Stuck in 2WD - 4x4 issues

[TextorFJ62]

Guys,
My 4 wheel drive had been acting funny and it didn't like coming out, but it was working. I took a trip to Tahoe and on the way back wanted it in 4 wheel so I locked the hubs and put it in 4x4 at chain control before Donner Pass. It started pulling to the right (may have been the groves in the pavement?) and it was making a recurring noise like wurrr, wurr, wurr. It also felt very strange and the wheel vibrated a bit. I couldn't really get above 25 mph so I took it out of 4 wheel. It just didn't feel right. It took a long time to disengage, but it finally did. I was in snow with no shoulder and couldn't unlock the hubs for about 15 miles going about 40 mph at most. Did I screw the pooch? I have it at Toyota today and they say it won't even engage in 4 wheel anymore.

Anyone have this happen? Anyone know what the fix might cost? IE new Diff or front axle rebuild??

I have searched but haven't found anything on possible cost...I can't do this on my own as I have no garage here in San Francisco! I hate taking it in, but its all I can do.

Thanks in advance.

--Andrew

 

[nodaksn3]

Hey Andrew! My advice: go back to Toyota and pick it up. Make sure that the front hubs are unlocked. Sometimes the transfer case gets "bound up" and you need to back up to unbind it. I NEVER switch into or out of 4-wd on the fly, no matter what anybody says, not even on the road to Truckee. I always either let it coast to a stop, or slowly stop and back up just a bit to take out the bind. Then it usually easily goes out of 4-wd. Also, I can't remember my old '62, but you may have a fuse blown (need some help here), but I'd get it away from Toy before they touch it. It's old eneough to where most of their mechanics have never seen one. Pleanty of other guys here with better facts than me. Also, check the FAQ. Those things are tough! Good luck, Ned

 

[CruisinFJ60]

ill bet they tested it when not running... it has to have vacume to actuate the 4wd... i bet they saw a button then pushed it and assumed it was fully electric. get someone in your area that is cruiser savy to take a peek the little solinoid thingys under the hood on the passenger side firewall can go out over time or you may have a vac. leak. start there its nothing major im sure.

 

[TextorFJ62]

All sound advice. I had great guys in Seattle that knew the rig. I am new down here and never even thought about the guys not knowing anything...The thing is the dealership owner has a sweet FJ60 on his floor and he does all the work there at the service department. I read up about going backwards and I am heading in there right now to get it back. It felt pretty weird and I just wanted to make sure it wasn't totally chewed up or anything. Thanks for the advice. I am going to try and do the reverse thing first and go from there. I'll update if anything comes up. Thanks guys!

 

[TextorFJ62]

Ok so it's a vacuum issue with the switches. They couldn't get the thing to engage with the switch, only got it to work manually. I guess it was only engaging the passenger side front tire. So now my question is how to fix it. Toyota is saying they want to replace the switches, all three of them? I guess there is one on the tranny, one on the front diff and another somewhere else? Either way I know 4x4 works so I'm happy.

You guys know of a easier way to fix this? The replacements are going to be about 500 with labor...Not that cool if it can be done easier.

I don't care about the light working, just getting it in and out of 4x4. Suggestions would be awesome. There doesn't seem to be any threads where getting into 4x4 is the issue.

 

[RredFJ40]

It cannot only engage one side, that has nothing to do the the tcase. I'd better one hub is whacked - it might be toast inside, or more likely was put together wrong during some type of maintenace.

As to the switches - most likely the switch on the dash is fine, there is no switch on the tranny but there is one on the tcase that automatically engages 4wd if you move your tcase lever from H to L.
My bet is on the solenoids on the firewall.

See if swapping the hoses going to the tcase fixes the problem. one solenoid pulls the tcase into 4wd and the other pulls it out of 4wd. Since your problem is putting it into 4wd push your 4wd button in, then swap the hoses (with the engine running of course). If it is a solenoid it will then go into 4wd. Then push the 4wd button again - it should then NOT come back into 2wd. Swapping the hoses again should allow it to go back into 2wd.

If this is the case toyota used similar solenoids in all their cars for a variety of purposes, most of which will be a cheaper option than the "Land Cruiser" part. Search the forum for "4wd solenoid" or some such, you should find plenty of help.

 

[2mbb]

If you can't do the work yourself, my advice would be to take it to Gary Kardum at Mudrak in Sonoma. As RredFJ40 said, the transfer case and it's switches only engage the drive shaft and the hi/lo gears. Engagement of the left and right front tires is done by the locking hubs. Your mechanic should know this. Gary will know this. Gary might also be inclined to seek alternate solutions to the mantra of the dealership which is to "replace" not repair...

MCC - Mudrak Custom Cruiser

 

[NocalFJ60]

MCC - Mudrak Custom Cruiser

x2 . Take it to Gary.

 

[TextorFJ62]

It cannot only engage one side, that has nothing to do the the tcase. I'd better one hub is whacked - it might be toast inside, or more likely was put together wrong during some type of maintenace.

--They got all 4 wheels turning so I guess it was just the ruts in the road making it pull right. Mechanically it works fine.

[/quote] As to the switches - most likely the switch on the dash is fine, there is no switch on the tranny but there is one on the tcase that automatically engages 4wd if you move your tcase lever from H to L.
My bet is on the solenoids on the firewall.[/quote]

Sorry for the dumb question but what exactly is a solenoid? Is it a motor that provides suction and pressure through tubing?

[/quote] See if swapping the hoses going to the tcase fixes the problem. one solenoid pulls the tcase into 4wd and the other pulls it out of 4wd. Since your problem is putting it into 4wd push your 4wd button in, then swap the hoses (with the engine running of course). If it is a solenoid it will then go into 4wd. Then push the 4wd button again - it should then NOT come back into 2wd. Swapping the hoses again should allow it to go back into 2wd.[/quote]

Since they got it to engage I would assume they did this. Either the way you describe here or by using an outside source for suction and pressure??

[/quote] If this is the case toyota used similar solenoids in all their cars for a variety of purposes, most of which will be a cheaper option than the "Land Cruiser" part. Search the forum for "4wd solenoid" or some such, you should find plenty of help.[/quote]

Solenoids sound like they are far cheaper than new switches. I have the truck back with no $ paid. If they go an replace all the switches and it's the solenoids then I'm still up a creek right? From what I understand they may not have even checked them so replacing the switches could be totally futile correct?

Thank you all for the help on this. I am probably going to end up taking it up to Gary at Mudrak's next week. I want to make sure you think my thinking is straight. If the switches are not the problem then I don't want new ones!

Thanks guys.

 

[Tvaldriz]

Gary will treat you right, and if it does not need something, you
won't get it.

 

[Phrog]

Another piece of information that may be useful: new OEM vacuum-actuated solenoids are expensive (the labor involved in replacing them is
trivial). However there are alternatives, including one off a mid-1990s
Toyota Celica (or was it a Camry?), and one you can build yourself. Do a
search on this Forum and you'll find several imaginative ways to avoid
using the $$$ OEM new solenoid.

-Phrog