1998 Stuck in 4hi and felt like binding

[Jackthewack]

Hey all, I have a 98 auto sr5 stock height and tire size. So last night I put it in 4wd high to climb a rock in the grass and park on it I put it back in 2wd after parking on the rock. I left it there all night and came back in the morning drove off all was normal. So latter on I drove into a ditch sideways to get an idea of what my truck looked like flexed I had one tire on the side walk and one in the road the other two in the ditch I then drove off and when I was turning out of the ditch it felt like it was binding up, I figured probably because I'm in 4wd so I put it in 2wd seemed normal after that. After work I tried to climb a big rock to show my buddy and my truck really struggled and felt like it didn't want to drive forward at all. I spun the back tire but the front didn't feel like they moved at all, then I put it back in 2wd and the 4wd light stayed and it still felt like it was binding up and I had to gas on it to make it move. I stoped and tried to shift it in and out of 4wd a few times with no luck. I drove about 50 feet to my shop picked it up and tried to look at the linkage it looked ok and then just like nothing was wrong it went into 2wd and wasn't binding at all I shifted it back and forth a few times and now it works fine. I changed my front diff rear diff and transfer case oil about a month ago and its still full. Please help me diagnose the problem. I really want to do some bad ass wheeling but I want to know my truck can take it.

 

[nissanh]

You have the J-shifter, correct? These transfer case can do it. I know it from early hilux to my 97 runner is doing this. I sometimes have to give quick gas and at the same time pull the shifter lever into 2WD mode. It works and I do it every time I have this issue.

 

[Chuckles89]

It's normal if you have too much traction for 4wd (aka on pavement). Just go back and forth and it'll unlock. Mine does it occasionally

 

[Jackthewack]

I've owned the truck 2 months and it's the only vehicle I've ever used 4wd in lol I don't know what the j shifter is. I was just really worried I broke it. You give it gas in neutral? I've heard people reverse a little bit and it works but I never tried. But why wouldn't it drive forward well? I even put it in 4 lo and then back in 4hi and in 4 high and 2wd really didn't want to move then just like nothing happened it started working???

 

[Jackthewack]

I was in wet grass when I tried to climb the rock and it didn't have much traction( I didn't get up the rock at all but it was pretty big) but it felt like it was binding right when I tried to climb the rock I quit right after that.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Get a second opinion.

Know anyone that is familiar with 4WD? Let them drive it.

It shouldn't be binding up on the grass in 4wd but with most of these threads it is usually user error. Of course we have no idea since we aren't there.

Have you read the user manual for operating 4wd on your SR5 truck?

A good rule if thumb is never ever engage 4wd or drive with 4wd turned while on pavement or cement even when it's raining. Don't do it.

 

[T4R2014]

This sounds like driveline wind up. Put it in the air on a lift, engage the 4WD and let the wheels spin. This should release any built up tension.

 

[185Runner]

J-Shifter is the style of actuator. Where you manually move the shifter in a J style pattern to engage 4WD and then have to go into neutral to get to 4lo.

Mine is a push button style where I push the button on the side (limited model) and everything locks in and a light on the dash comes on. But I also have to move it forward while in neutral to get to 4lo.