'm not sure I understand this. Wouldn't a full-time hub imply it's engaged all the time? My '88 Trooper has auto-locking hubs which require you to stop to let them enagage & back up 10' to disengage.

-DS

jdc580 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-26-2002, 05:24 PM

The day I was dropping it off at the dealer, I tried it just for kicks. Thinking how funny it would be if it worked, well.............It worked. Not sure why. I'm guessing it was just stuck all this time??????????????

You make the call.

-John

fyr145 · #11 (**permalink**) 06-26-2002, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave Smith
>>>Tundras have FULL TIME HUBS. this means that you must drive a few feet in either direction to FULLY engage them. <<<

I'm not sure I understand this. Wouldn't a full-time hub imply it's engaged all the time? My '88 Trooper has auto-locking hubs which require you to stop to let them enagage & back up 10' to disengage.

-DS

Dave,

Lets try this again, The full time hubs become engaged when you push the button (the light blinks meaning its begginning its sequence to engage the 4wd), but you have to move forward or backward a few feet to get the gears to sync up (the light stays on meaning you are in 4wd now). Its just like you described in your next comment, they work basically the same way. When I enagage mine, I put the main transmission in neutral first then hit the button and go back into drive. Works all the time for me. I used to not do this and all it would do is sit there and blink at me.

jj123 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-11-2002, 10:51 PM

I have a Tundra 4X4 that I got stuck on friday night in all the rain we had in southern AZ ..... I was in the mountains and went to put my Tundra into 4 high....all I got was a blinking green light and it was too late to go back...had plenty of room to move fwd and back but , try as I might I could not get it to ingage....ended up walking out....went back and pulled it out with my brother in laws Chevy lol. had mud on my face!
Anyway I have not brought it to the dealer yet....does anyone have any ideas on this....kind of makes me leary to go out again even if its fixed....I go out quite often going to all the old mines...
I have a 2001 Tundra long bed standard cab, it is not a TRD
After reading all of the crap here it sounds like Toyota has a problem!

jdc580 · #13 (**permalink**) 09-12-2002, 01:20 PM

Uh, make sure that the shafts are lubed properly. That is why I had problems, they shafts had not been lubed and maintained by the previous owner. As soo as I lubed the shafts properly and drove for about 5 or 10 miles with it engaged off and on, the system became flawless. Just remember that proper maintenance is very important.

-John