2015 tacoma 4x4 problems

Hey guys my 2015 tacoma will go into 4x4 fine, but will not come out, I changed front diff actuator, and that didn't solve it, ecu still clicks "relays" when u switch it back to 2wd, dealership wants 6k to change, transfer case, exu, and front diff actuator again, before I changed the front diff actuator, it was stuck in limbo, clicking noise up front, and relay clicked a lot. Could possibly the front diff actuator was bad which ruined the relays in the ecu, so that when I out the front diff actuator in it still wouldn't work because the ecu relays are bad? I took the exu out, and it has 2 relays that are 4 bucks a piece, thinking about changing the relays, and putting in 4x4 to see what happens. I have never taken it off road, great shape with 95k, no way it needs a transfer case they just trying to get my money, suggestions??? Trouble shooting ideas? Like I said it goes into 4x4 fine,, gets stuck coming out, when it was at the dealer somehow it popped back into 2wd, it's my daily so I have been driving for 2 years in 2wd fine,,, ideas?

 

I don't have any insight other than https://techinfo.toyota.com/ might have some troubleshooting steps

 

Check your limit switch voltages as outlined in the thread below and post your results so we know where to start looking.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/4wd-system-operation-help-thread.742420/

 

That's testing from the harness once it's unplugged from the ecu? With key on but engine off ur saying? And then switch the know on dash from 2wd,,, to 4wd,,,,to 4wl and such? Thanks

 

Step away from the parts-cannon for the time being. Invest as much time & patience as required to do what @Dm93 suggests. Read, then re-read the thread & its methods and suggestions carefully.

The stealership is on the verge of getting you to acquiesce to their attempted felony grand larceny by charging you six thousand dollars for a problem that may end up costing you 6 dollars to fix. Don't fall for it. (Not including your own time, of course.)

 

I can easily remove the relays, is it easier to test them that way?

 

Harness needs to be plugged in.
You will be doing the test by back probing the connector.

 

But my issue is I would have to put the truck into 4wd, it is my daily driver and will likely get stuck in the limbo it was before for 2 days before the dealer somehow got it back to 2wd, I can't afford it getting stuck in 4wd, but with the relay test, that may point me in the right direction, just need to know how to test them , on the board or taken off?

 

6k?

 

There is a way for you to manually (by hand) shift the transfer case into or back out of 4WD by directly manipulating the transfer case shift fork. It requires getting under the truck & removing a few screws on an access cover plate. This is probably the method the dealership used to get your truck back into 2WD after they did whatever "diagnostics" they claim to have done.

This method may be what you need to get your DD (daily driver) back to 2WD operation in between rounds of intensive 4WD subsystem testing & diagnostics:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...w-to-manually-shift-the-transfer-case.703240/

Once you understand & are fully comfortable with this method, then you can have more confidence to start methodically testing & tracking down the source of your problem without affecting your normal 2WD on-road driving needs.

 

What’s the plan after changing the relays?
Try 4WD and hope for the best?

If so, I’d flip that bad boy into 4WD and do the test in the link above.
I’m betting it’s a bad limit switch.

I’ve yet to see a bad 4WD ECU.
Not saying it doesn’t happen, but I never seen it.

Also, going back into 4WD/2WD once the truck is off, is also a common of failed actuators.
Usually grounds.

 

Can't say I've ever seen anyone that had a failed 4wd ECU, it's almost always a wiring problem, ground problem, or one of the actuators.
The best way to test the system is to check the voltages with everything connected, if the lights are flashing in 2wd you can just check the voltages in 2wd and that would give direction but if it only messes up when put into 4wd that's where the voltages would need to be checked.

If you are worried about the relays you could plug the ECU in and backprobe the motor circuits one at a time and check them with a test light, they are normally connected to ground so test light from battery positive to each motor wire should light. The ECU also briefly energizes all the motor relays at powerup so test light connected to ground should briefly light up on each of the motor wires when the key is turned on.

 

The front diff actuator is brand new, and I'm also uploading the quote from waldorf toyota

 

And like I said, goes from 2wd to 4x4 fine,, from 4x4 to 4wl fine,,, from 4wl to 4x4 fine.....but won't disengage fully from 4x4 back to 2x4,,, I've had trade offers for 20k for the truck, I'm just revisting this bullshit issue,, I was just gonna try the 2 relay replacements and fingers crossed, see if that it,,, then I guess if it's stuck manually rotate that gear back to 2wd???? Then drive it in 2wd for life or trade it

 

You paid $121 and they “need more time to diagnose it”.
Yet they have concluded it needs a transfer case?

Ehh, I’d run…..fast.

 

Most dealers will just throw parts at them until they are fixed or the customer says enough, very rare that they properly diagnose it.
It's sad that's where the auto repair industry is but shops/dealers that properly diagnose stuff instead of fire parts at it are few and far between in many areas.

 

Or, invest the time & patience required to fully understand the 4WD subsystem.. The technical info laid out in @Dm93's 4x4 diagnosis thread is probably the most authoritative treatment of the topic available, surpassing even Toyota's own service manuals. It's a potential gold mine in plain sight, but will require some digging.

 

The tech at waldord toyita said my transfer case was blown out by not using 4x4 enough , cause I told him I've never taken off road, and never abused the truck,,,, new transfer case,,,, new add,,, new ecu....6k....I paid them $270 for the diagnostic and took my truck

 

This…..


Seriously man.
We are right here to help you.
Just take a look in the link above.

We are there to help. Post your results. We will help you.
No way I’d pay $6k before at least trying to figure it out myself.
And best of all, you got us here to help.

 

Thanks yall, I've had 3 total, but nothing but issues with this 2015 I bought brand new,,,, squirrels eating the harness to brake reservoir, mice eating wiring harness to ac system and fog lights, and this 4x4 issue that off course started at 65k,,, right after the 60k powertrain warranty was up