Well I just got back from Afghanistan and my dad was driving my 4runner once a month to make sure everything was good. Well he didn't realize that he needed to drive it in 2wd and 4wd and just left it in 4 wheel. So now it's stuck. What do I need to check on to fix this? I was not happy when I got home today and I can't drive my truck around.

 

here is the fsm for the 4wd

http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1996/SIL/...24ssy/insp.pdf

 

My buddies truck used to stick in 4. He would have to drive in reverse a dozen yards or so to get it to unlock. No idea if it will help though..

 

What exactly do you mean by 'stuck in 4WD'?
a)Light stays on--not sure about anything else
b)Front diff is engaged but TC not
c)Front diff, TC, are both engaged,
I can help, but I need to know what the problem is, specifically. I assume with a 5speed you actually can get the J-shift to disengage the TC. So you would not really be in 4wd.

 

Yeah. I the light goes off and clicks. The front unbinds a little bit. I think the transfer case has disengaged.

I guess I should retitle this, front end binding?

It's kind of sharp turn to get in to the garage, and I asked my dad if it was hard to do. He didn't realize it would be easier to if it was in 2wd. I guess I'll start my work on it a few weeks sooner.
Sonoran Steel 1.2 lift
Manual Hub Conversion
New power steering rack
New AC compressor
Rock sliders
+changing all the fluids

 

If you have manual hubs and they are in the free position why is it binding up?

If it has been driven on a hard surface everything could be pretty bound up. Try driving on a loose surface to help it unbind.

 

jack up the front and turn one of the tires and see if it turns the other side, it sounds like the actuator is not releasing or stuck, might need to remove and clean it.

 

It doesn't have manual hubs yet. I was guessing it was the actuator.

 

I would troubleshoot the ADD system as follows:Start at the twin VSV's (Vacuum Switching Valves) on the driver fender wall. There are two long vacuum hoses that come up from the diff, one goes to each VSV. Check to see that one of the two hoses has vacuum (engine running, 4WD NOT engaged. If no vacuum either side, check the check valve going to the intake manifold and look for loose hoses or a hole in the reservoir. If there is vacuum on one hose, then put it in 4WD. See if the vacuum switches to the other hose. If it does, and no 4WD, problem is the diff actuator or the line to the diff. If it does not, then just switch the hoses and you should go into 4WD. This confirms diff is okay.

OK, switch them back. Then use a test light to see if electrical signal from the TC also switches sides of the VSV. If it does not, problem is the switch on the TC. If it does, but the vacuum does not, the problem is the VSV itself.

I start troubleshooting at the VSV's because you can figure out where the trouble is without having to climb under the truck.

 

Thanks. Actually if the transfer case is dissconecting then just finishing my manual hub swap should fix this problem shouldn't it?

 

I would think so. In truth, isn't locking the ADD actuator into 4wd one of the steps? (I've never done an ADD to Manual hub conversion).

 

Doesn't have to be. If you want the ability to leave the hubs locked, and still have selectable 4wd, you leave that part alone.

 

Well, if the OP wants that, then he has to fix his ADD.

 

My 96' Tacoma is stuck in 4 wheel low. I was driving in snow , I came to clean road an I shifted it back to2 wheel. Upon doing this it put the transfer case in neutral. Now I can't get it to go into anything. My brother was messing with it and got it into 4 wheel low. I removed the shifter and tried to move the linkage but it seems jammed. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

try shifting the tranny to neutral then shift the transfer case to 2WD.