RAV4 transfer case limp mode

Evening. My 2017 Toyota RAV4, petrol engine, is throwing up some weirdness. Only 70794 km on the clock and it's gone into what seems like transfer case limp mode. The gearbox shifts are really unclean, almost like it's slipping. I'm guessing it's something to do with the ABS, traction control or powertrain malfunction. No fault codes showing, but I reckon it's a consequential fault. Any pointers?

4 comment(s)

Yikes, that sounds familiar! I had a similar issue with my SUV a while back. Slipping gears and a general feeling of unwellness can stem from a bunch of things. Since you mentioned ABS, have you checked the wheel speed sensors? A dodgy reading there can mess with the traction control and subsequently the transmission. Gear selector working normally? Any issues getting it into gear or unusual noises?

Wheel speed sensors... hadn't thought of that specifically. Is there an easy way to test them? I've only given them a quick visual once-over, which turned up nothing obviously wrong. Also, gear selector feels normal and no unusual noises that I can hear. Anything else I should be looking for?

Testing wheel speed sensors usually involves a multimeter and checking for resistance, but honestly, without fault codes pointing you that way, you're kind of shooting in the dark. Given the 'transfer case limp mode' feel, and the symptoms you describe, it’s probably best to bite the bullet and get it hooked up to a proper diagnostic machine at a workshop. Could be loads of things, but consequential ABS faults definitely track with Toyota ECUs.

Thanks for the advice. I suspected as much. I'll book it in and see what the pros find. Hopefully, it won't cost too much, but since it was a warranty issue (0€), there is not much to complain.

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