2008 transfer case actuator replacement/ no drive or reverse

hello, I'm a new member looking for help. My 08 4x4 stopped engaging. I made the mistake of opening up the 4lo side of the transfer case actuator. once i did that, drive and reverse would not engage and i get a grind when shifting back to park.. I did some internet searches and found some info on the actuator.. purchased a new actuator. (4hi side was shot and all the screws on the housing were rusted out). In order to install the new actuator without opening the transfer case. I removed the 4hi and 4lo motor/gear assemblies, pulled the housing leaving the old shift rods in place.installed new housing, reset the timing positions on on both new 4hi & lo motor/gear assemblies. Installed assemblies making sure both shift rods were pushed in toward the transfer case. and still no drive or reverse.. only code I'm getting is P0500.. could a bad VSS sensor cause the no drive /reverse issue.. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Do you have a 4Hi or 4Lo light on or flashing? Does it do anything when you change the selector? If the answer to any of that is no I would check fuses first.

You may have already seen this but there is a pretty good thread on timing etc.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/2007-2020-transfer-case-actuator.61182/

 

Thank you!!!! Sorry for the delayed response... Just had time today to work on the truck with the good weather today..
So I did see these videos and yes very helpful with reviewing my work. but reviewed another thread on this forum that had a video of i believe a Filipino Gent installing a similar actuator on a Lexus. What caught my attention was he exercised the rods in and out several times before reassembling. I'm pretty sure this is what cleared my no reverse and no drive issue. as my 4hi rod was stiff and took a bit to free up..
I also reset the gear positions by: reconnecting all the wiring/ with both hi & lo gear assemblies not installed to the actuator housing (just positioned so that the gears would not fall out) I then turned the key to accessory/ put the shifter in neutral and cycled the 4x4 switch to 4hi then 2wd then back to 4hi and straight 4lo then back again to 2wd. Some post say you just need to turn the key to accessory and it'll reset the gear positions to the right spot. I have not tested the 4x4 yet so I'm not out of the woods yet.. but happy to have drive and reverse back.. got the truck off the ramps its been stuck on for two weeks.. I'll keep you posted. I did take pictures of the gear settings so if the 4x4 works i'll post them . Tons of good info on this Forum very glad i joined.

 

Good to hear you got it going again. This electronic 4wd is nice but the manual 4wd I had in my old 78 Ford was less finicky.

Another thing that helps is if you can use it once a month. One theory in that is it splashed the oil around. I think you also get a benefit from running the motor and switch periodically. I usually try and use my 4wd at the first of the month and cycle it a couple of times.

 

Good point of using the 4x4 on a on a monthly basis. Just make sure to us it on a gravel/grassy patch of you can find one. This makes sure your not binding the gears in the transfer case.