4WD won't disengage
 

Hello all, new here. Hopefully someone can help me out.

This has happened to me twice. I've pulled up and backed up, 4wd shifter into all selections of 4wd and it still wouldn't come out. Finally after driving about 50 miles it disengaged.

This happened by engaging 4wd with the push button on the stick and also by pulling the stick back into 4HL. Either way it gets stuck in 4wd and will not return to 2wd.

The 4wd light on the dash contiues to flash. When you press and depress the 4wd button the light will stop flashing for a few seconds then continue flashing again.

Anyone know what the problem his and the fix for it? I imagine it's a sticking solenoid, just don't know where to start looking.

use your hand on the shift lever next to the transfer case under the middle of the truck, while your under there fix the shift lever or rubber boot so it wont happen again

How about some specifics on what truck we are dealing with here?

Sounds like a 4runner with a multi-mode xcase.. are you running 4 tires of all the same size?

Need more info..

this might help https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/cant-shift-out-4wd-94121/

Speed Demon.

Did you ever find out what was wrong? This seems to be a common problem on high mileage Runners.

99' 4Runner Limited.

Ok, sorry I overlooked putting the model info.

I copied what I posted in another forum.

I read up in the Hanes manual I have. Sounds like it could be the pneumatic valve on the front diff. that eng./disengages the 4WD.

I will have to try to test it with a vacuum pump or mighty Vac.

4WD seems to engage just fine even thought the indicator light keeps flashing. It just will not disenage when commanded. Sometime (might be hours or days) later it will finally disenage.

Also, I have no trouble moving the 4wd shift lever to all positions. It just won't disengage.

Stuck in 4wd, 99 Limited
 

I also have a 99 4Runner Limited with the same exact problem. This is the reason I have logged onto this site.

Still T/Sing,

1. Push 4wd button, will not completely go into M/M- Lights will flash and I will actually be in 4Hi not M/M

2. Move shifter to 4Hi with M/M Button out, Lights will flash again but in 4Hi (Even with lights flashing, feel it in the steering wheel), No matter what I do it will not come out of 4WD. M/M does not work- if I push the button it will go straight to 4Hi with the lights flashing (same as statement 1 above)

3. If I jack the vehicle to relieve the stress the vehicle will not come out of 4Hi, I can even tap the actuator- NO Help!

4. I have swapped the Vacuum Lines to the ADD (Automatic Disengaging Differential) on top of the left front wheel well - NO Help. The check is to swap the vacuum line when not in 4WD with the vehicle at idle. When the lines are swapped and vehicle is idling then front drive shaft is locked to the front diff. This will disengage properly when NOT in 4WD but will not disengage when in M/M- This could be correct due to the computer thinking I am in 4WD not M/M.

5. While T/S, found a way to hook a battery to 2 pins on the actuator get the actuator to retract (goto 2HI).


I am still T/S at this time, my idea is that the Transfer Case Actuator is week but still working. Others may have more advise. If the Actuator is bad the fix at the dealer is at least $1300.00 (Parts/Labor), the replacement requires the case to be split.

I have had this happen to me. The cause was a crack in one of the 1/4 inch vacume hoses that run from the manifold to the 4 wheel drive control. Should be easy to spot as these hoses are on top. These hoses are very succeptable to cracking.

T/S All day
 

Spent the day on this- no help. Don't know if the initial post ever fixed the item.

Have now checked all hoses- The hose was on the front side of the manifold that runs to the Multi-Mode solenoids for the front differential-no leaks.

1. The vacuum will operate the front diff to open the unlock position, and when I select Multi-Mode 4wd with the button (not sure if this is the correct term) but did find out that the solenoids will lock the front diff to the driveshaft. This should not lock the front diff in M/M (Multi-Mode) yet till a slip is detected or 4wd hi or low. At this time the 4WD Hi or Low is not truly selected but the vehicle is in 4WD. The light in the cluster is now flashing for a failure. This light will not even stop flashing when pulling the shifter to 4HI or 4Lo.
2. The 4WD solenoid will not unlock when selected back to 2HI with the shifter or the button.
3. The Front Differential will not unlock either. Not sure if the solenoid or the front differential is to unlock first. If I manually put a vacuum on the unlock side front differential I can get the differential to unlock but the solenoid will stay locked even without a load on the drive shafts.
4. I have taken the transfer case actuator apart and did not find any defect. Then after getting a wiring diagram I can get the actuator to move to 2HI by connecting +to pin 2 and ? to pin 3. Or move to 4WD by reversing the polarity.

I know the actuator works and the front differential will lock and unlock, believe to have bad wiring or 4WD control computer.

Looking for new Computer Module Part # 89533-35150, anyone have ideas.

Looked on eBay and search Google- no help. I will check Toyota tomorrow.

similar situation, check my recent thread
 

im in a similar bind, except I can't get INTO 4WD, see my recent thread for symptoms, maybe you guys have some ingsight other than whats posted here. Don't hijack this thread though, post on mine. Thanks.

is this on the fly?? cuz mine doesn't like to unless it is in neutral (02 4runner) and push it then neutral at a slow roll for 4wd to go in its strange, but it works BETTER than waiting imo just stop b4 going back from n to d

4WD shifting
 

Do not have your answer for the 02. My 99 4Runner will shift in and out of M/M while in gear. When it was working, the Button for Multi-Mode would not happen as easy but would still happen when all wheels were at the same speed. Since it has been many months since mine has worked correctly, I do not remember 4WD operation.

I have the exact same problem. Mine has been doing it for about a year now. I still go wheeling...it just takes some time to get back to 2hi on the way home. The last trip i took it finally disengaged at a gas station 2 hours after we were done.

So you have to drive in 4wd on the pavement?? That could be part of the reason it take soooo long to disengage.

Have you changed your xcase fluid lately? I would guess that multi-modes and any elec trans case are pickier about fluid. I have Amsoil Severe Gear 75w-90 in my multi-mode runner and it shifts better than new.

This is an important point most people miss. With the old manual lever style shifting into 4WD it was not nearly as important to have everything working as smoothly since you are not working with electric motors to actuate everything. Running synthetics can really help in this respect since they don't tend to varnish like standard oils will. The tolerances in the system are very tight so it doesn't take much to make it difficult to shift back and forth.

Question
 

Did you find the fix for your 4wd??

Finally fixed my problem with a front differential actuator switch. Posted the info in another thread.