I have a 97 limited edition 4runner. I was in Moab over the weekend and while I was on a trail I heard a loud noise coming from the right front tire, it sounded like breaks screeching except I was not braking. The noise continued, I came up to a steep decline and started to slide a little. I hit the bottom and stopped in the sand. I didn't have time to line my front wheels up straight so they were slightly turned when I hit. I didn't notice it for a while but the 4 wheel drive had stopped working and the indicator light had gone off also. The crank shaft to both front wheels still turns when I put it in 4 high or low. I am curious as to what the noise was and what could have gone out with the 4 wheel drive system? Does the indicator light go out with mechanical errors along with electrical errors?

 

I would definatley take this Toyota Model in for a check up. I assume the car is running normally aprt from these problems you have mentioned. It is not something i have come accross recently but some noises you have described sometimes occur in transmission failure. I would get it checked asap