POP! 4hi/4lo flash & malfunction error

Hey guys, 2020 trd sport with 13k miles. Today I put the truck in 4hi then neutral and went to 4lo. Moved forward a bit and the truck made a pretty loud popping sound. I then got a 4 wheel drive system malfunction error on the stereo display. The 4hi/low lights flashed. I turned the truck off and on. No flashing lights but the popping sound worry’s me. Did something break?

 

Never put 4lo in pavement,

 

Need to put the tranny in neutral before you put in 4L

 

Was 4L fully engaged before you put it back in drive and started moving?

 

The truck moved probably 6 inches forward in 4lo if I remember correctly. Just straight no turning. Took a look underneath the truck nothing seems out of place but Im no mechanic. I cycled 4hi and 4lo again just letting off the brake around my property driveway (gravel) and the lights didn't flash. Moved about 50ft and parked it.

Sounded like this tacoma binding but a bit louder from inside the cab. My understanding is that trucks with lockers normally do this?
https://youtu.be/d4MjRMxCQUs

 

I bet it was this also, usually takes a few seconds before its fully engaged.

 

Bruh, u scared me…I though u were in pavement…

 

No sir! Real strange that happened. I'm just hoping nothing is broken.

 

Tony, how often do you use the 4WD? The actuators in our trucks are a little on the loud side when they engage, and can get a little sticky if not exercised periodically to lube them.

 

U lucky u have gravel road, I have to do 4hi on highway

 

Usually just in the winter when it snows but I did put it in 4Hi about a month ago going up a steep dirt road. You recommend cycling through both 4hi and lo every so often? Last time I used 4Lo was winter. Does something engage in 4Lo that doesn't in 4Hi?

Haha I live in the "country".

 

Toyota recommends 10 miles per Month in 4WD to lubricate, which seems excessive to most of us here. I put it in High on a very straight stretch whenever I can, wet if possible with no turns to just get the fluids moving around. I use 4Low very rarely, but still engage it from time to time to lube the actuator. Everyone here has there own rituals, but this seems to work for me.

 

I hardly use the 4L maybe I should engage once in a while, I normally just engage my 4H when I go shooting its like around 2.5 mile to hit the range in dirt road. But when it rains or snow it’s on 4H just to turn it on.

 

Ill have to put it in 4WD more often then. Most of the time I'm in 4WD it's pretty slow speeds but I'll make a note to move the fluids around. I will at least have the dealership check it out next time I'm in.

Thank you everyone for your input and advice!

 

You likely had a sticky actuator if you haven't used 4wd very often.

There is a post around here awhile back with a Tundra that was 10 years old or so and never, ever put in 4wd and the actuator was seized solid....

 

I think "the car care nut" on youtube (he's a toyota master tech) says to cycle through the modes once a month. I don't recall him mentioning driving it so I'll need to keep that in mind. Imo it sounds really cool engaging and de-engaging while sitting in neutral with the window down. Very mechanical

 

Hopefully it was a sticky actuator. VERY dusty where I live also!

 

So I decided to engage the 4x4 today since I haven’t done it in a while and Damn, when engaging to 4L it sure is a loud pop, compare to 4H. Scared the shit out of me, but at least i know they are engaging.

 

Thanks for checking! Gives me a little peace of mind for sure man.

 

No prob.

 

My 2020 Tundra made a loud popping sound tonight while sitting in the wash bay not even running. I had just done the 4 minute soap spray and stopped to talk to a guy and while standing there it Popped so loud and the lights flashed. I started it and it said "Turn power off" so I turned it off, looked around on the outside and then turned it back on and all was fine. Have no idea what it was but worries me somewhat.