2004 Tundra Transfer Case Replacement Questions

2004 4.7 Tundra Double Cab

I was having problems with what I assumed to be the transfer case actuator, since I was getting the 4HI 4LO blinking lights but I could still get into and out of 4HI so I was going to wait for warmer weather to figure it out.

As I was driving along today (with the blinking 4HI 4LO lights but in 2HI) I suddenly got a grinding noise and immediately shifted to neutral, and being on a busy bridge, I couldnt pull over. I went back into drive and no more grinding but still the flashing lights.

Whenever I went to park, I tried going into 4HI and that was it. No more park, reverse, drive, 2, lo. Only neutral. I tried switching it through the gears and there was lots of grinding in the transfer case. I ended up chocking the wheels until the tow truck came and took it to Acadia Toyota in Moncton, NB who were quite helpful.

This is word for word what they wrote down on my receipt:
"Found that vehicle would not drive- stuck in a neutral position and grinding from transfer case. Drained t-case fluid- seems ok. Removed shift actuator gear and actuator to manually move shift rod. Rod was jammed in position- was able to get it into 2wd but could not get it to move freely to all shift points. Transfer case shift rods internally binded and shift actuator was damaged when they were trying to get it to shift. Required new transfer case but is currently in 2wd. Shift actuator gear not reinstalled so that the vehicle does not try to shift again."

So my question is has anyone here replaced their transfer case with a used one from a salvage yard?
Can any transfer case be used from 2000-2004? Or should I stick to 03-04?
Any pointers or guidance is appreciated.

 

With an 04 you still have the 4spd from 00-04 so I think you will be ok with a transfer case from those years if you need to go that way.

 

You can check car-pat.com and I believe row52.com for salvage yard xfer cases.

 

I called Island Auto and they told me they can order one in from Ontario, out of a 2003 with the actuator for 600 plus tax. They even have a warranty for it too, so I think I'll go down and order it tomorrow.