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Repair 2006 4Runner 4WD engagement system

ctwo

ctwo

Merely Rhetorical
Joined
Feb 5, 2015
Location
auf der motobahn
Moto(s)
motato
Name
Heyou
Hey all,


Can anyone advise a good shop or recommendation, and estimated cost to repair?

The 4WD drive is broken on a soon to be mine 4Runner.

I think this is the problem.

http://carspecmn.com/toyota-4runner...uator-replacement-and-transfer-case-overview/

But I'm not sure. I read somewhere that if it's the solenoid in the transfer case, that needs to be sent to Japan or exchanged for a whole new xfer case, because noody in the US is authorized/trained to fix it.
 
you could try Toy Connection in santa clara. read their google reviews, my expeirence matched the reviews. good work, customer interaction could use a lot of work

also look around on www.ih8mud.com for more repair options. it's an offroad focused forum for toyotas predominantly landcruisers but there is a lot of 4runner content too and it looks like your malfunctioning part may cross over to a LC part.

"sent to japan or exchanged for a new xfer case" sounds like BS to me.
 
I can tell you that with fords and chevy throughout the late 90's and 00's, when the transfer case won't engage, nine times out of the ten it's the transfer case motor/actuator. They often start acting up in cold weather, but will then engage on a warmer day. The toyota actuator looks silly by including the shaft with the actuator, because then you have to pull the thing out an entire foot before it comes off. There's typically not enough room anywhere on a car to pull anything a foot straight out, save for a wheel or something. I think I would take it somewhere, and I'm generally a fan of gambling a bit by throwing parts at stuff.
 
ctwo said:
Hey all,


Can anyone advise a good shop or recommendation, and estimated cost to repair?

The 4WD drive is broken on a soon to be mine 4Runner.

I think this is the problem.

http://carspecmn.com/toyota-4runner...uator-replacement-and-transfer-case-overview/

But I'm not sure. I read somewhere that if it's the solenoid in the transfer case, that needs to be sent to Japan or exchanged for a whole new xfer case, because noody in the US is authorized/trained to fix it.
Click to expand...

Is 4WD not engaging? I had a similar issue (V8 model) where it wouldnt engage into 4L. The actuator is notorious for freezing if not cycled regularly.
I got the car on a lift..and used a pipe to bang on the actuator..while someone in the car tried to engage 4H to 4L

search on youtube..common problem if 4WD isnt used.
 
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black cx said:
Is 4WD not engaging? I had a similar issue (V8 model) where it wouldnt engage into 4L. The actuator is notorious for freezing if not cycled regularly.
I got the car on a lift..and used a pipe to bang on the actuator..while someone in the car tried to engage 4H to 4L

search on youtube..common problem if 4WD isnt used.
Click to expand...

So it would go from 2wd to 4wd H?
 
Yes, I'm sure something is seized. 4WD probably wasn't used for 12 years. I need to learn how it works and which actuators to scrutinize. I read some about diff locks and xfer case. The xfer case part is being listed often for around $2-300 up to over $800. Some on ebay are around $70.

I'm getting too old to be dropping xfer cases, but I'll do it to save a grand or whatever. It just seems complicated.

I don't have the car yet but have agreed to buy it.

BTW 6cy SR5
 
Check the linkage first. If it's anything older Jeeps with rods used for linkage, I'd suggest using some heim joints and some fastener bits to replace the whole assembly. My '97 Grand Cherokee has had this setup for 15+ years and I haven't touched it since for adjustments.
 
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ctwo said:
Yes, I'm sure something is seized. 4WD probably wasn't used for 12 years. I need to learn how it works and which actuators to scrutinize. I read some about diff locks and xfer case. The xfer case part is being listed often for around $2-300 up to over $800. Some on ebay are around $70.

I'm getting too old to be dropping xfer cases, but I'll do it to save a grand or whatever. It just seems complicated.

I don't have the car yet but have agreed to buy it.

BTW 6cy SR5
Click to expand...

Jack up the car and put it on jackstands. Have someone try to engage 4H..you can actually hear the actuator trying to engage. That’s where you want to tap it with a pipe to unfreeze it
 
Yeah, I rolled under there, could hear a faint high pitched sound. Once seemed to be intermittent, like the dash beeper (but wasn't that) and then once just steady. But the engine was on so hard to hear it. I gather it was a motor or solenoid trying to move and giving an electrical hum.
 
I saw a video the other day where someone opened it. If it's just the little motor that's gone bad, it looked like it could be fixed from underneath without removing the actuator assembly.
 
Ultimately, the seller took the truck to the dealer and they quoted $2k to fix the most likely problem, so they took that off the outrageous price that CarMax offered, so I bought it for $11.5k. Still a grand or two overpriced (but it was a garage ornament with only 33k miles and anything else was just as nutty back then).

But the good news is that last weekend, as I do whenever I drive it, I tried 4Hi and it went in after ~15 sec. WooHoo!

Then I tried the xfer case lock and that went in too!!!

Finally went for 4Lo and just got a blinking dash light with beeping. Bummer. But I read some more about it and discovered the proper 4Lo engaging procedure is to stop in N, and then engage 4Lo, and it shifted right in! I was so happy.

Then I had to try the DAC button. I had no idea what that was, but assumed it would do something like my Camry does when going down a hill and riding the brake while the car still speeds up - it downshifts! An automatic that downshifts for engine braking. I actually hate that feature and thought it was great this has a button to turn it off.

So, while tooling around and letting it coast downhill, I discovered what DAC is on this vehicle. An awful grinding/gear snapping noise that causes your sorts to get soiled! I literally thought the trans was puking gears, but it's really just hammering the ABS independently on each wheel to maintain <3MPH - a primitive form of Toyota's newer "crawl" mode.

After exercising the system some more it goes into 4Hi much quicker and everything seems to be working as it should.

Now, where is there a hill around the SB I can climb? I just wanna try it somewhere once, not really make a day of it at Hollister.
 
go drive around in los altos hills and see if anyone hasn't blocked off their orchard/front yard. that's what the kids that drove lifted trucks in highschool did after rain storms. the morning announcements were awesome "the cops in los altos called and said they're looking for you guys with muddy trucks next time it rains. knock it off"
 
Thanks for reminding me. It has to be regularly engaged or it sees to go to sleep. Mine went through a period where it didn;t seem to work but I kept trying and finally it did and has since (i have 2006 4Runner). I don’t remember replacing anything but I did have it looked at by WC Toyota.
We all have to get out there in the action!! Ha. I even have the “Sport Edition” which has the hopelessly expensive X-Reas suspension. Mine is kinda shot and the repair is as expensive as the vehicle itself. Gonna call Toy Connection, because I want to convert it to simple shocks but can;t find any shop who has actually ever done it. Thanks for link!
 
I love the 4WD engagement system on my 2000 Tundra. I LOVE not having to get out and manually lock hubs.
If the system has not been used for a long time I'd seriously suggest having the transfer case and differential fluids flushed and refreshed.
 
Hey guys, just wondering if the "Use it or lose it" also applies to Tacomas. My son has a 2003 4x4 (TuRD Pro). I never considered it, but he might need to do the same as your 4Runners? Thanks!
 
Yes, Tacomas too, at least according to the owners manual. They say to ensure the front gears get lubricated periodically, but I've read enough about stuck actuators.

I misunderstood the x-fer case lock. I thought it locked the diffs too. Guess not. Maybe I had that notion as well on my 82 SR5 PU with the manually locking hubs.

Oh yeah, and the owners manual description of the failure - the indicator blinks to remind you you're not in 4WD... :laughing
 
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