1999 4runner limited 4x4 dash light flashing

Go easy on me lol I’m new to 4runners and Toyotas in general. I just bought a 1999 limited with 250,000 miles and the 4x4 indicator on the dash is just flashing but when I push the 4hi button on the side of the shifter it stops for a couple seconds then resumes what could be the problem?

 

Welcome

 

Welcome

 

Will it shift into 4wd at all, regardless of the light?

 

It has been sitting for almost a year and I tried to put it into 4wd and didn’t notice a difference.

 

Get a 8oz deadblow and with it trying to engage and in neutral try lightly tapping on the actuator while rocking the vehicle slightly but have the wheels blocked if it rolls too far.

 

If you have access to a lift, you could put the vehicle on the lift, engage 4wd and see if all the wheels spin. You could potentially use jackstands too. Just keep it safe if you do. My thinking is to figure out if 4wd does work for sure - both 4Lo & 4Hi - to figure out if this is something to do with the transfer case/4wd system, or just the light itself

 

So I just jacked it up and it is in fact stuck in 2wd

 

Did you try tapping on the actuator lightly? It's probably stuck.

 

This is useful info. Have you done a transfer case oil change? Who knows, maybe thats all it needs. It'll be one of the cheaper things to try to troubleshoot. I drained my T Case when I bought my 2nd Gen, and there was hardly any oil in it!!

 

Also try banging on the T case around the actuator just don't hurt anything by going too hard.

 

I’ve tried banging the t case actuator to no success lol I’ll try changing the t case oil tomorrow.

 

If you have someone else try to engage it while you're underneath can you hear the motor running or making any noise?

 

The motor does not sound like it is engaging.

 

Hope this is an easy fix.

Wonder if it could be the actuator itself?

 

Ok so what we need now is to know if you have power to the actuator. Anybody got a electrical schematic?

 

How would I go about checking to see if I have power to the actuator? Just checked the transfer case oil and it was very very low lol

 

Does it drive fine in 2wd?

 

Yes it drives fine in 2wd just checked the t case actuator connectors and they are working fine.it sounds like the motor try’s to start up when I first start the car but doesn’t do anything, any advice?

 

This seems tough to figure out! I'll keep digging into it to see what I can find. I hope this is an easy fix. I know broken 4wd can cost a lot to fix. I was looking at a 4th gen with broken 4wd and a mechanic said depending on what the problem was, could be at least $4,000 (CAD) minimum. I passed on that one. Really hope you get this figured!

 

Thanks everyone for your help It means a lot!!So I might have figured it out? The 2 connectors that plug into are good but only one of the connectors that plug into them are ohming out, any idea what that means lol?

 

Ok so it sounds like you have power to the actuator so it's probably seized internally.

A 4th gen you can pull the manual T case out of a junk yard fj and it bolts right in after changing a couple oil seals. All you have to do then is weld shifter for it to work in the 4runner.

 

Take pictures of both and tell us which one checks out and which one doesn't.

 

Ok another question does the front driveshaft spin when not in 4wd? Because I was banging on the transfer actuator and now the front drive shaft spins but it’s still in 2wd?

 

I don't believe it should spin in 2wd. That must mean you are in 4wd somehow

 

Spins by hand or spins from engine power?

 

It should still be spinning when driving around from the front wheels driving it.

 

The shaft spins by engine power I had it on some jackstands and it is in 2wd lol this is a tricky one

 

So with all 4 wheels off the ground and it in two wheel drive it spins the front shaft?

If the answer to above is yes are the front wheels also spinning?