Morning guys. You all have helped me with diagnosing before on my 86 4 runner, now here is one for you on my 88 truck.

Driving down the highway yesterday, partially snow covered, in 4X4 mode. Traveling into a state park to check out the local deer herd to see if the bucks are dropping their racks. Running along at about 35 mph in 3rd gear (5 Speed) going down hill. My wife calls and asks when I am going to be home so she can get dinner ready. All the sudden I lose power to the wheels. Putting it in gear, it will not move. I cannot get the 4 WD lever to move an inch. Acts like something is binding??? Had a buddy pull me home (5 Miles) and tried to get it in/out of 4wd all the way home. The 4WD light is on, but acts like the transfer case in in neutral. Never made any strange noises when it did this either. 124,500 miles

Help!!! Any ideas?

Thanks guys in advance
Pat

 

How "partially snow covered" was it? Sounds to me like you bound up to the point of breaking something. This is odd though since usually the first thing to break is an outer CV joint on the front axle. In such a case movement would still be possible and you'd be able to shift the t-case. If I were to bet, you may have snapped the t-case output shaft. It's a fairly easy fix and I have a few of them if you need one.

 

Thanks for the reply,

Would snapping the output shaft make some sort of noise?
Would it cause the non shifting problem?
I had just came off of a all snow covered gravel road, onto a 50% snow covered county black top.

Like I said, no noises, just "whoa, Im going nowhere suddenly"

The transfer case has always been a little tough to pull out of 4hi into 2 WD, I always pulled it out between 1st and 2nd gear to prevent excess binding.

This is the first time in 8 years this truck stranded me, guess I cant complain.

 

Maybe your transfer case chain broke? That would explain inability to move from 4wd to 2wd or lo to hi.

 

He won't have a chain with a 5-speed, unless he's got a V6.

 

Thanks for setting me straight

 

No, breaking an output is not a silent event. However, I cannot think of anything that would cause your symptoms without having something break. I suppose if you have an automatic tranny, it could be an issue with one or more solenoids. Toyota autos are quite unknown to me though.

 

Ok,

Yes this truck only has 4 squirrels under the hood, but they are fuel injected haha

Just for the record, I am an outboard mechanic and have all the tools I need, where should I look for the output shaft. Is there a fairly easy way to check it. Not trying to be a dummy, but I always start with the basics when approaching something I have never conquered

Thanks

 

I wonder if the ADD fork has failed in properly disengage. It would explain the dash light being on and would lock the front input shaft into the diff.

 

The easiest way to get out of 4wd is to goose the engine very quickly and shortly, just give it an 1/8 of throttle more than you are at the moment and let off then shift out of it. Even says it in the owners manual to do that.

Can't really help with your problem, very strange indeed. I had a scary moment yesterday with 4wd, because I had left it engaged and when I came back out, the streets were no longer wet, and reversing and turning the truck slowly stopped, and when I finally got it to go in 1st gear, a loud pop was heard... Visual inspection shows nothing wrong, and no problems but I was

I hope you can get everything sorted!

 

Except that I don't think ADD came around until '89.

I guess, there a few things left unclear:

The engine runs, right?
The transmission shifts properly but the truck goes nowhere, right?
The t-case does not shift at all and is stuck in 4wd, right?
Will the truck roll with the transmission in neutral?
Will it roll with the transmission in gear?
Do you have manual hubs? Do they unlock?

 

Thanks for all your time guys!

I will answer some more of your ??

I have tried to goose the engine to get it out with no results.

The transmission shifts fine and the clutch IS engaging

The truck will roll in or out of gear- it got pulled 5 miles by a CJ7 last night

The hubs are manuals, they are disengaged but were locked when this happened

The transfer case will not shift, and seems to be stuck in 4WD

Engine 22RE runs great

Pat

 

"My wife calls and asks when I am going to be home so she can get dinner ready."............

........So?!?!?!?....... What was for dinner????

 

OK. I'm willing to bet you broke something in the transfer case. If you're at all mechanically inclined, I'd start tearing into it to find out what it is. I have a few t-cases fully disassembled for parts, it is very likely I have what you need except for some of the snap rings, front-shift components, and bearings.

 

I say your clutch bit it. Put all 4 wheels up on blocks. Leave it in 4wd. start turning tires and see what else turns. If all tires turn your clutch went.

 

It should still disengage from 4wd even if the clutch is gone, because you don't need to depress the clutch to bring it out of 4wd. Right?

 

Yup.

 

Ok,

I think I have a transfercase problem. Like I said before, when I let out on the clutch pedal when the motor is cold, I can here the engine slow just slightly from the clutch engaging. Not saying it ISNT the clutch, but my expiriences are that normally a clutch wont just go bad without slipping first- Correct?

Does anyone know if I can remove the shifter lever from the top side of the tranfercase inside the cab? While the t-case is still in the truck.

I rebuilt the engine in my 4 runner (thank god I have it or I'd be walking) so I am hoping a t-case wont be too bad.

Thanks again,
Pat

 

Yup. Use a 12mm socket w/extenion and a flex and remove the four bolts. The shifter will then just pull out. Normally, it is best to shift into 4-hi first, but you're already there.

Another question: does the shifter move back and forth like would be normal in 4-hi?

 

Man I am not kidding, it will NOT move an 1/8 of an inch. No matter how hard I push or pull. I am going to go take the shifter out right now. I will report back.

Pat