4lo not engaging

Hey guys,

I recently went offroading and came up to a steep incline with some good dips to flex on. Put the truck in 4lo and made it up the hill no problem. Then got out of 4lo for the rest of the trail. Later when I got to some soft gravel near a lake I went to put it back in 4lo and the light just keeps blinking.

4hi works still with no issues. I can hear the transfer case working when I try to put it in 4lo but the light continues to blink like it never finishes the process.

Anyone encounter this before? I've tried it several times since and can't get. I've tried letting it roll in neutral and reversing and going back to neutral but no luck.

 

I know I tend to need to turn the steering wheel a bit to get out of 4H...4L, it works but it always pushes my patience...have you engaged it every few months at least? I know the older generations of toyotas were a "use it or lose" concept that I've carried over to mine...I also had issues once I changed my transfer case fluid from the Toyota brand to some other World Standard stuff...I haven't been impressed and will gladly be going back to the liquid gold Toyota stuff when needed...regardless, the 2014s can be finicky if fluid isn't exactly what's spec'd...both in 4H and 4L from my understanding...I didn't help you I feel, but I can understand your frustrations...

 

I just got this truck like 6months ago and unfortunately have not cycled into 4wd every month like its recommended. This is my first 4x4 so I was ignorant to the upkeep. Before the trip though, I did test it and it worked. It also worked for me on the trail.

Now it doesn't lol, and I'm wondering what it could be. I will try the steering wheel turn to see if I can get it as well as changing the fluid

 

Don't turn the steering wheel too much...just a slight turn to get things to lock/unlock...too much and you can hurt things. Also, it's always best to engage when NOT on hardscapes...gravel is your friend!

 

That's the pain with electronic transfer cases versus just physically forcing it to engage. Just yesterday I put mine in low range, took it out, put it back and it just blinked like a moron. Put it back to high range, let off the brake to roll half an inch, and it slid right into low range again. My wife's 4runner is extremely anal about it, the tundra is better but sometimes still needs that sweet spot. Roll forward or backward, turn the wheel, etc. To get everything lined up. I doubt anything is wrong with it.

 

OK thank you. This makes me feel better. Hopefully I can find the sweet spot.

Still planning on getting that fluid change done soon.