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Solved - 4hi Light blinking, won't "disengage" 4hi and 4low work fine

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by lsaami, Oct 3, 2018.

  1. Oct 3, 2018 at 12:19 PM
    #1
    lsaami

    lsaami [OP] Let ‘er buck

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    Well, I've searched and searched, and can't seem to find anyone who's had my exact issue.

    I just bought a 2000 Tundra Limited 4x4 with the 4.7L WITH ABS, and it's having 4WD issues. Like the title says, my 4hi light is blinking constantly even though I feel a small clunk when it disengages, and can feel that the front wheels aren't being powered, but the light blinks anyway. I can get into 4hi and 4low just fine, the light just won't quit flashing when I try to go into 2wd mode. It is an ABS truck, but that light is NOT on, so to my knowledge that system is working correctly.

    Any leads? I'm going to try unplugging the battery for a while just to see what that does. I'm not super familiar with how these systems work.

    Clarification: I have tried going into neutral while driving, engaged/disengaging while moving, while moving in reverse, stopped and in park, stopped and in neutral, stopped and in drive, stopped and in reverse, and nothing has worked.
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2018
  2. Oct 3, 2018 at 12:55 PM
    #2
    Need to know stuff

    Need to know stuff New Member

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    Welcome, throw up some pics?
    If never heard of that problem though
     
    lsaami[OP] likes this.
  3. Oct 3, 2018 at 12:56 PM
    #3
    lsaami

    lsaami [OP] Let ‘er buck

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    Thanks! I bought it last night and don't have any decent pictures in the day time. I'll do that soon!
     
  4. Oct 3, 2018 at 12:56 PM
    #4
    2015Crewmax

    2015Crewmax New Member

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    I have had that happen. Stop, put truck in neutral, and wait a minute. that should fix it. i have also had to put my truck in reverse too.
     
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  5. Oct 3, 2018 at 12:59 PM
    #5
    lsaami

    lsaami [OP] Let ‘er buck

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    I should've clarified. I have tried going into neutral while driving, engaged/disengaging while moving, while moving in reverse, stopped and in park, stopped and in neutral, stopped and in drive, stopped and in reverse, and nothing has worked.
     
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  6. Oct 3, 2018 at 12:59 PM
    #6
    Need to know stuff

    Need to know stuff New Member

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    It may be a bad position switch on the transfer case
     
  7. Oct 3, 2018 at 1:00 PM
    #7
    lsaami

    lsaami [OP] Let ‘er buck

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    how would I go about testing that?
     
  8. Oct 3, 2018 at 1:00 PM
    #8
    15whtrd

    15whtrd Mr. Blonde

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    I’ve had mine do it as well. The way I get it to stop flashing is by making a turn. It’s like it didn’t fully disengage until I made a somewhat sharp turn.
     
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  9. Oct 3, 2018 at 1:02 PM
    #9
    Need to know stuff

    Need to know stuff New Member

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    I don't really know, you may want to watch YouTube on it, I think it's a somewhat common problem so someone has had to make a vid on it sometime
     
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  10. Oct 4, 2018 at 8:05 AM
    #10
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Bad switch/actuator? Let us know if the battery reset trick works.
     
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  11. Oct 4, 2018 at 8:13 AM
    #11
    831Tun

    831Tun heartless Bastrd

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    Sounds like you tried everything but if you stop, put it in neutral, then switch to 4 low, wait 'til flashing stops, switch back to 4 high, start driving in a straight line and switch to 2wd.
     
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  12. Oct 4, 2018 at 8:17 AM
    #12
    lsaami

    lsaami [OP] Let ‘er buck

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    Will do, thanks.
    I’ll give that a go. Thanks!
     
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  13. Oct 4, 2018 at 10:38 AM
    #13
    Duneflyer

    Duneflyer MGM is the light at the end of the tunnel

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    May auto locking hubs are not disengaging, but power is? Just thinking out of the box
     
  14. Oct 4, 2018 at 10:45 AM
    #14
    bmf4069

    bmf4069 Yup, that's car parts in a dishwasher

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    Or the opposite? :notsure:
     
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  15. Oct 4, 2018 at 10:51 AM
    #15
    jberry813

    jberry813 The Mad Scientist Staff Member

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    Sounds like you've covered most of it and did all the normal tips and tricks. However, since it's an 18 year old truck, I guarantee the 4wd actuator on the xfer case is full of dirt and mud and shit. On the back side of the xfer case is the 4wd actuator. It's a black plastic looking thing. Open it up, clean the hell out of it, dialectic grease anything electrical and that normally fixes it. It's easier to pull the whole actuator from the xfer case and clean it on a bench.

    Check this article for a deeper read on it:
     
  16. Oct 4, 2018 at 10:56 AM
    #16
    jberry813

    jberry813 The Mad Scientist Staff Member

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    Also give the actuator a whack with a rubber mallet a few times. Normally that's enough to clear what is keeping the gears from spinning by the motor. If that works and gets you into 2wd, means it needs to be cleaned or replaced. It's a few hundred bucks for a new one, so depends on what your time is worth.
     
  17. Oct 4, 2018 at 10:57 AM
    #17
    bmf4069

    bmf4069 Yup, that's car parts in a dishwasher

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    "I then poured the rusty,dirty, water like substance in the actuator onto myself as I opened the case."

    :rofl:sound like me but with gas when I did my fuel filter!
     
  18. Oct 4, 2018 at 3:13 PM
    #18
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    This actuator repair thing (per the above link) sounds like it goes easy or is very complicated and is not to be attemped unless you have the time to go the entire distance.

    Takeaway from the stories of all the commentors is to make sure your breather lines are connected to prevent the problem!
     
    Stumplifter and lsaami[OP] like this.
  19. Oct 4, 2018 at 4:28 PM
    #19
    lsaami

    lsaami [OP] Let ‘er buck

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    Thanks! that helps a lot. The truck is currently at my parents house (dad's got the tools) and it'll be a few days before I get time to head over there. I'll keep everyone updated.
     
  20. Oct 7, 2018 at 7:18 PM
    #20
    ethan1911

    ethan1911 I’m one of those regular weird people

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    Can’t say for sure but I bet it’s dirt in the actuator. I’m 99% sure it’s not in the abs because I’ve removed all of that stuff on mine and the transfer case shifts just fine.
     
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  21. Oct 7, 2018 at 7:49 PM
    #21
    lsaami

    lsaami [OP] Let ‘er buck

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    So I was messing around with it tonight, and it engages and disengages 4x4. you can hear the motor turn and the clunk of the actuator as it shifts from 4x4 to 2x4. I'm going to be it's the actuator sensor thingy. I pulled the plastic cover revealing a spiral gear and a big plastic gear, and it was perfectly clean inside. forgot to take a picture though.
     
  22. Oct 7, 2018 at 9:22 PM
    #22
    thezoltar

    thezoltar New Member

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    I haven't researched your particular setup but my 2001 4runner had the same issue a few years back. There were two switches on the transfer case, one to tell it when it was in 2wd and one to tell it when it was in 4wd. If one switch sticks the warning light will flash because it doesn't know if it is in 2 or 4 or both at the same time. In my case it was the forward switch sticking causing the truck to still think it was in 4wd. Thus the confused flashing light. The part was about $90 at Toyota. It looks to be a $30 switch to me.

    If you pull the wire off the front switch I bet the light will go out when you are in 2wd. Of course the trucks are different so the switches could be reversed. Easy enough to try especially if you have enough ground clearance to get under easily.
     
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  23. Oct 7, 2018 at 9:34 PM
    #23
    lsaami

    lsaami [OP] Let ‘er buck

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    Thank you! That’s a huge help!
     
  24. Oct 9, 2018 at 11:20 AM
    #24
    Need to know stuff

    Need to know stuff New Member

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    Throw up some pics of your truck?
     
  25. Oct 9, 2018 at 11:25 AM
    #25
    lsaami

    lsaami [OP] Let ‘er buck

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  26. Oct 9, 2018 at 3:39 PM
    #26
    lsaami

    lsaami [OP] Let ‘er buck

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    Well, I made a boo boo. I unplugged the 4lo sensor instead of the 4hi sensor, and now it’s stuck in 4lo with the 4hi and 4lo lights flashing. What now? The sensor is plugged back in, but it won’t do anything.
     
  27. Oct 9, 2018 at 3:49 PM
    #27
    Casper421

    Casper421 Toyota RidgeTrac driver!

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    I know it’s simple but did you try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes?
     
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  28. Oct 9, 2018 at 3:53 PM
    #28
    lsaami

    lsaami [OP] Let ‘er buck

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    That’s what I’m about to try. I can’t think of anything else.
     
  29. Oct 9, 2018 at 4:16 PM
    #29
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Maybe unplug the 4hi sensor too? Can’t mess it up anymore now.
     
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  30. Oct 9, 2018 at 4:19 PM
    #30
    lsaami

    lsaami [OP] Let ‘er buck

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    I unplugged the battery for 15 minutes, and it changed nothing. drove it up nd dow the driveway, still nothing. unplugged the sensor again, nothing.

    It's completely stuck in 4low, and it won't do anything. is there a way to reset the 4x4 controller or something.
     

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