grinding gears shifting into 4L

My 2024 OR runs fine in 2H and easily shifts into 4H at normal speeds. But, when I try to shift into 4L I get grinding gears. Of course, I stopped and put it in neutral first.

From 4H, stopped and in neutral, when I push the 4x4 level to the right and up, it goes to the right but when I push it up the gears start grinding. From that point, I can’t move it forward or back without the gears grinding. Today I had to put it in park and turn off the engine before I could shift back through 4H to 2H. In fact, this only worked 2/3 times—once I could not shift the 4x4 lever back to the left even with the engine off. Turning the engine on and off again then let me do that.
The first time I noticed this was a few months ago but it made the noise momentarily and then let me go into and out of 2L. I think today was the next time I tried.
Any thoughts? I have never used 4L much—mostly just put it there every few months and run through the options (A-trac, etc.) to wake everything up.
Thanks.

 

Are you shoving the lever where you want it? I hear that's the way to shift.

 

Don't limp wrist it. Go directly from L to H or H to L in one swift move. Stopping will cause grinding.

I even made a lame video.

https://youtu.be/hRIroj-UwH0?si=k2-XldBHoMGS1KRv

 

ok, I’ll try that. I think that with the slightest hint of grind I’ve scared myself into being even more gentle, probably from 30 year old PTSD from wrecking the manual transmission in my chevette by ignoring a clutch problem and just cramming it into gear.

Was going to edit to add that the AT/P light came on (a first for me), I think in the midst of maybe being in Park with 4x4 level in no-man’s land between 4H and 4L. I guess that is normal.

 

My 2022 did that until I swapped out the t case fluid w/ MT-LV. It seems better now. Also shifting fast kind of helps. Don’t force it, but don’t baby it into place either. Shift like you mean it.

the more you do it the easier it will get

If it was older I might recommend swapping the neutral safety switch. It’s counterintuitive since I used to think “I have a manual transfer case lever, that shouldn’t matter” but in reality everything is done with solenoids on these things. The t case lever is essentially asking permission. The ecu then checks position of all systems before sending the command. I’ve personally seen switching that neutral position sensor out make using the transfer case lever much easier.

Again, with how new your 4Runner is I can’t imagine that sensors already going. Just shift like you mean it and it should get easier. If it doesn’t, go ahead and swap the fluid and report back

 

Exceptional video I enjoyed every second of it.

I realize this sounds sarcastic but I’m being genuine lol

 

It's a Toyota, it will handle you just grabbing gears.

That light came on to warn you that park with the trans but neutral at the transfer case will not keep the vehicle from rolling.

 

Have you seen my baseball?

 

?

 

Something about Mary. Appartly I said "throw it like a baseball" a couple of times.

 

It was funny. Usually sports references aren’t my thing.

Not a fan of watching men play with their balls

 

Thanks everybody, that did the trick! I think at the first hint of a grinding noise (just being lazy or slow or tired or absent minded one time), I got more and more gentle with it, and so it got worse and worse. Thanks!

Now, off to watch Something about Mary!

 

Try not to get hair gel on the headliner.