I have a 2007 V6 4wd 4runner, and live in the northeast. i do not take it off road. the 4wd gets some as-needed use in the winter months. I've come across some comments about activating it and working through the various options (4h, 4l, locking diff) monthly. I never heard about this before. Is it just an opinion, or is there some data to support it?

4x4 PSA: Use it or lose it monthly reminder

When I first got mine I didn’t engage any of it for roughly 6-8 months and within that time the 4wd had gotten frozen with just blinking lights. Now that I do this monthly my 4hi, 4lo and center diff engage immediately instead of taking 10 seconds

I just bought an '08 Limited V8 from a dealer, and they are replacing the actuator (at their cost) because the center diff lock was never used by the previous owner.

Make a point to use it at least once a month (or more...it doesn't cost anything to engage it from time to time) to keep it working correctly. It's very pricey to replace on your own dime...even if you do the work yourself.

in 10 years i don't think the locking diff or 4L has needed to be engaged. i'm not even certain about the proper procedure for activating them (i know it is somewhat explained in the manual). i would want to do it safely, and know how to feel it engaged and disengaged.

Reminder in my phone once a month!

Toyota itself recommends 10-15 miles of usage per month to keep the system in peak condition. Plenty of frozen actuators back up this point - my 2008 wouldn't go into 4LO when I bought it but the dealer stepped up.

anyone have a very simple explanation about engaging 4L and locking diff.?

To go into 4L (and to go back to 4H) you must be in neutral and stopped when you shift (by shifting, I mean turning the knob)

You can lock the center differential by pushing the button while driving. I tend to let off the gas when I do it.

On mine, which is full time, the 4LO light is steady when 4L is engaged. Same with the Center Differential Disconnect...the light is steady, not blinking.

Blinking lights means you are not in 4L or the center diff isn't locked.

You can have one work but not the other. In mine, I had no issues going into 4L, but the center diff lock would not engage.

edited:You can drive on pavement in 4LO....

had to run out to do an errand. decided to test the system. 4H seemed normal, did a little in 4L, also seemed normal. in both cases tried to activate the CDL, but nothing seemed to occur. need to research this.

This is incorrect. You can be in 4LO or 4HI on hard pavement.

However, you cannot lock the center differential on hard pavement. This is how you get driveline bind and end up breaking something.

Dang! I have a lot of "exercising" to do....although the last time I put it 4LO, I heard some crunching...normal?

You can lock the center diff on pavement, but you shouldn’t turn which is what would require the front and rear drive shafts to rotate at different speeds... driving straight is fine... not always practical, but I do it from time to time if I haven’t been in the dirt for a while just to exercise the center diff lock actuator. I just use a 50-yard straight section of my street while I’m going 10-20 mph. It took my 4Runner a while to switch in and out of 4HI and 4LO when I first got it (originally leased by a saleswoman in northern CA), but it consistently takes just a few seconds now. I really like the features of these Torsen center diffs!


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Big update: doing searches on reasons for center diff. not to be engaging, and getting worried about lack of use and $2500 actuator replacements, i recalled someone mentioning to check to make sure the locking button was plugged in.

at midnight, i went out to move the 4runner around to try and engage the differential. nothing happened. so i took the fuse cover off and saw an unplugged line. i reached up an popped the differential plug out. no connection!
plugged it in (perfect fit) and went out for a short drive. into 4H and press the button, and it goes on. ran it through some paces, and no issues that i can tell.
didn't really notice anything different driving, but the lights all worked fine.

this is with a 2007 V6 w/200k in MA. as far as i know, neither the 4L or diff. lock had ever been engaged (known it since new).

i can sleep much more soundly tonite. i'll check the actuator breather tube later.