How To Fix 4lo? [Detailed Guideline]

The 4LO light serves as an indicator that the 4×4 system is operating in 4-wheel low mode. You can use this setting whenever you are stuck on rough terrain. If the light is flashing, it could suggest that the vehicle is not in gear. At this time, moving forward or backward might assist in engaging the gear. To address this, stopping the car, and shifting the transmission to neutral may be a potential solution.

But it would be best if you took care that you cannot speed up while you have engaged 4lo mode. This mode works efficiently at low speed to give you full traction in rough roads or weather. So, read this article to learn more about fixing 4lo.

Table of Contents

• When Should You Use 4Lo mode?
• What does the Dashboard 4WD light indicate? 
• Diagnosing The Cause Of The 4Lo Light Blinking
• What Are the Reasons for 4lo Light Flashing?
  • The Actuator:
  • Real Diff Locker:
  • Transfer case:
  • The Wire:
• How To Fix The Issues Of Blinking 4lo Light?
• Experiencing a Flashing 4WD Light on Your Jeep Liberty? 
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
  • How Do I Get My Hilux Out of My 4Lo?
  • Is 4 Low Good for Getting Unstuck?
  • How Do I Shift into 4Lo?
• Conclusion

When Should You Use 4Lo mode?

You should usually use this setting when you are stuck in mud, snow, or on a steep grade that requires a lot of traction control. In addition, this setting prevents the tire from spinning while driving. 

You can use this mode if you are off-roading or stuck in serious snow when you have limited traction, like on a dirt or gravel road, or other times requiring extra safety controls. 

However, you should not use it all the time since it sucks up extra energy, reduces your mileage, and blunts your off-road performance by slowing the vehicle. 

This setting will put your 4-wheel drive system in a low range and use your engine power to act as a front-wheel drive.

What does the Dashboard 4WD light indicate? 

It is determined that it could point to one of two potential issues:

• A malfunctioning 4WD actuator.
• Failure of the rear/front diff locker to engage.

It’s important to note that the rear diff lock situation is only relevant if you are already in 4WD 4Lo mode and have attempted to activate the rear locker. It results in the continuous blinking of the diff lock light.

The transfer case actuator scenario occurs when you are in 2H and wish to switch to 4H or engage 4WD, but the light continues to blink. This signifies difficulty in transitioning from 2WD mode to 4WD.

However, before cleaning the Purge Solenoid Valve you must know how to clean it properly. 

Diagnosing The Cause Of The 4Lo Light Blinking

Whenever you suffer from blinking of the 4lo light and your engine check light is on, then you should look for the issue in your vehicle. You can get the help of experts to diagnose it to get it fixed immediately, or if you know the repair, you can do it for yourself too. 

So look for the below-given tips to diagnose the car to make it stop blinking.

• Check for loose connections or wire breaks inside the 4WD controller box. This could cause the flashing light.  
• Worn differential pinion oil seals may cause the same issue, so try to add some type of transmission fluid or synthetic oil, if possible, and try again.
• You can try to flush transmission fluid by adding some straight flush transmission fluid in your transfer case and try it.

The flooding problem in the transfer case could also be the reason for the 4lo light flashing. 

You will have to change the transfer case oil filled with a small amount of transmission fluid first, and if it still flashes, then replace the transfer case oil seals for sure. If it is still flashing, this is the problem, or you can call the car care professional.

However, Can You Convert 2wd To 4wd? To have a perfect explanation you can look into this.

What Are the Reasons for 4lo Light Flashing?

As you know, 4LO is a high torque 4WD setting of your vehicle used in rough terrain or to pull a heavy load. If you notice the 4lo light flashing, then it means that there is something wrong with 4WD, and it could be anything. 

You need to see if the 4wd system is working fine or not by running through these tests. There could be anything from faulty wires to issues in the actuator or rear diff locker. 

Now you are going to learn about the causes of 4lo light flashing.

The Actuator:

When you hear the sound of 4lo light flashing, then the first thing to check is the actuator. The actuator is a device that lets you engage 4WD on your vehicle. It has motors and a rotor that allows the driver to change from 2WD to 4WD. 

If the actuator is damaged, then it will not respond to any commands and may damage your 4wd function or will not let your 4Lo be able to engage.

Real Diff Locker:

Suppose your 4lo light flashing means that your diff locker is damaged or some part of the diff locker is broken. If it happens, there will be no reaction of 4Lo, and you can’t engage or disengage 4low anymore.

Transfer case:

The transfer case is the part of the SUV or truck that transfers the power and torque to the front and rear axles to move the vehicle forward. Sometimes if the transfer case is damaged, then 4Lo light flashing happens, and you need to replace it immediately.

The Wire:

A few things could cause 4Lo light flashing related to wires and connections. 

The first thing that could be wrong is the wires and connections. If you notice some short or loss in the wiring, it can lead to this issue.

It is an easy fix if it is just a short between two connectors or the connector itself. 

So check all your connectors one by one and make sure they are not loose connections, and all are tight connections with no issues like broken wire, bad connections, fuse, or something else wrong.

However, you can have a look at the engine diary to have a decent knowledge of the engine.

How To Fix The Issues Of Blinking 4lo Light?

To start fixing the blinking issue, you should know why and what has triggered the engine check light. 

So, you can check for several causes, such as a faulty actuator, transfer case, etc. You can also have a problem with the vacuum valve assembly of your car that is causing the lights to blink. 

To fix this issue, replace the old and faulty vacuum valve assembly with a new one. You can also take your car to an expert mechanic to replace it properly. 

You can do the same if you discover another faulty component in your vehicle.

But if you have already checked the actuator, and transfer case, and the engine check light hasn’t stopped blinking, it can be a faulty signal too. 

You can check the signals using scanning the codes of your car. The fault codes will help you identify the exact cause of the problem and tell you how to solve it. 

Knowing how to read fault codes is essential to fixing your car correctly. You can find fault code readers in various shops to help you find and fix the problem in your vehicle. 

Thus 4Lo light blinking could mean a few problems with your car. It could indicate an electrical problem with the transmission, a sensor that is not working correctly, or an electrical grounding problem. 

To fix this issue, you will want to diagnose which of these it is. Then you can take care of it and get back on the road.

Bonus: Car sounds like a fan when accelerating? You can have a look at this article. Here you will get what you need to know.

Experiencing a Flashing 4WD Light on Your Jeep Liberty?

If your Jeep has 2H, 4H, and 4Lo settings, the first two may be functioning correctly, but when attempting to activate 4LO, the 4WD light flashes on the dashboard.

According to the owner’s manual, engaging 4Lo while driving at 2-3 MPH is considered safe. This action results in an audible “bang” sound from the transmission area as the transfer case engages. However, if the speed exceeds 5 MPH, the transfer case may not engage. It is strongly advised to bring your Liberty to a complete stop, shift the transmission to neutral, and then engage 4Lo.

A noteworthy observation is that some Liberty owners have reported a distinct “clunk” or “bang” noise when engaging 4LO while rolling at 2-3 MPH, as recommended in the manual. In contrast, there is no such noise when coming to a complete stop first, shifting to neutral, and then engaging 4Lo.

It is crucial to emphasize the importance of consulting the owner’s manual for specific selection instructions. Even if the manual allows selection under 5 MPH, it is always safer to ensure the vehicle is stationary before engaging 4Lo. This precaution ensures proper alignment of the teeth on the spline that engages the low-range gears inside the transfer case.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

How Do I Get My Hilux Out of My 4Lo?

To shift back through the modes, simply deactivate L4 when the Hilux is stationary. This can be done by depressing the clutch (for manual transmission) or selecting neutral (for automatic transmission) and turning the switch back to H4. The ‘4LO’ indicator will flash and then turn off. Transitioning from H4 to H2 can be accomplished while the vehicle is in motion.

Is 4 Low Good for Getting Unstuck?

In instances of slippery conditions, such as deep snow or mud, while maintaining typical road speeds, engage 4Hi. If maximum traction is required for driving at low speeds, switch to 4Lo. Opt for 4Lo when faced with challenges like moving a particularly heavy load, ascending a steep incline, or navigating through demanding conditions like deep mud.

How Do I Shift into 4Lo?

it is advisable to consistently adopt the practice of slowly rolling or moving at an extremely low speed, around 1-3 mph, before engaging the lever into 4Lo. This method aligns with the correct and recommended procedure for shifting into 4Lo.

Conclusion

Now you know all about how to fix 4lo, what does 4lo Mean?

Before attempting to address issues with 4LO (4-wheel low mode) in your vehicle, it is crucial to understand what 4LO entails. Engaging 4LO typically results in slower speeds and increased engine power, making it suitable for navigating through rough terrain.