nhepburn

hey guys,

working on a friend's 96 Taco SR5 right now, equipped with the 3.4L and a manual transmission.

have done a bunch of searching through here today and found many threads related to my problem but haven't been able to pinpoint it.

the problem is the 4WD is not engaging.. as in no power is being delivered to the front wheels.

when i shift the t-case into 4LO the 4WD light will come on no problem, or if i go into 4HI and press the 4WD button on the side, same deal, 4WD light comes on.

when i do this with the key on, engine off, i can hear the acutator in the differential click. I have also checked for vacuum at the solenoids with the engine running to see if there is the appropriate vacuum in each solenoid depending on whether you're in 4WD and everything is operating fine, and vacuum is switching over fine too when you engage in 4WD.

i have taken the skid plate off and checked for vacuum leaks on the lines from the solenoids to the front diff, and replaced a couple hoses that look suspect but to my bad luck, 4WD is still not engaging properly.

i have also put the truck into 4HI with the button pressed in and 4LO with the truck running and tried spinning the front driveshaft and like it should, you cannot spin the driveshaft with 4WD engaged... and once I put it back it into 2wheel drive, i can spin the driveshaft freely, so it's disengaging fine at that point.

through this whole time the 4WD light is functioning fine and doesn't appear to be a problem with the VSV or solenoids as there is correct vacuum and is switching over properly like it should..

also when i drive the truck in 4LO, i can def feel the transfer case switch to the lower gearing, but yet again, no power to the front wheels at all.

anyone have any ideas? most of the 4WD engaging threads here seem to be with people having trouble with 4WD engaging and light not coming on.. however it is not the case in this situation with this tacoma.

thanks so much for the help!

nhepburn

Bumppp

janettis

I have a 1998 4Runner v6 3.4L 5spd that I bought this summer which has been nothing but a headache. It turns out the previous owner took it to Moab which cost me $3000 in complete rear end after 2 failed rear axle seal replacements (bent rear axle & diff) & new U-joints in the front. Also, 4WD High does not work. We put it on a lift and tested both 4hi & 4Lo and the diff. definitely wasn't engaging in 4WD high. We then switched the blue & brown vacuum hoses and 4hi worked but 4lo didn't. The dash light even indicated the same thing. The other issue I have is a grinding/whining noise in the front end (seems like front right). It could be unrelated but thought I mention it in case. Any advice on where to go from here is appreciated! Thx!