jestersc1

Was out wheeling yesterday at Hollister Hills, and it wouldn't shift back to 2WD. The 4WD light is still on. It's an automatic v6 3.0L. I tried reversing to unlock the hubs, but the light's still on. Checked the front driveshaft and it still spins when driving so it for sure is in 4WD. Drove home with it (1h40m drive), no issues, just used up a lot of gas. I've looked at some of the threads here, and have been using these diagrams and links:



and: http://www.off-road.com/trucks-4x4/t...tem-19259.html

I'm not too mechanically inclined and had trouble locating the vacuum supply hoses. Last ditch effort is to try and manually unlock 4WD if possible, but need help figuring that out.

Thanks!

thook

Honestly, that's something hard to diagnose over the internet.....particularly if you're not mechanically inclined. I mean, it's not impossible. It's just that there's a number of parts and anyone one of them could be the problem causing it to not shift back into 2wd. Many times it's just a break in one of the vacuum lines. If you wanna start there, you don't have to be mechanically inclined to see if one's become disconnected or damaged. Start following the both of them from the actuator on the front axle up passed the passenger's side of the engine to the two solenoids on the fender well. Then follow them from the fender well and so on.

Probably you could get away with manually shifting back into 2wd by applying vaccum somehow to the actuator itself. That would be the only way, really, if you can figure a way to do it. A hand held brake pump comes to mind.

jestersc1

Alright thanks i'll try that tomorrow. Tried driving it around and shifting from 2H-4H and rocking it back from drive to reverse and what not and still no luck.

justin_4runner

ok on the transfer case there is a connection there that tells it if u are in 4wd or not, u could pull that connector and see if it drops out of 4wd. if not then i would tap on the actuator with a hammer and with it running in 2wd to see if it is just stuck. if still nothing and u have looked at the vacuum lines then down under the dash by the brake pedal is a relay that controls the power to the tst on the fire wall in the engine bay, u could see if that relay has gone bad and into 4wd mode. hope u can figure it out...

jestersc1

Alright thanks, I'll do all that tomorrow and get back to you guys, thanks for all the help!

justin: for the actuator, are you talking about the "transfer indicator switch"? Sorry I just bought the 4runner 3 days ago, not too familiar with it so I'm going off manuals to try and find all these parts you guys are talking about:

http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1990-1995...r/componen.pdf

thook

The indicator switch is on the transfer case. The actuator is on the front of your front axle.........to the right of the differential. It has two vacuum lines going to it:
http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...le/24disas.pdf

If you're considering tackling this yourself, here's the guide for troubleshooting:
http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...26addcontr.pdf

BTW, rocking back and forth between drive and reverse isn't going to do anything to help shift the vehicle into 2wd. You don't have auto locking hubs. As well, the 4wd/ADD system is triggered by the transfer case shifter....not the tranny shifter.

Northern Sun

underneath on driver side there is a rod attached to shifting mechanism, disconnect that and try to manually shift to 2wd, 4h, 4l (not with shifter inside the cabin)if u can do that, then u should be trying next to shift to 4L; if u can shift no problem within range of 2wd, 4h and 4l skip next step; if u are stuck or cannot shift the shifter to either 4H and especially to 4L read this link, good luck

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...hanism-246454/

jestersc1

Alright I think I found the culprit.... is this what you were talking about Northern Sun:

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I shifted that around, and the 4WD light came off. I can't shift back into 4WD with the lever inside the cabin, but I'm guessing that ball joint on the left has to be inside that. After moving the rod in and out I can manually shift it back into 4WD and 2WD. THanks for all the help guys, just gotta find a way to put that joint back in!

justin_4runner

no that is the lever that controls the transfer case into 4wd and 2wd. so i guess its a good thing u didnt put it in 4lo or u would of really been a long slow drive home from playing, not sure where u live but u can find that set up in a junk yard. i know i have one also sitting in my garage from pulling mine out.

jestersc1

Yeah haha thanks man. I popped it back in and everything's working great now! I live in Northern CA btw, spend most of my time in Southern CA (San Diego) for school.

justin_4runner

i grew up in that area, i now live in Washington now, and love it with some good off-road parks to go and play at.

thook

Not mechanically inclined? Ha! Half of mechanics is finding the problem.

Congrats on the discovery, dude. You must've smacked something pretty good to get that to pop out.