My 01 4Runner started acting up the other day.

I was in 4wd and going about 70kmh. As I sped up to about 80kmh, a grinding/clicking noise started coming from the transfer case/front end area.

I turned off the 4wd and the noise went away.

I tried again to engage the 4wd and had the same result at a lower speed.

I called the dealer and they suggested getting the truck warmed up somewhere if possible. He said that the solenoid was most likely not able to engage possibly because of moisture/freezing. It has been around -20 to -30 C the last week.

I put the truck in the unheated garage and ran a propane heater in the garage till the temp was about +3 C.

I took the now toasty truck out for a test drive and the same thing happened and I was only going about 5 kmh.

I also noticed that one of my front tires was a little low. It was down to 20 psi so I filled it up and checked the others and they were fine. This made no difference because the noise is still there when I try to engage 4wd.

Before I take it into the dealer, can anyone shed some light or give some advice as to what I may be experiencing or be able to repair on my own?

Thanks,

Henry

 

My first guess would be front U-joints or CV-joints.

 

It sounds like something is trying to engage, but cannot. It is only happenning when I try to engage 4wd. Not sure if that rules out the U or CV Joints.

 

We narrowed the noise down to the transfer case.

It seems to want to engage but will only make that clatter/grinding noise of it trying to engage.

I've looked at a parts blowup of the transfer case and can't figure out what I may be able to do before I have to take it into the dealer for their diagnosis.

I think it's the actuator but never having one apart, I have no idea what I may be able to do to fix it.

Anyone have any insight?

Henry

 

Took it into the dealer and they figure something has failed in the transfer case to the point that it would be better to replace it than try to repair.
They took a sample of oil and found it to have lots of metal in it.
Looks to be about 1 $2300.00 repair including labor.

OUCH!

 

Lessons learned: don't use 4wd on pavement, don't use 4wd at 70kmh, don't use 4wd on pavement at 70kmh with a deflated tire.

 

x2

Time for an aftermarket t-case
an atlas isn't much more than that

 

Used t-case is about $300. It doesnt take much to put one in.

I blew out the planetary gear in my transfer case and it was much cheaper to just replace the whole case with a used one with less miles.