I need some clarification on the 4WD system

[cros]

I have a quick question about my 4WD system on my '02 Sport Edition. Here is my little story.

Its been snowing here all night and into this morning, probably have somewhere around 9" right now with more to come. Perfect time to use the 4WD system. Now, it says in the owners manual that you can engage 4HI (not locked) while driving 62mph or below, by just pressing in the 4WD botton on the shifter. Since I have had the truck, I have always engaged the 4Hi system while parked. I put it in "N", press the button, put it in "D" crawl a couple yards forward while the lights are blinking, then it engages, no problem. My question is, this morning on my way to work, doing around 30-35mph on an unplowed highway, when I went to engage 4WD, nothing happened. The lights blinked, but never engaged. It wasn't until I parked it in a empty lot, and engaged it how I usually do, that it worked. :headscratch: what gives?

When I got to work, I left it in 4HI for the trip home. Everything seems to be working just fine, just wondering why the lights would keep flashing but the 4HI never engaged while moving?

[gilby4runner]

When engaging mine while driving i have noticed that on occasion it will blink a few times or until i let off the gas or put it in neutral for a second or two.

[cros]

When engaging mine while driving i have noticed that on occasion it will blink a few times or until i let off the gas or put it in neutral for a second or two.


yeah, i tried slowing down as much as i could (it still being a highway with other drivers behind me) so i pulled off in a small shopping center. i put it in reverse...nothing. turned the truck off and back on and did it the normal way and it worked. went home for luch, turned it off, on the way back engaged it how i usually do, and it worked fine...weird

[CJM]

Takes a sec for everything in the front to lock into place. On my T100 I have a manually shifter transfercase. I can shift into 4wd hi anywhere below 50mph (or so it says on the placard on the visor). Whenever I engage it while moving I always get a small thump/thud and feel it lock in after a few feet. Never flashed the light tho-perhaps it does this before it fully locks in? Can you verify that it was not in 4wd-the light may say otherwise even if its on.

I would say it could be a sensor thing, could be a 4wd problem, who knows. The front is vacuum actuated unless you switch to manual hubs like me afaik.

[cros]

Takes a sec for everything in the front to lock into place. On my T100 I have a manually shifter transfercase. I can shift into 4wd hi anywhere below 50mph (or so it says on the placard on the visor). Whenever I engage it while moving I always get a small thump/thud and feel it lock in after a few feet. Never flashed the light tho-perhaps it does this before it fully locks in? Can you verify that it was not in 4wd-the light may say otherwise even if its on.

I would say it could be a sensor thing, could be a 4wd problem, who knows. The front is vacuum actuated unless you switch to manual hubs like me afaik.


when you press the 4WD button, 5 lights will start blinking (4 green wheels and an orange circle in the middle representing the locker). These will blink until everything is fully engaged, and when it is, the 4 green lights will become solid.

[CJM]

when you press the 4WD button, 5 lights will start blinking (4 green wheels and an orange circle in the middle representing the locker). These will blink until everything is fully engaged, and when it is, the 4 green lights will become solid.

So it kept blinking, sometimes takes a bit to engage. I know on other trucks sometimes you had to go into reverse to get it all to lock in.

Could also be an issue, but since you got no CEL I would say that it may have just not locked in or the lights werent saying it was.

Try the situation again just to see, then report back.

[cros]

when you press the 4WD button, 5 lights will start blinking (4 green wheels and an orange circle in the middle representing the locker). These will blink until everything is fully engaged, and when it is, the 4 green lights will become solid.

So it kept blinking, sometimes takes a bit to engage. I know on other trucks sometimes you had to go into reverse to get it all to lock in.

Could also be an issue, but since you got no CEL I would say that it may have just not locked in or the lights werent saying it was.

Try the situation again just to see, then report back.


on my drive home for lunch, i disengaged the 4HI back to 2HI...everything worked fine. when I was leaving, I engaged it how I usually do (put it in "N", hit the button, "D" crawl forward a little ways and it engaged just fine...must have been a fluke?

[CJM]

Maybe, I know even mine (which is much simpler) sometimes wont kick on properly till I re-engage it from a dead stop. Heck I had an issue where it wouldnt turn off, had to stop and put it into R for a few feet.

[YotaFun]

Marc, your 4wd engaging system is different then his.

I have a 97, Stepdad has an 02 sport.
The guys with the t-case you pull the stick on can go up to 50 and pull the stick to engage 4WD, but even then you have to let off the gas, let it roll a little to lock then get back into it.

On stepdads I have tested out that feature, of going up to at least 60 and hitting the button, all the lights (4 green wheels, and yellow center diff) would flash a bit, I would let go of the gas, you hear the clunk, 4 wheel lights go solid and yellow goes away.

I would go down the road and try engaging it at 50 and see what happens.
If it never engages, then there may be an issue.

Where in MD are you located?

[gilby4runner]

Have you dried locking the center diff when its acting up?

[CJM]

I see Avy-his and your stepdads are electronically controlled afaik.

[YotaFun]

I see Avy-his and your stepdads are electronically controlled afaik.


Yup
electronic actuator on 01&02 Runners

Like Gilby said, dry dry locking it.
Still shouldn't be having an issue..

How many miles on the truck?

[cros]

I see Avy-his and your stepdads are electronically controlled afaik.


Yup
electronic actuator on 01&02 Runners

Like Gilby said, dry dry locking it.
Still shouldn't be having an issue..

How many miles on the truck?


64k, im located in columbia, just south of baltimore.

[YotaFun]

Your about an hour and a half away from me.

That's not that many miles for the t-case.

Did you try enaging it at 50 again?

[cros]

Your about an hour and a half away from me.

That's not that many miles for the t-case.

Did you try enaging it at 50 again?


not yet. im going to make a run during lunch.

[cros]

ok, well i took it out to see what it would do.

driving down the highway, 50mph, hit the 4WD button, lights blink, i let off the gas a touch, everything engages fine. i press it again, lights blink, let off the gas, everything disengages fine.

looks like everything is in good working order.

[Scuba]

Good to hear man !!

[YotaFun]

Good to hear dude!

[cros]

thanks for your help fellas!

[CJM]

good, good :)