Switched to 4WD
My car started fine and as I was driving the roads started getting a little slippery (it just recently snowed), so I switched to 4WD. The car drove fine for about 100ft before it began decelerating and making a grinding noise in the front. I hit my warning lights, parked the car, and attempted to disengage the 4WD. Now the 4WD light is blinking and the grinding noise persists whenever I put it into reverse or drive (it stops making the noise in park and neutral). The car will not move forward.
My car has 157685 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there. If the 4WD light is blinking and you hear a grinding noise when the transmission is in drive or reverse only, then the transfer case has either broken the fork inside the case or the syncronizer jammed up and is grinding the gears inside the case. If the noise is not coming from the transfer case, then the front differential could be damaged. I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you diagnose your 4WD not working issue.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
So, what is that grinding noise you hear when starting a car? Most likely, if it is true grinding that you hear, the problem is related to the starter. Causes include the starter not lining up correctly with the ring gear on the flywheel, missing or damaged gear teeth, or a faulty solenoid.
If you hear a grinding noise when engaging the 4×4, also known as four-wheel drive (4WD), or it`s not working and you have auto-lock hubs, it`s because the hub is not able to move in and out. It connects to outside of the CV shaft and has a nut, which is known for loosening even after being torqued properly.
Overheated Transfer Case
The transfer case is what splits the power between the front and rear axles. If it overheats, it may no longer be able to operate according to spec, causing the 4WD light to flash. Sometimes, the flashing light signifies that the system itself has deactivated until it can cool down.
A flashing indicator light is typically caused by wiring or an electrical component like the controller, a faulty motor or fork, a speed sensor, or a position switch. Many 4WD units have an actuator located on the front axle to lock and engage the front axle for 4WD.
A common cause of grinding noises under your car are failing wheel or hub bearings. Wheel bearings allow the wheel and tire to rotate and are designed for low friction, while hub assemblies have an additional responsibility of securing the wheel and tire to the vehicle.
If you are on solid pavement, and the wheels cannot slip easily, and you are in 4HI or 4LO, then yes, it is normal to have some binding and noise while turning in 4WD, but it would be a BAD THING. 4WD should only be used when the wheels can slip, such as snow, ice, mud, and sand.
Move the vehicle straight forward about 10 feet to allow the front hubs to engage and lock. Turn your wheels all the way to one side and drive forward. You should feel the vehicle bind or resist rolling forward smoothly. If you can not feel the vehicle resisting during the turn then your 4WD is probably not working.
Have someone stand outside of the car and watch the tires. As you drive into the tree, your tires will try to get traction. If all four wheels of your car are moving, your four-wheel drive is doing its job!
This is a 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) Shift Indicator symbol. While the engine is running, the 4WD shift indicator will illuminate the position selected by the 4WD shift switch. The indicator light may blink while shifting from one drive mode to the other.
If You Hear a Grinding Noise During Startup
In this case, you may need to remove one or more shims from the starter, depending on your application. If your starter motor doesn`t use shims, the pinion gear may have too much wear, and you will need to replace the starter.
Your Alternator Might Be Wearing Out
When your alternator is starting to wear out it will often make a grinding noise. This is because modern alternators have a decoupler pulley system designed to help you save on fuel, but can make a grinding noise when they are not working properly.
Grinding
If you hear this grinding noise both while you`re driving and idling, it`s possible that worn-out bearings are to blame. If the grinding noise comes when you shift, it`s likely due to a worn clutch.
Common signs include intense car vibrations and abnormal noises, like clunking, rattling, and scraping, coming from under the vehicle.
Strange Grinding, Growling or Humming Noises
If you hear grinding, growling, or humming noises that change with your vehicle speed, it may be coming from the transfer case. This could indicate a low fluid level or some mechanical problem such as bad bearings, loose chains or damaged gears.
A clunk, whine, or howl can signal a worn-out pinion gear, bad pinion bearings, or a faulty gear installation. Sometimes, the noise is not differential-related, but is caused by other driveline or axle components.
The most common and most easily identifiable symptom of a bad wheel bearing is an audible one. If you notice a grinding or grating noise coming from your wheel or tire, take note that this is very likely caused by a bad wheel bearing—especially if the noise gets louder as the vehicle accelerates.
A faulty front axle actuator will prohibit your truck from going into four wheel drive. One of the symptoms would be that the four wheel drive switch just flashes when trying to engage. There also may be codes stored in the transfer case control module.
Difficulty changing gears – Low or dirty transfer case fluid can affect your transmission`s ability to shift gears. It can also result in your car unexpectedly falling out of four-wheel drive. Loud noises while driving – As the transfer case fluid loses its lubricating properties, friction will occur inside.
It is not safe to drive with a broken transfer case. If your transfer case is showing signs of damage, you should have it replaced immediately to avoid transmission damage or issues with your axles and driveshafts.
During acceleration, an all-wheel drive can give a vehicle the most forward traction. Therefore, the AWD system is the best choice if you expect to drive in sloppy road conditions regularly.
Transfer Case Control Module (TCCM) is the brain behind the electronically shifted 4WD systems. The TCCM processes the shift request from the dash mounted mode selector buttons, executes the shift, and verifies the shift was completed. Replace your current failing or faulty item with this direct replacement.
Faulty Switch – If the switch itself is bad, it won`t let current flow from the battery to the solenoid, and won`t allow the transfer case to engage four-wheel-drive. Even if the switch feels fine, it could be corroded, dirty, or broken internally.
To engage low range, stop your 4×4, put it into Neutral or Park, and use your dial to switch from either 2H to 4L, or (assuming you`ve been in 4H in the lead-up to the low-range terrain you`re about to tackle) 4H to 4L.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Switched to 4WD – did fine for a little then started making grinding noise. Now car won’t move and the 4WD light is blinking.
ANSWER : Hi there. If the 4WD light is blinking and you hear a grinding noise when the transmission is in drive or reverse only, then the transfer case has either broken the fork inside the case or the syncronizer jammed up and is grinding the gears inside the case. If the noise is not coming from the transfer case, then the front differential could be damaged. I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you diagnose your 4WD not working issue.
Read Full Q/A … : Switched to 4WD
Car won’t start. The check engine light, battery light, and oil change light are coming on. I tried jumping the car and nothing happened. Why won’t my car start?
ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting Your Mechanic. If sometimes your vehicle will start with the new alternator and sometimes it won’t, then there is a loose connection in your charging system. Check all of the wires to the alternator and to the battery. Make sure that the battery cables are clean and tight. Make sure that the wires to the starter are clean and tight. A loose ground to the ignition system will cause the vehicle to not crank over. Check all of the ground wires from the battery to the starter. Make sure that they are clean and tight. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your no start situation, then seek out a technician, such as one from Your Mechanic, that can assist you.
Read Full Q/A … : Switched to 4WD
My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Switched to 4WD
Whenever I drive 1.5 miles, the s3 light starts blinking and then when I stop my car and come back to it, the car won’t start.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. It is difficult to determine the issue without some more information. To start, when the check engine light illuminates, you want to scan the vehicle for diagnostic codes. These are what set the check engine light off, and are meant to tell the driver what the computer has detected is wrong. Codes can be pulled at most automotive parts stores, and by most technicians. Once you have that information you can focus in on one component or system. If the engine is truly overheating, then you want to start by checking your coolant and fluid levels. For more help with diagnosing and resolving the issue, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
Read Full Q/A … : Switched to 4WD
Battery and oil light come on when trying to start car, take keys out try again car starts no problem and lights go away
ANSWER : Of course, don’t switch gears without being fully stopped, unless your Owner’s Manual or the manufacturer has alternative advice. However, the gear shift issue has no relation to the no-start problem you are describing. Inasmuch as you only have 6,000 miles on the car, the "constant on and off" that you believe has occurred is meaningless in comparison to the expected total vehicle service life. That is, assume what you perceive as "constant on and off", during merely 6,000 miles, might be equivalent to using the car "normally" for three years. A new car should be trouble free for at least 5 years, unless there is a defect, so your "constant on and off" is not a causal factor for any fault on the vehicle. What you might have is a defect in the ignition switch, or perhaps the immobilizer system, but if the problem is not in the switch itself, clearly there is an electrical problem.
If your vehicle is under warranty, by law the dealer MUST repair the issue you are describing within a prescribed time frame and number of "attempts", otherwise the dealer will run afoul of Federal and state Lemon Laws that give you very specific rights, and recourse (contact an Attorney; we are Mechanics, NOT attorneys). Consequently, if the vehicle is still under warranty, to save yourself money do be sure to seek a resolution from the dealer. If the vehicle is not under warranty, obviously a certified Mechanic from YourMechanic could identify the electrical fault and resolve this for you. If you want to go that route, please simply request a no start diagnostic -electrical system and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Switched to 4WD
The car crank but won’t start
ANSWER : Hi there. This does sound like an issue with the wiring. If the check engine light is coming on every now and then this means that when it does not come on there is no power to the computer. This can be the wiring harness issue or an ignition switch problem. I would have to test for voltage to the computer when the problem is occurring to be able to find where the issue lies. If you need assistance, a certified YourMechanic technician can be dispatched to your location to inspect your vehicle’s non-start issue and suggest any necessary repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : Switched to 4WD
Car won’t start. When trying to start, starter makes a clicking noise and then closed back hatch recloses.
ANSWER : It sounds like there is some type of drain on the battery. When there is low voltage in a battery, it can cause several symptoms. The electrical systems can act very strangely when they don’t have the correct voltage being supplied. When a battery won’t hold a charge, it can be caused by a wiring issue, a bad battery, or some type of parasitic draw that can slowly pull voltage from the battery. Some electrical diagnosis done by a professional, such as one from YourMechanic, will be necessary to pinpoint the cause.
Read Full Q/A … : Switched to 4WD
Car stopped suddenly and won’t start again, makes the noise to start but won’t fire up
ANSWER : Hello. If the engine will not even crank over then I usually start by trying to crank the engine over by hand. If it cannot be turned then there is a serious engine problem and the engine has failed. It is common for the timing chains to fail on this engine. At one point Mini was even changing them for free. It can also be a bad sensor or a failure in the fuel pump so further testing will need to be done with a compression test also. The fact that the engine does not turn will be the first spot to diagnose as that can even be caused by a bad battery. If you need help having this repaired, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose the stalling issue and have it corrected properly.
Read Full Q/A … : Switched to 4WD
