YotaTech Forums - View Single Post - Help: Do I need to Replace Rear Actuator on 99 4runner Ltd

EZs4runr · 11-24-2007, 10:38 PM

Help… I was quoted $1700 to Replace Rear Actuator on 99 4runner Ltd at local Toyota dealer…. I nearly had Cardiac Arrest!

Well… I can say I found some very helpful info on this site! I have a 99 4Runner Limited. First good snow of the year here in Denver and my wife clicked on the AWD on the 4WD shifter Lever to help with her 1 mile commute to work on the ice. When she got in the 4runr to come back home… streets were dry… she turned off the AWD.
She told me it was still blinking and driving funny. I drove it and could tell the front axl was still locked in 4WD. I checked the things mentioned here, 4wd fuse, Vacuum lines under hood, front actuator… they all seem to be working good . I disconnected vacuum lines on front actuator and applied vacuum to passenger side of actuator, and the front would unlock. As soon as I reconnected the vacuum lines and started the vehicle, front axel would re-lock. So Im sure the front actuator is working. This following link posted by “MLT 4runner” mentioned testing the Solenoid under the dash but it did not show the connector image so I didn’t know how to test it, and I did not test the rear actuator: http://toyota.off-road.com/toyota/ar....jsp?id=399612

I decided to head to the local Toyota dealership this morning and their diagnostics said it was the rear actuator that has failed and the part was $950, misc gaskets $50 and Labor to drop the transfer-case and replace the actuator was 6 hours at $105 an hour. All told with tax it would be $1700. I paid their $115 Diagnostic fee and came back home to check here.

Two things: I’m not convinced it’s the rear actuator, And I cant believe Toyota would design this in a way to require the transfer case be removed to replace this actuator.

Any advice?

Thanks in Advance!!

11-24-2007, 10:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
EZs4runr Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8	Help: 4WD Blinking and Won't Turn Off, Rear Xfer Case Actuator not working Help… I was quoted $1700 to Replace Rear Actuator on 99 4runner Ltd at local Toyota dealer…. I nearly had Cardiac Arrest! Well… I can say I found some very helpful info on this site! I have a 99 4Runner Limited. First good snow of the year here in Denver and my wife clicked on the AWD on the 4WD shifter Lever to help with her 1 mile commute to work on the ice. When she got in the 4runr to come back home… streets were dry… she turned off the AWD. She told me it was still blinking and driving funny. I drove it and could tell the front axl was still locked in 4WD. I checked the things mentioned here, 4wd fuse, Vacuum lines under hood, front actuator… they all seem to be working good . I disconnected vacuum lines on front actuator and applied vacuum to passenger side of actuator, and the front would unlock. As soon as I reconnected the vacuum lines and started the vehicle, front axel would re-lock. So Im sure the front actuator is working. This following link posted by “MLT 4runner” mentioned testing the Solenoid under the dash but it did not show the connector image so I didn’t know how to test it, and I did not test the rear actuator: http://toyota.off-road.com/toyota/ar....jsp?id=399612 I decided to head to the local Toyota dealership this morning and their diagnostics said it was the rear actuator that has failed and the part was $950, misc gaskets $50 and Labor to drop the transfer-case and replace the actuator was 6 hours at $105 an hour. All told with tax it would be $1700. I paid their $115 Diagnostic fee and came back home to check here. Two things: I’m not convinced it’s the rear actuator, And I cant believe Toyota would design this in a way to require the transfer case be removed to replace this actuator. Any advice? Thanks in Advance!! Last edited by EZs4runr; 11-25-2007 at 07:50 PM. Reason: Wanted to help someone else save $$ by listing better title