Thank god I noticed this thread a couple month ago, bought my 4runner late may... All in all whoever had the vehicle before me never used any of these features and it took forever to engage 4hi & 4lo. Now I try to switch from 2hi to 4hi on occasion while driving a descent speed, while stopped I will go into 4lo and use the diff button... they all work much better now so whoever said it first use it or lose it.

Thanks!!!

Larry

I recently moved to another complex and it has some dirt/stone road that is under construction. Perfect surface for trying 4Lo. I didn't have access to such a road in the past.

Anyway, after dropping off my daughter in school, I headed to the small stretch to try out 4Lo. Totally anticipating "beeping" and with a mallet in hand, I didn't expect it to engage.

It did. Took about 2 seconds. Didn't hear any beep. I even tried locking the diff. According to the idiot light, it engauged. Turning it off however took about 10 seconds. Very happy to say the least. I'll be doing VERY OFTEN from now on.

When I had my Heap Grand Cherocrap, engaging 4Lo was via a handle and you KNEW it engauged. It would always grind into gear and throttle response was "touchy". Not so with the 4Runner. Smooth operation.

Goddamn I love my truck!

Crap I never switch to 4Lo. I really need to do that. Whats the best way to do this safely? Do I need to find an empty dirt lot somewhere? Also, every month when I switch from H2 to H4, it grinds a little before engaging...is this normal?

You can switch to 4Lo anywhere. Must be in neutral though.

To switch to 4Lo, you have to stop, put the transmission in neutral, then switch. You can try the same for going from 2Hi to 4Hi if it won't shift on the fly.

You can drive in 4Lo on pavement. The center differential is still unlocked, so you can turn normally, but the engine will rev higher because of lower gearing, and there will be more engine braking. You can actually get up to about 50-60mph if you want, but you probably won't want to.

You can also lock the center differential on pavement, but I strongly prefer to only do that if I'm going in a straight line. I don't like the drivetrain binding up. People with less sophisticated transfer cases (most 5th gens, for example) will tell you it's not a problem, but I don't like it.

Do you shift while moving? I don't think I've noticed grinding going from 2WD to 4WD, just a clunk sometimes, the times I've driven a V6 model. I almost always do that shift while moving. I have had grinding going from 4Hi to 4Lo once, and apparently that is somewhat normal.

I shift it into 4Hi while sitting stopped at a light, and slowly accelerate as I wait for it engage. After about 5 seconds or so of moving, I hear a grinding noise and then the light stops blinking, confirming that it has successfully engaged into 4Hi. My understanding is that this is normal, except I have heard every time I've done it, which is monthly.

Here's the October reminder.

Thanks for handling that, early.
I still try to add reminders in order to increase my post whore count (like I just did.)

Back at ya man.

Just did this again myself. Good reminder. No beeps -- 4lo & 4hi like a viking.

Holy crap that thing is spotless!

Works in neutral, not park, correct?

Used 4LO today to move this Pig of a trailer, barely needed to give it gas.

The rear is sagging. Did you use a WDH or something to level the back? Hope the tow was a short distance.