1. Welcome to Tundras.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tundra discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Tundra owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Blinking 4 wheel drive light

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by Kjake, Jul 1, 2020.

  1. Jul 1, 2020 at 6:49 PM
    #1
    Kjake

    Kjake [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2019
    Member:
    #29076
    Messages:
    3
    Gender:
    Male
    On my 2000 tundra, when I push the switch for 4 wheel drive, I can hear it engage and it goes into 4 wheel high. but the indicator lights continue to blink. With the light blinking it will not go into 4 low. What would cause the lights to blink?
     
  2. Jul 1, 2020 at 8:24 PM
    #2
    N84434

    N84434 In the Frozen Tundra

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2020
    Member:
    #41580
    Messages:
    1,087
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jim
    Milwaukee WI.
    Vehicle:
    2001 Limited TRD
    One of the 2 actuators is not engaging correctly. Its possible that the one you hear is the transfer case actuator engaging, but the corresponding A.D.D. actuator (Front Diff) isn't working correctly. Easiest way to tell, is get the truck off the ground, and with the key on, engine off, put the truck in neutral, engage the 4WD, get under the truck And see If both drive shafts rotate when you spin the front drive shaft. You'll be able to tell immediately if the actuator is working.If both spin, its your A.D.D. Actuator. If they don't both spin, Transfer case actuator...
     
  3. Jul 2, 2020 at 6:05 AM
    #3
    Professional Hand Model

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

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2018
    Member:
    #14878
    Messages:
    15,007
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Fred
    ‘Somewhere’... a State of Mind
    Vehicle:
    2002 Tundra SR5 4WD 4.7L AC Silver Metallica
    Hand Protectors
    Truck must be in 4hi and then (at a stop) shifted into Neutral and then push the 4lo button and then it will go into 4lo. Next step is shift into Drive and see what happens.

    Not sure about the blinking light you describe if it is going into 4hi as you state. Maybe some cobwebs?
     
  4. Jul 2, 2020 at 9:33 AM
    #4
    Hooptytrix

    Hooptytrix Squeaky Chicken

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2016
    Member:
    #5179
    Messages:
    1,627
    Gender:
    Male
    Dirty South
    Vehicle:
    2000 AC 4x4, 2001 AC 4x4 Sold. 2005 DC SR5 2WD
    Welcome to the forum.

    The blinking is cause it hasn't or cannot engage. The 2 posts above provide everything you need to diagnose and get you going
     
  5. Jul 11, 2020 at 12:22 PM
    #5
    itscoreyc

    itscoreyc New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2020
    Member:
    #49161
    Messages:
    16
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Corey
    QC
    Vehicle:
    2001 Tundra V8 4WD sr5
    3" lift 33" x 10.5" ko2s
    ya im having the same issue with the blinking lights. 4hi works 4lo doesnt.. assume is the front transfer case for mine..
     
  6. Mar 18, 2021 at 7:59 AM
    #6
    BobTTundra

    BobTTundra New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2021
    Member:
    #57969
    Messages:
    48
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bob
    Vehicle:
    2004 Tundra 4WD TRD Limited
    I had the same problem, the front actuator was not engaging. There are a lot of DIYs out there, videos on tracking down the problem, etc. The easiest fix I saw much to my amazement worked for me.

    I turned the wheels to the right and whacked on the front actuator with a hammer while my assistant pushed the button and it worked! Since then I go in to 4WD every time I drive to keep it free. The previous owner never used 4WD and the actuator was little stuck.
    IMG_3584.jpg
     
    tvpierce, speedtre and N84434 like this.
  7. Mar 18, 2021 at 8:20 AM
    #7
    N84434

    N84434 In the Frozen Tundra

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2020
    Member:
    #41580
    Messages:
    1,087
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jim
    Milwaukee WI.
    Vehicle:
    2001 Limited TRD
    Big shout out to Tekton Tools for providing the correct hammer. Glad it worked for you. I did the same thing with no result last year when I was rebuilding my Tunny..
     
  8. Mar 18, 2021 at 8:27 AM
    #8
    Rockin 2nd Gen

    Rockin 2nd Gen New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2021
    Member:
    #57108
    Messages:
    187
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jay
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2010 Tundra
    5" lift 20x12 fuel with 35" nitto ridge graplers. Full led and secaine 9" android head unit.
    Hey, i know this is related but may not be your exact issue, but when a wheel speed sensor gets worn, dirty, or loose it will trigger your blinking 4x4 light as well. Just something to look into. When i had my truck lifted they couldnt get the speed sensors out of the spindle. So i replaced mine but had to drive it home without them. The blinking freaked me out until i replaced the sensors. Just something to look into. It was misleading i also thought i had a 4x4 problem and it was just a speed sensor.
     
  9. Mar 18, 2021 at 8:32 AM
    #9
    BobTTundra

    BobTTundra New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2021
    Member:
    #57969
    Messages:
    48
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bob
    Vehicle:
    2004 Tundra 4WD TRD Limited
    @Rockin 2nd Gen thanks for the tip! It was clear in my case the front actuator was not working, when underneath I could here the transfer case actuator engage but the front one was silent. I was so shocked when I whacked it, maybe the second or third try, and 'clunk!', engaged! It does seem like a temporary fix as whatever was causing the resistance to engagement is still there, perhaps I have a rebuild in my future, but for now I am good :)
     
  10. Mar 18, 2021 at 9:02 AM
    #10
    Rockin 2nd Gen

    Rockin 2nd Gen New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2021
    Member:
    #57108
    Messages:
    187
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jay
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2010 Tundra
    5" lift 20x12 fuel with 35" nitto ridge graplers. Full led and secaine 9" android head unit.
    Wonder if that works for women too ??? Where can i get one of those hammers ?
     
    Kimosabe likes this.
  11. Mar 30, 2021 at 6:07 PM
    #11
    britrock90

    britrock90 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2021
    Member:
    #61181
    Messages:
    4
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Britney
    Vehicle:
    00 Tundra TRD
    Had same issue- you could hear 4x4 engage but sensor unplugged. Plugged it in- no more blinking.
     
  12. Sep 12, 2021 at 10:40 AM
    #12
    Trd420

    Trd420 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2021
    Member:
    #67934
    Messages:
    5
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brian
    Vehicle:
    2001 Tundra sr5
    I have a 2001 Tundra SR5, when I push 4x4 button lights flash and I hear nothing underneath truck. I replaced both actuators and still I hear nothing. Only thing I hear is a click behind right kick panel. So I took panel off and it's 4x4 computer control, I found one on Ebay now waiting for this part to arrive. Anyone else have this issue.
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #12
  13. Sep 12, 2021 at 9:30 PM
    #13
    xSkeme

    xSkeme New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2017
    Member:
    #5754
    Messages:
    57
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2017 White Tundra SR5
    Never heard of this issue
     
  14. Oct 5, 2021 at 7:24 AM
    #14
    Rockin 2nd Gen

    Rockin 2nd Gen New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2021
    Member:
    #57108
    Messages:
    187
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jay
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2010 Tundra
    5" lift 20x12 fuel with 35" nitto ridge graplers. Full led and secaine 9" android head unit.
    So i figured out the blinking 4x4 light. It was a faulty connector for the front wheel speed sensor. Hope that helps someone.
     
    Teutonics and shifty` like this.
  15. Oct 5, 2021 at 10:30 AM
    #15
    Teutonics

    Teutonics New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2021
    Member:
    #66184
    Messages:
    123
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2005 DC SR5 4WD
    Inquiring minds want to know... How the heck did you actually figure that out to be the problem?!?
     
  16. Oct 5, 2021 at 10:47 AM
    #16
    shifty`

    shifty` Is the Gila Copter a love machine?

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2020
    Member:
    #48239
    Messages:
    19,122
    ATL
    Vehicle:
    '06 AC Limited V8/4WD
    (see signature for truck info)
    Moreover, would such problem also affect our 1st Gen trucks? Is there any link between the WSS and engaging 4WD in the 1st Gen?
     
  17. Oct 5, 2021 at 11:20 AM
    #17
    Trd420

    Trd420 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2021
    Member:
    #67934
    Messages:
    5
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brian
    Vehicle:
    2001 Tundra sr5
    My truck has blinking light but I don't hear any noise from either actuator both are new..last winter I could hear them working but not engaging. So I replaced front actuator but couldn't find rear one..now this summer I tried engaging and heard nothing at all...so I found rear actuator and changed..still nothing no noise from either actuator..so I guessed was 4x4 control module I could hear that click when pressing switch..so found used one on ebay installed and still nothing just a click from 4x4 module, and flashing lights..they don't stop blinking no way unless I unplug control module behind passengers kick panel. Plz help don't know what to do now...2001 tundra sr5 140,000 miles don't use a drop of oil and I love this truck but thinking about selling and I really don't want to.
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #17
  18. Oct 5, 2021 at 11:26 AM
    #18
    shifty`

    shifty` Is the Gila Copter a love machine?

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2020
    Member:
    #48239
    Messages:
    19,122
    ATL
    Vehicle:
    '06 AC Limited V8/4WD
    (see signature for truck info)
    I'll buy it!

    But before that, you know the owner's manual says you need to engage the 4WD at least once per month for like 10-20 miles to keep it functioning, right? You did check the obvious first?

    upload_2021-10-5_14-26-0.jpg
     
  19. Oct 5, 2021 at 11:33 AM
    #19
    Trd420

    Trd420 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2021
    Member:
    #67934
    Messages:
    5
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brian
    Vehicle:
    2001 Tundra sr5
    Yea I bought it like that at first I could hear actuators both working but didn't fully engage. So I thought was stupid problem got underneath and checked rear driveshaft was engage so I replaced front actuator still heard both working but lights flashed but not fully engaging I could hit button again and could hear both work and lights stop flashing. Now all movement of actuators have stopped. Then I replaced transfer case actuator thinking that was the reason for the stop of movement of actuator and still no movement at all of actuator just lights flashing and won't stop just by pushing button
     
  20. Oct 5, 2021 at 11:34 AM
    #20
    Trd420

    Trd420 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2021
    Member:
    #67934
    Messages:
    5
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brian
    Vehicle:
    2001 Tundra sr5
    Yea I swapped w 20 above
     
  21. Oct 5, 2021 at 11:40 AM
    #21
    Trd420

    Trd420 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2021
    Member:
    #67934
    Messages:
    5
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brian
    Vehicle:
    2001 Tundra sr5
    Would a bad wheel bearing make this happen..where nothing in the 4x4 system works..since when I could hear actuators working and now now movement at all nothing only difference is my wheel bearing making a little noise. Brake caliper locked up didn't know it started making a noise though was 4x4 that I been trying to figure out then I realized was caliper tires wouldn't spin w 2 hands. I believe that caused my wheel bearing to go bad.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top