Toyota Flashing 4-Hi/4-Lo & Center Differential Light Troubleshoot and Repair

Рет қаралды 60,893

2 жыл бұрын

Troubleshooting and repair of a Second Generation Toyota Sequoia/Tundra with a flashing 4-Hi /4-Lo & Center Differential light error code.
*Sorry for the terrible canned audio levels - first video from iMovie to KZfaq fee free to turn it down and follow the captions (assuming they’re correct 😹)
**This repair will also
relate to 4-Runner and Landcruiser’s with similar components**
***See attached thread for deeper context and more debugging information here:
forum.ih8mud.com/threads/flas...
Use extreme care to notate the orientation of the gear clocking. I mis-read the orientation and this lead to trouble…I also wasn’t careful removing the lower (4-Lo) actuator and it disturbed the clocking/orientation of the gear and caused two days of troubleshooting. Also, my initial thought process was that the transfer case pushrod needed to be pulled out to be disengaged - this was incorrect. Doing so causes the transfer case to lock the truck into 4-Lo and for me, it eventually put the transmission into either a limp mode or stuck in neutral. I lost forward and backward capability.
So be very aware of what you’re doing, how everything is initially installed/removed.
Lessons learned:
After reviewing previous video’s and screenshot’s, I realized the gear positioning (clocking) was wrong. I adjusted and thought the issue would clear.
The second mistake was the thought that the pushrod needed to be out, when in fact it needed to be pushed in.
After that, I disconnected the battery, and unplugged the 4WD computer module under the dash.
After reconnecting all the connectors and modules and the battery. All fault lights cleared and repair was successful.
I jumped to the conclusion that my existing 4-Lo actuator was bad, and replaced it unnecessarily causing more heartache than needed. But live and learn!
Three days later, with two sleepless nights and more frustration than I bargained for, the reward of fixing this on my own is priceless!
Not having to pay the RIDICULOUS price of $4000 quoted by my Toyota dealership to “fix the transfer case” And not paying the $1200 +/- for the actuator motor assembly from the dealership - only to need half of the assembly!?
I paid $100 for the parts off eBay and fixed this for a fraction of the price!!
Good luck!
Leave a comment or question. I’m happy to share my experience and knowledge.

Пікірлер: 70

@TedEischeid1960 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video and explanation to address this somewhat common 4WD issue in second gen Tundras. Thank you!!!

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@5thhorseman559 Жыл бұрын

Excellent! Fixed my issue, 2012 Tundra 🎉

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

Glad it helped!

@bobadler3097 Жыл бұрын

Note: I had this issue (4HI blinking, and VSC light on), I disconnected my 4hi plugs off the actuator, re-seated them, and poof it worked again flawlessly. Lest we forget, the external plugs are subject to as much or even more corrosion than the internal parts!! Or maybe it reset something with the 4wd computer? This was after trying jogging the switch back and forth, forward reverse directions, slow and fast, full tilt steering, banging on actuators with rubber mallet. 4hi, 4lo, and 2wd actuated easily. I am definitely going to exercise these actuators more often! For a minute I thought I'd be in this close to $1000. (This is on 2012 Tundra Crewmax).

@northwesttoyotas509 11 ай бұрын

Great feedback @bobadler3097 - Always appreciate the input from others who have had the same/similar issue. Helps build the knowledge base on how to affordably fix this common issue on this generation of Toyota’s.

@saudk9261 2 жыл бұрын

Great video and details on how to do this. Thanks for the effort of recording it.

@northwesttoyotas509 2 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome! Thank you for watching and commenting. I hope it helps you out. I was having a lot of frustration not having any solid information on how to fix this. The goal was to give people a resource to reference.

@19rock54 2 жыл бұрын

@@northwesttoyotas509 where did u find 4wheel computer

@northwesttoyotas509 2 жыл бұрын

@@19rock54 Under the dash, on the passenger side. It tucked up and to the right along the frame/pillar.

@seabear4328 4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much this video is very informative and helped me in my workshop

@andrewm7730 7 ай бұрын

Great video Thankyou. A pity the music takes over so you can’t really call it background music.

@northwesttoyotas509 6 ай бұрын

Yeah, I hate that I can’t edit it down. It didn’t sound as loud on my iPhone as I was editing the original video. If I take it down and change it now, I’ll loose all my “views”. I’ve entertained the idea of releasing an edit of it

@richelliott1262 Жыл бұрын

At 4:25 the solder on the left looks good, but the one one the right looks like a "cold joint" meaning you got the solder hot but not the metal to which you were soldering, and that will likely fail and break off; the best technique is to place the solder iron tip to the metal part you are soldering to get it to temp, and then touch the solder wire to it, once it starts to melt then you will have a good solder joint!

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the advice and feedback. I actually went back and re soldered the connections after the fact because I realized it was a cold joint.

@TigerRagFishingTeam Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the video. It would be a whole lot easier to hear you if you hadn't dubbed in music. I respect the fact you're trying to make the video more interesting having music however it's not really necessary in the learning type video. Nevertheless very much appreciate the video

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip - it was the first time using iMovie for this type of video and I didn’t realize the audio was SOO overdriven. I’ll never make a video again without checking the sound! Have a great day!

@forceactionguildspecialist9596 Жыл бұрын

Great vid, just kill the music next time.

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

Yeah!! I hate the soundtrack! :( First KZfaq video I posted from iMovie. I wish I could change it.😢

@aldomassa7473 11 ай бұрын

Just caught this video, strong work trouble shooting dude ! Money saved.

@northwesttoyotas509 11 ай бұрын

Stoked to help someone save money!! That’s awesome!!!

@wespower133 Жыл бұрын

It’s not necessary to replace motor if it’s working, just pull the cover/motor assembly, leaving the gear set attached to the body. Twist the gear and manually force it into 4hi a few times to break everything loose, then reassemble everything and it should work just fine. Always unhook the battery first.

@pastorfred3460 Жыл бұрын

Is the gear you are referring to the one on screen at 1:45? And if so, does the vehicle need to be in neutral? How freely should it turn? And if it is not turning, is spraying penetrating oil on it recommended? Mine will not go into the 4wd hi or low...thinkiing about tackling hi first. Also, what kind of grease is that yellow grease? I've not removed anything yet, nervous about making things worse but would really like to get the 4wd working...Thanks so much!!!!

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

Hi Fred, yes, this is the gear the previous comment is referring to. I wouldn’t spray anything in there - you should be able to turn the gear and or pushrod slightly back and forth. The yellow grease is a Toyota specific type that if you call any dealership’s parts department, they should be able to tell you what it is if you explain where it’s located. It’s the same type they use on actuator’s in their HVAC systems and elsewhere if I remember correctly. I would also recommend putting the truck in neutral with the park brake on (naturally) and seeing if you can move the gear - also, try moving the selector switch on to 4Hi… good luck! Feel free to email me directly at jordan.c.jones@hotmail.com for more questions.

@pastorfred3460 Жыл бұрын

@@northwesttoyotas509 Thank you!!!!!!!

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

@Pastor Fred - Check out my Shorts page, there’s a video in there that shows the clocking on the 4-Lo actuator and the push rod. Might help a little.

@pastorfred3460 Жыл бұрын

@@northwesttoyotas509 Excellent!

@snakeinthegrass7630 Жыл бұрын

That Music ruined an otherways good video

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I agree. It was my first full length video like this editing with iMovie. The audio over drove the rest of it. Live and learn.

@shcaskey 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. Im in the same boat currently. I'm working on the top motor/cover. Were you in 2wd/park when you began the project? What position was the actuator rod in when you removed the cover? was your gear set under spring tension when you removed it? my history: I was removing the transfer case and broke the vent pipe and electrical connection on top of the "top" cover. Im simply replacing the top cover. "simply" is an understatement. I've been cross-referencing videos to get a complete picture. my transfer case is out of the vehicle right now so the actuator is accessible. id like to get it set right before I put it back in. the original gears never came out of the actuator but they did release tension. Thanks for your help.

@northwesttoyotas509 2 жыл бұрын

1:36 is a view/shot of looking down at the upper actuator….Let me watch the video again and find where I show how it looked when it came out of the unit for the clocking.

@northwesttoyotas509 2 жыл бұрын

2:10 shows how the clocking looked. To answer your other questions. I was in 2WD and in Park. I never got a picture of the stroke of the push rod, sorry. I hope you’re able to get enough of an idea on what you need to fix your issue. I did however adjust the stroke of the push rod on the lower (4-Lo) actuator and that was a source of a lot of my errors/issues.

@user-qc1tl9uf7u Жыл бұрын

Hello. Please tell me how to properly install the rod and gear of the lower cover of the drive on the Toyota Tundra during assembly? (4H/4L)

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

If you watch the video, it will show you the proper orientation. If you need more help, please reach out directly at: Jordan.c.jones@hotmail.com

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

Check out my Shorts page, there’s a video in there that shows the clocking on the 4-Lo actuator.

@arthurle288 Жыл бұрын

Hi, can you explain or show me how to set low and high motor (timing the low and high motor) please. Thank You.

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

If you watch the video, it will show you the proper clocking of the gears and their relationship. If you have more questions, please reach out at Jordan.c.jones@hotmail.com

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

Check out my Shorts page, there’s a video in there that shows the clocking on the 4-Lo actuator.

@mrdrivermechanictv4213 7 ай бұрын

Nice

@jbags6817 5 ай бұрын

What were your initial lights that came on when trying to put it into 4hi? I have a 2010 now that blinks both the 4hi and locked center diff lights when I attempt to put it in 4hi. I’ve already had someone turn the truck to on and then turn the 4wd dial to 4hi and I hear no noise from the actuator.

@northwesttoyotas509 5 ай бұрын

I initially had the 4hi and locked center diff light on when trying to engage 4Hi.

@staceyfromkc Жыл бұрын

best yet on 4x4 actuator

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

Thank you!! 🙂

@unknownname9719 7 ай бұрын

My 2010 Sequoia would go into 4Hi just fine, but wouldn't go into 4Lo. It would only flash 4Lo. For some reason it did not beep at me even though it wasn't in 4Lo. I tested this by putting it on four jack stands, then letting off the brake while in gear. After going to 4Lo (not actually locked in) I couldn't get it back out of 4Lo, or 4Hi without turning the ignition off. When I turned the ignition back on it would reset the system for me and the 4Lo light on the dash would go out. I took the 4Lo actuator cover off and found that the contacts under the big plastic gear were rusted looking. I used a paper towel to wiped all the brown gunk/rust off of both sides. Then I smeared some of the grease in the case back on the contact strips. I wasn't too sure about the "clocking" of the gears, so when I pulled the case off, I marked a tooth on the large gear with a sliver Shapie and put a dot on the case. I also jumped the motor with a 12v battery to make sure it worked. I did this while I had the large plastic gear removed. In addition to that, I tested the micro switch for continuity. Before replacing the actuator on the transfer case , I checked the shift rod to make sure it moved freely, which it moved easily. After putting it all back together it works great now. It must have been the dirty contacts that were causing the problem. One more thing to note, my vent hose was still connected but looked very similar to the one in this video. I tried to pull on it to get more tube so I could cut the end off and re-use it, but it wouldn't give me any slack. I ended up pulling the hose off the other end on accident. I found out it was attached to an 1/8" plastic tube. The nipple on the actuator case is about 3/16". The two different sizes is probably the reason the hose end on the actuator nipples are cracking. I ended up using some clear 1/8" fuel vent hose and made it fit over the actuator. Hopefully it doesn't crack like the original hose did. It's not a hard job and maybe took me an hour to do, plus the time to get it on jack stands. You only need a 12mm socket, some extensions, and a good Philps screwdriver to get the actuator out.

@northwesttoyotas509 6 ай бұрын

Excellent description of how you fixed it!! Thanks for sharing!

@chakriyasou 4 ай бұрын

My vacuum hose was probably off for 2+ years. I just re-connected it today. I'll try disconnecting everything to see if it will fix the flashing 4wd indicators.

@Rogue951 3 ай бұрын

Its not a vacuum hose.

@chakriyasou 3 ай бұрын

@Rogue951 Vent hose? I stand corrected. Not my area of expertise. It resembles the rubber vacumm lines under the hood. Must be a common thing that happens on 4th gens.

@willrobinson6866 4 ай бұрын

Can I purchase the 4LO outer actuator cover somewhere? Mine is missing the little metal arm on the side and gets stuck in 4lo

@jakegarcia7678 Ай бұрын

I have one extra if u want buy it

@johnh6202 Жыл бұрын

Could you tell me where and the part number you got the new motor?

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

There’s no existing part number for just the motor. Toyota only sells the actuators as an entire assembly that costs $1300 +/-. I got mine off a parts vehicle.

@fffinga 2 жыл бұрын

Where can I get the actuator motor? I am frustrated trying to locate the motor alone. Dealer charging me an arm and a kidney

@kwmedia1 Жыл бұрын

I have a couple and new gears too. Ebay has the motors.. $3 or so.. the gear has to be cut off.. so u will need a gear I think..

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

I found mine on eBay. I had no luck trying to find the motor alone - I looked for the PN - spent HOURS - to no avail. I ended up buying the assembly online - the guy sent me the gears/assembly - minus the push rod/fork arms that you don’t need. This fix didn’t require breaking into the transfer case - but the dealership will charge you to do so. 🙄

@fffinga Жыл бұрын

@@northwesttoyotas509 Could you send me the link to the buyer? I eventually got the motor to work but it is in terrible condition including rot on some areas. Getting it to work involved using methods typically not recommended but the corrosion issue that jammed it was resolved.

@jasonlight6623 Жыл бұрын

@@northwesttoyotas509 any chance you could point me in the right direction for parts?

@northwesttoyotas509 Жыл бұрын

It was a random eBay search. I can’t seem to find the seller anywhere/anymore. :( sorry.