4 wheel drive troubleshooting

[69goatfarmer]

Recently the 4 wheel drive in my '96 4Runner Limited stopped working. The dash light does not light when the button is pushed but I can hear a motor sound from the underside of the vehicle when I push the button to on and again when it is pushed off. The 4 wheel drive isn't working when the button is engaged so it isn't just the dash light burned out.

Any tips on troubleshooting? Truck has high miles (270,000) but everything else works great. I don't spend lots of time off road but it has been a tough winter with ice and snow so far.

[OzzyO]

I take it you have auto locking hugs on the front end of your 4Runner ?
You do Not have to get out of your 4Runner and turn the hub to lock it in ?
If you have auto locking hubs it could be the actuator in your front end. The actuator engages your front end so your in 4 wheel drive. My 4Runner is a 1994, with yours being a 96 I'm not sure if you have the same setup as mine or not ? If you have auto locking hubs, have the actuator in your front end checked, if you have lock in hubs that you get out of your 4Runner and turn to lock them, It could be a few things.
I had my actuator go on me about 3 years ago, not expensive to fix and 4Runner is still working great.
Good Luck.

OzzyO