4wd Issues

Hi all,

I’m looking for some guidance as to how to go about fixing my 4wd. For context, I drive a 2006 SR5 V6 4x4. I have been having 4wd issues since the day I bought my T4R in Nov 2022. Initially I replaced my front diff actuator and still had issues so took it to a shop where they said my 4wd control module needed replacing.

Heres where I messed up. I put in a module from a V8 in. Not realizing my hiccup, I took it down a trail and it did amazing. After that, I visited the same trail maybe a week later and everything worked like it was in 4lo (lights illuminated, transmission shifting like it’s in 4lo, etc.) however my front wheels were not spinning at all which I found out when I got stuck in a muddy hole. I decided not to worry with it and figured it wouldn’t be a big deal. A couple months later I decided to look more into it and that’s when I realizing my mistake. I bought a proper 4wd control module for a V6 and installed it.

After this, I started my car and noticed that despite being in 2wd, my 4wd light was just flashing. I put it in neutral, tried engaging 4hi and 4lo and nothing changed. No noises, no new lights (aside from flashing 4wd light), and obviously the front wheels weren’t spinning. It was behaving like it was still in 2wd. Also, my RCSA off button and diff lock button were not working either. Prior to this, both worked perfect even with the wrong module in.

I decided to cut my losses and took it to a local shop again where they told me my transfer case actuator was bad. So, my question is, based on the symptoms I’ve had, is it likely that this is true? From what I’ve read online, the symptoms I’m having aren’t necessarily a result of a faulty actuator. I would just like to rule out all other possibilities before biting the bullet for a new actuator.

I know my situation is pretty tricky but I’m hoping by some long shot someone on here has gone through something similar. I live in a town that gets really nasty in the winter and I’d like to get my 4wd addressed before we get pummeled with snow in a couple months. Any advice is appreciated. TIA.

TL;DR- I put the wrong 4wd control module in my T4R and my local shop is saying my t-case actuator is bad. Are the symptoms indicative of the shops diagnostic?

 

Apologies for the long post, wanted to go into detail about it to help yall get a better understanding of my situation. Feel free to ask me any more questions I might’ve forgotten to mention the answer to.

Thanks all!

 

Caveat: what I'm writing here is nothing more than my feeling from 10 years of owning a 2007 V6 4WD. reading about a gazillion posts, and whatever wisdom I've picked up through the years. Someone may know differently but as I understand it, the actuator is triggered electronically but its innards work mechanically. If that's true, I don't see how the incorrect module could ruin the actuator. To me it has to be related to the modules b/c that was the last change before the issue.

If you haven't already, maybe consider disconnecting the battery for a while. A few hours, overnight, whatever. See if that helps. Its' a hail Mary but my thinking is that it might reset the system or make it "forget" whatever incorrect inputs it got from the V8 module. There's some precedent with how the power windows, sunroof, etc. have to be reset after the battery is disconnected. Good luck and I hope you get it squared away.

 

This is something I’m surprised I didn’t think about. I’ll have to give it a shot and get back to you. It does definitely seem like a long shot but would not surprise me at all if it worked. Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll try this tomorrow night and get back to you then!

 

I just helped my friend get his 4wd working in an FJ, I'd imagine they're similar systems. Have you changed your front diff and trans case fluids recently? You'd be surprised how much that can fix. Also check your transfer case switches for gunk in there.

 

In for the update. Did it work?