4WD indicator light on dash ('68 FJ40) (1 Viewer)

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Joined
Feb 28, 2011
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Location
Bainbridge Island, WA
My dash has a light just below the turn signal indicator. It does nothing. I checked the owners manual and it says it only applies to "remote control type transmission". WHAT? :confused:

My cruiser is a 6/68 model with 3 speed on the column. I pulled the dash apart and there's no bulb or bulb socket in the dash indicator. I bought a spare turn signal indicator thinking that would do it. No. It doesn't light up at all.

Does anyone know how this is supposed to work? What is a remote control transmission?
 
on my 69' turns green when 4WD is engaged

Do you have the transmission type that is engaged by pulling a knob under the dash? I have a knob "F.D" that I pull to engage 4WD. No locking hubs.

If that is what mine should do then I wonder where I find the switch that trips this bulb. And I wonder why there wasn't a bulb on mine. I don't know why someone would remove everything behind the indicator.
 
Yep, here's a pic. I believe the switch is on the/near the transfer case under the passenger side.
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hmmm the 4wd should be vacuum actuated ( the knob you pull opens a gate int the vacuum switch, which is hooked to your manifold vacuum, which triggers a switch for 4wd ( follow the vacuum lines form the firewall switch ) where these 2 vacuum hoses hook up 2 wires should also be there, these control the 4wd light.
edit /// ooops the 69 might be slightly dif than my 1964 sorry!

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Alright, I'll have to check all of that out when I get back into town.

The vacuum switch you are pointing out does exist in my engine compartment. I will have to hook a sensor up to the connectors off the wiring harness to see if any juice is flowing. I hope I can rig this turn signal indicator socket to work for this 4WD indicator. The wiring diagram shows the socket for 4WD having two wires. Turn signal only has one.
 
post some photos inside your cab by the 4wd switch, under the dash maybe, and under your hood all showing the back fo the fire wall :)

Might help peeps see what you have set up and might help trouble shoot :)
 
Ok. I'll get some photos. Spector shows this 4WD indicator switch being a plunger style electrical, not vacuum. I'm guessing just like the one for the reverse light that is bolted onto the steering column.

I just really hope this light socket will work.

Photos next weekend. I'm traveling all week.
 
The Transfer case switch is vacuum activated when the F.D switch is pulled the cable opens the Vacuum valve on the fire wall is what opens the diaphragm on the transfer case witch shift front drive in and out.
The F.D switch light will indicate that the front drive is in gauged the indicator should light up, but the engine has to be running you do need vacuum.

The actual 4WD indicator switch is located on the nose cone of the transfer case, a switch with two blue with white striped wires, with power to one side when the circuit is completed meaning the vacuum switch is open the light is on :idea:
 
teh vacuum lines hook up to the transfer case bit, that engages the 4wd like Dusty jsut mentioned :)

The little blue and white wires control the curcuit as mentioned as well,

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I have a dumb question, is your 4wd engaging for sure?

Or is the problem that it engages fine into 4wd but the light is just not turning green?

You mentioned that there was no light socket behind you 4wd light.
But you found a light socket and light, but where did you hook it up?

I can look under my dash and tell you where my wires connect, but there is no guarantee that the color coding of the wires from my 1964 is the same as yours, or if you wiring harness is even stock :)

But is sounds like :

a) your 4wd light indicator was missing a bulb and socket/wiring///
b) you replaced that light and socket
c) are not sure where the 4wd light socket wiring should connect too under the dash
b) not sure if you wiring on the transfer case switch are connected ( does not matter which side the 2 wires that are supposed to connect, actually connect to the transfer case btw, just completes a circuit :) )


let me peak under my dash and see if i can help at all :)

Let me know if my list and photos are helping or not, :)
I am not trying to overwhelm you, it is probably something simple :)
 
ok I looked under my dash, the 4wd bulb/light socket should have two wires running to it, so I believe a turn signal bulb/socket /light would not work ( it needs to complete a circuit to come on when the 4wd is engaged )
 
You cold just reach under and grab the front drive shaft While the F.D is pulled and see If It is locked or spinning free I can usually hear the F.D engage. you may have to rock the tranny a little bit sometimes to
git the gears lined up.
102.jpg
This is the indicator light
 
You cold just reach under and grab the front drive shaft While the F.D is pulled and see If It is locked or spinning free I can usually hear the F.D engage. you may have to rock the tranny a little bit sometimes to
git the gears lined up.
102.jpg
This is the indicator light

ah whoa my bad, maybe the 1968 only has one wire to the indicator light :D
Maybe a dif in the wire harness from the years, sorry about that :D
 
Destin, wow, single-handedly the most helpful response in the history of the internet. Thanks for all of that information. Now I know where to start looking for wires.

Yes, there was no light at all. Just the indicator lens screwed into the dash. There has got to be a way I can solder another wire onto this circuit that will make this turn-signal socket a 4wd socket. I just paid 10 bucks for this thing.

I can see the two wires behind the dash where the socket goes. Not sure why I was only expecting one. When I saw two I realized I was off and made this post. Now that you show me the vacuum stuff on the trans it makes sense. I was testing these wires with the motor off.

My Cruiser goes into 4WD just fine and does a damn good job off road. But I'm a purist and I want every single thing working properly...including this light! It's the last thing in the interior that doesn't work.
 
Destin, thanks for the Cruiser Porn I never get tired of that Truck. Just a sweet Restore.

I never tire of it either. I get to drive by and oogle it every workday morning. :D

So, my 71 was upgraded from a 3-speed transmission/vacuum operated transfer to the later 4-speed version, is there any way to activate the 4WD lamp? Or did Toyota figure looking at the shift lever was enough?
 
Does anyone have a photo of the light socket for this indicator light with two wires?

I've become completely obsessed...like many on here. I think I have it. The one wire is a power feed from the dash cluster. The other wire runs to the transmission and that switch on the trans mission is simply grounding it. This would explain why that indicator light on the dash has a plastic backing. It prevents the light from grounding out. All I need to do is solder a wire to the side of this turn signal socket and run it to the trans switch. DONE! Fingers crossed.
 
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