2008 Four-Wheel Drive Won't Engage

SGW Gunsmith

SGW Gunsmith

Member
We've been getting some snow lately and when I went to turn the switch from H2 to H4 to go into 4 wheel drive, the four wheel drive icon on the dash just blinks. It will not go into 4-wheel drive.

What's broke? Is there now a lost connection between the on switch and engagement of the front axle?

Thanks for any help offered.
 
Are you moving forward and off the throttle when trying to engage? If it's just flashing green then you may have a problem with the front axle disconnect called ADD (Automatic Disconnecting Differential).
 
whippersnapper02 said:
Are you moving forward and off the throttle when trying to engage? If it's just flashing green then you may have a problem with the front axle disconnect called ADD (Automatic Disconnecting Differential).
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Yes, basically it's just flashing green when I turn the switch to H4, not moving forward.
 
whippersnapper02 said:
Try shifting while driving. Usually I let off the gas to let the shift happen easier. Did it work before?
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I'm gonna try that today, and yes it did work fine just the other day when we got dumped with a bunch of white stuff. This is a bought new 2008, and up until now, I haven't had any issues at all with this truck. Before this one, I had a 2002 that got T-boned by a HUGE oak tree when I slid off an icy road and rolled over. Very hard on the "Jockey briefs".
 
SGW Gunsmith said:
I'm gonna try that today, and yes it did work fine just the other day when we got dumped with a bunch of white stuff. This is a bought new 2008, and up until now, I haven't had any issues at all with this truck. (Smile) Before this one, I had a 2002 that got T-boned by a HUGE oak tree when I slid off an icy road and rolled over. (Cry) Very hard on the "Jockey briefs".(laugh)
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Makes me smile, cry and laugh.
 
SGW Gunsmith said:
We've been getting some snow lately and when I went to turn the switch from H2 to H4 to go into 4 wheel drive, the four wheel drive icon on the dash just blinks. It will not go into 4-wheel drive.

What's broke? Is there now a lost connection between the on switch and engagement of the front axle?

Thanks for any help offered.
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Welcome to the forum.
 
OR17TRD said:
Welcome to the forum.
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Thank you sir! The closest Toyota dealers up here are either in Superior WI, or Eau Claire WI, both are over an hour away, so it was by chance, and luck, that I even found this forum. There are no car dealerships here in Sarona, in fact it says "Sarona" on both the coming and going sides of the sign along highway 53. So, if you miss the turn-off, you'll never know you were here.
 
SGW Gunsmith said:
Thank you sir! The closest Toyota dealers up here are either in Superior WI, or Eau Claire WI, both are over an hour away, so it was by chance, and luck, that I even found this forum. There are no car dealerships here in Sarona, in fact it says "Sarona" on both the coming and going sides of the sign along highway 53. So, if you miss the turn-off, you'll never know you were here.
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Welcome to the forum. Did you ever find a solution?
 
One of my customers owns a tire business in Rice Lake, WI, so I drove over to his place. He put my truck up on the lift with one of his guys inside. When they put the dashboard switch into H4 the front wheels would turn and they could not stop the wheels by grabbing onto 'em. Turn the switch back to H2 and the front wheels would no longer turn.
The vacuum lines are both good and all the ADD wires are hooked up correctly. Still the little "four wheel icon" blinks. He was thinking that it just might be the switch is bad. Any of you folks think that could be the case? I can't see how to get that switch removed and replaced.

TIA
 
SGW Gunsmith said:
One of my customers owns a tire business in Rice Lake, WI, so I drove over to his place. He put my truck up on the lift with one of his guys inside. When they put the dashboard switch into H4 the front wheels would turn and they could not stop the wheels by grabbing onto 'em. Turn the switch back to H2 and the front wheels would no longer turn.
The vacuum lines are both good and all the ADD wires are hooked up correctly. Still the little "four wheel icon" blinks. He was thinking that it just might be the switch is bad. Any of you folks think that could be the case? I can't see how to get that switch removed and replaced.

TIA
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If it’s running in 4 High that limits what could be wrong. Did you try it in 4 Low also? Traction Control Working? If all systems are engaging and working properly that buys you some time.
As far as finding out the underlying cause I’d probably take it to a dealership or a reputable shop at this point before you replace a switch or something that may not alleviate the problem.
 
SGW Gunsmith said:
One of my customers owns a tire business in Rice Lake, WI, so I drove over to his place. He put my truck up on the lift with one of his guys inside. When they put the dashboard switch into H4 the front wheels would turn and they could not stop the wheels by grabbing onto 'em. Turn the switch back to H2 and the front wheels would no longer turn.
The vacuum lines are both good and all the ADD wires are hooked up correctly. Still the little "four wheel icon" blinks. He was thinking that it just might be the switch is bad. Any of you folks think that could be the case? I can't see how to get that switch removed and replaced.

TIA
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whippersnapper02 said:
I've never had mine apart but I think it's all contained in the one actuator.
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If the switch was bad wouldn’t it cause the 4WD system not to engage at all?
Usually the continuous blinking is an indicator for service/possible damage.

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SGW Gunsmith said:
We've been getting some snow lately and when I went to turn the switch from H2 to H4 to go into 4 wheel drive, the four wheel drive icon on the dash just blinks. It will not go into 4-wheel drive.

What's broke? Is there now a lost connection between the on switch and engagement of the front axle?

Thanks for any help offered.
Click to expand...

Did you get your 4-wheel drive fixed yet? I might know the issue. Put it in 4 wheel with the vehicle off. Start it. And see if it switches over. If it does it means the actuator is too weak to switch to 4 wheel while under tension. Same thing happened to mine ! Let me know
 
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