2000 4Runner Limited 4 wheel drive system operation

[Shralpy]

Need help understanding 2000 4Runner Limited 4 wheel drive system operation

I just purchased a used 2000 4Runner Limited, and it didn't have an owners manual so I am trying to understand all the different modes of the 4WD system. I called my local Toyota dealer and got no help. I used to have an old Toyota pickup for 10 years with a much simpler system.

My vehicle has a 4WD gearshift with an electronic button on the left side of the knob. Then, on the top of the gear shift it has 4 settings:

- 2H/4H (2 high/4 high - the normal street driving mode)

- 4HL (but the "L" is written smaller than the "H" (like subscript))This is the setting straight back from 2H/4H and is the one I am most confused about.

- N (I know this is neutral)

- 4L (4 Low)

I also have a locking rear differential button on the dash. I read on another website that my vehicle has an all-wheel-drive mode, and it seemed to say that you can use this mode by ONLY depressing the button on the 4WD gearshift but leaving the shifter in 2H/4H. Is this true and does it mean the vehiclle will switch from 2WD to all wheel drive as traction is needed?

Does that then mean that the 4HL setting is full time 4 wheel drive High? Does the button on ths side of the shifter knob have to pressed in to use that 4HL mode?

Do I need to have the button pressed in to go into 4L as well?

Do I have to be in 4L to lock the rear differential? Will it lock in any other 4WD setting?

Sorry for asking so many questions in my first post. Many thanks in advance for any assistance anybody can give me in understanding my 4WD system!

 

[lee]

heres my summary on how the push button 4wd works:

when youre in 2wd, the button is out, and the shifter is placed in H. When you want 4wd to be on, you push the button in. the lights will begin to blink. you must be in motion for it to actually engage. once you get to a decent roll, youll hear a "pop"/"clunk!" and the lights will stay on. this means 4wd H is on. to go into low, come to a stop, shift your auto tranny into N, then shift the 4wd shifter all the way forward. dont do this too quick or youll hear the crunch!

the general rules are:
-dont shift into 4wd above 55mph or so, it will not engage
-if you want to turn it on while driving (say at 25 or 30 mph), it wont engage if you are accelerating (so let off the pedal while in motion and it should engage right away -- mine does)
- to disengage you must also be in motion.

 

[lee]

i dont have a rear locker, so i cant speak to how to operate it... sorry!

to answer some of youre points...

-the truck is manually placed in 4wd with that button.. it doesnt decide anything. you decide if you want 4wd or 2wd.

-yes, you have to press the button for 4H to be engaged.

-yes, the button must be pressed for you to use 4L. if you shift your trans into N, then the 4wd shifter all the way forward to 4L without the button pressed in, 4wd will automatically turn on, but this is NOT recommended.

 

[Shralpy]

What about the 2h/4H mode vs. 4HL mode?

Lee - thanks a lot for the tips. Do you have any insight on the all wheel drive mode vs. 4HL mode ?

 

[lee]

hmm. well on my 01, theres just 4H and 4L. so, no...

but heres some text i found on yotatech!


There are 5 selections: H2, H4, H4L, N, and L4L. The difference between the Lever Type and Lever Button type is that the Center Differential can be locked. The Lever/Button Type can shift on-the-fly ( shralpy, this is what you have ) to 4H under 62 mph and is safe to run on any surface. From 4H, the

 

[Shralpy]

Thanks Lee

That is very helpful !! Thx for finding that information!!

 

[lee]

hey thats why we're all here, right?

post some pics of your ride when you can.

 

[Shralpy]

Lee - Question about the coil springs you want

So I just checked out your website - nice looking 4Runner!

I saw you wanted to order 1" lift springs. I have thought about getting them myself. On all my previous Toyotas I have always installed Bilstein shocks and am going to get some for my 2000 4Runner. I am also going to put on BFG A/T KO's as well - I have always had them on every previous Toyota 4x4 I have owned except for one, where I had BFG Mud Terrains.

I have never lifted my previous Toyotas, but putting on good stiff Bilsteins (for stock height) and adding a size bigger tire always gave it a little lift.

Question - if you install the 1" lift springs, can you still install the stock height Bilsteins - or do you have to get longer shocks? Do you need to make any other changes or is the 1" spring such a small amount of lift that it doesn't affect anything else?

Regarding your decision on tires - I saw you wanted to maybe get the Goodyear MTR's - definitely a good tire, but if you do a lot of street driving the BFG AT KO will give you a little better gas mileage and be less noisy. I had a set of BFG Mud Terrains on an old Toyota for a while, and they were kinda noisy and not as smooth a ride. If you do get the Goodyears, make sure you rotate them regularly or they will get even noiser. I do a fair amount of jeep trail driving, and I used to live in Virginia and drove in a lot of mud in the Blue Ridge Mts, and the BFG AT KOs could cut through anything. And, if you want to go up in size from the stock size 265/70/16 tires - you can go up to to 265/75/16 without rubbing - its just a little bit taller, but sam tread width. That "upsizing" applies to any tire you want to put on.

 

[lee]

Re: Lee - Question about the coil springs you want

Question - if you install the 1" lift springs, can you still install the stock height Bilsteins - or do you have to get longer shocks? Do you need to make any other changes or is the 1" spring such a small amount of lift that it doesn't affect anything else?

the ones bilstein specifies for 4wd 4runners will work for the lifted truck, yes.

the 1" lift (its really about 1.5") will not effect anything else. they say if you have over 2" of lift, you have to modify other items... like lengthening the brake lines, steering shaft extender, etc.

Regarding your decision on tires - I saw you wanted to maybe get the Goodyear MTR's - definitely a good tire, but if you do a lot of street driving the BFG AT KO will give you a little better gas mileage and be less noisy. I had a set of BFG Mud Terrains on an old Toyota for a while, and they were kinda noisy and not as smooth a ride. If you do get the Goodyears, make sure you rotate them regularly or they will get even noiser. I do a fair amount of jeep trail driving, and I used to live in Virginia and drove in a lot of mud in the Blue Ridge Mts, and the BFG AT KOs could cut through anything. And, if you want to go up in size from the stock size 265/70/16 tires - you can go up to to 265/75/16 without rubbing - its just a little bit taller, but sam tread width. That "upsizing" applies to any tire you want to put on.

yes, im planning to go 265/75 with the mtrs. the mtrs are not mud terrains, though, in case you may have been confused on that since you mentioned your bfg mudders.

i know theyll be noisier, but i do plan on offroading more (i now have access to logging roads in NH and a friends farmland), and since the mtr performs better in the rain and snow, i think theyll suit me better on-road here in boston where we get a LOT of both!

thanks for the heads up though. :

 

[Six_7_One]

Locking the diff, is for the center only? I am in the process of snagging a 2000 LTD and it has everything, including an e-locker. The button lever thing, confused me.

 

[blaze17]

The button on the dash locks the rear differential. The button on the transfer case lever engages the front axle. Pulling the transfer case lever back locks the center differential.

 

[sdwaltz]

Waking up a very, very old thread here -

I was playing with 4WD today in anticipation of winter. I don’t off-road so I don’t see myself ever using the low settings. I have the push-button and j-shifter in my 2000 limited and am pretty ignorant when it comes to 4WD, its mechanisms, and what to use when.

H4L = 4wd high with center diff locked, correct? Would be fine on pavement in snow but potentially dangerous on dry pavement?
H4 (push button, no movement of j-shifter) = 4wd high with center diff unlocked, correct? Fine to use on dry pavement?

And for a question:
As we all know, the push-button 4wd doesn’t always engage right away and the lights can flash for awhile. Even when the lights are flashing, I can clearly tell that 4wd is engaged but it drives as if the center diff is locked because the wheel becomes very heavy, turning radius is poor, the tires chirp, and there’s a bit of a “whine” up front that changes with speed. Once the lights stop flashing and go solid and the orange light is no longer blinking and is off, this sensation goes away. Is this normal?

 

[John7M7]

H4L = 4wd high with center diff locked, correct? Would be fine on pavement in snow but potentially dangerous on dry pavement?
H4 (push button, no movement of j-shifter) = 4wd high with center diff unlocked, correct? Fine to use on dry pavement?

Yes, that's correct. I wouldn't lock the center diff unless you actually need it to move. What I mean is don't lock it just because it's snowy, if your truck still moves fine in "regular" 4WD (button pushed, lever untouched).

For your other question, sometimes my lights blink for a little while but I haven't noticed anything specific, as gar as wheel weight, etc. Maybe I'm just not paying attention.

Word to the wise, it is always smart to have your trusty mechanic service your diff locks etc, especially if it hasn't been done in a long time (if you just bought the truck, assume it hasn't been done haha!)

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

The 4WD system in your 4Runner is known as the multi-mode 4WD and is unique to the 1999-2000 4Runner Limited models only. The 2001-2002 4Runners have a similar system but they have a different transfer lever and a separate switch for the center diff.

1. The 4WD button on the transfer lever/shifter is for AWD mode. It is 4WD Hi-range with the center diff unlocked. You can use AWD in any type of surface. This mode is only available when the transfer lever is in the 2H/4H position.

2. When the transfer lever is in the H4L position, the transfer case is in 4WD Hi-range and the center diff is automatically locked. The 4WD button, whether pressed or not has no effect here. You're not supposed to engage H4L in hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete pavements to avoid drive train damage. The small "L" means locked center diff.

3. When the transfer lever is in L4L, the transfer case is in 4WD Low-range. To engage/disengage L4L, you need to come to a full stop and place the transmission in Neutral first. Again, the 4WD button has no effect here and don't use this on hard surfaces.

4. The rear differential lock switch in the dashboard is used to lock the rear diff. If the wiring has not been modified, the rear diff can only be locked if the transfer lever is in L4L and the speed does not exceed 10 mph.

HTH

 

[laforge72]

HiluxSurf SSR-G,

Thank you! I just bought my first runner, a 1999 limited and even after reading the manual - this is the best explanation of all the options.

Lots of videos on youtube of people just kinda guessing.

So the button can just be clicked on - good to know, I only used it once since I just purchased but I put it in neutral first to be safe.

 

[max_markwell]

heres my summary on how the push button 4wd works:

when youre in 2wd, the button is out, and the shifter is placed in H. When you want 4wd to be on, you push the button in. the lights will begin to blink. you must be in motion for it to actually engage. once you get to a decent roll, youll hear a "pop"/"clunk!" and the lights will stay on. this means 4wd H is on. to go into low, come to a stop, shift your auto tranny into N, then shift the 4wd shifter all the way forward. dont do this too quick or youll hear the crunch!

the general rules are:
-dont shift into 4wd above 55mph or so, it will not engage
-if you want to turn it on while driving (say at 25 or 30 mph), it wont engage if you are accelerating (so let off the pedal while in motion and it should engage right away -- mine does)
- to disengage you must also be in motion.

it sounds to me like a pin dropping into a hole in a rotating wheel. You have to slow the rotation so that the hole and pin will line up.

 

[BayAreaT4R]

The 4WD system in your 4Runner is known as the multi-mode 4WD and is unique to the 1999-2000 4Runner Limited models only. The 2001-2002 4Runners have a similar system but they have a different transfer lever and a separate switch for the center diff.

1. The 4WD button on the transfer lever/shifter is for AWD mode. It is 4WD Hi-range with the center diff unlocked. You can use AWD in any type of surface. This mode is only available when the transfer lever is in the 2H/4H position.

2. When the transfer lever is in the H4L position, the transfer case is in 4WD Hi-range and the center diff is automatically locked. The 4WD button, whether pressed or not has no effect here. You're not supposed to engage H4L in hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete pavements to avoid drive train damage. The small "L" means locked center diff.

3. When the transfer lever is in L4L, the transfer case is in 4WD Low-range. To engage/disengage L4L, you need to come to a full stop and place the transmission in Neutral first. Again, the 4WD button has no effect here and don't use this on hard surfaces.

4. The rear differential lock switch in the dashboard is used to lock the rear diff. If the wiring has not been modified, the rear diff can only be locked if the transfer lever is in L4L and the speed does not exceed 10 mph.

HTH

I really don't mean to bump a very old thread, but when you push the 4WD button do you have to be in motion and if so what MPH? I read my manual, but I didn't come across that info.

 

[Endlessblockades]

I really don't mean to bump a very old thread, but when you push the 4WD button do you have to be in motion and if so what MPH? I read my manual, but I didn't come across that info.

You can hit that button at pretty much any normal speed. I've noticed the more often you engage it, the faster it responds. It suspect it might need some forward or reverse motion to engage. I'm always rolling when I push it. It's designed to work at highway speeds if you encounter conditions that may warrant it. I always reduce speed out of some unfounded caution until I feel the 'clunk'.

Do you still have the card in the plastic pouch on the driver's visor? I think that has a guide. The Owner's Manual covers it as well beginning on page 109. The whole scheme is a bit confusing at first if you're used to other 4X systems.

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

nothing wrong with bumping an old thread.


You can push the 4WD button either in motion (speed limit 62mph for 2000) or while stopped.

I really don't mean to bump a very old thread, but when you push the 4WD button do you have to be in motion and if so what MPH? I read my manual, but I didn't come across that info.

 

[Bad Luck]

I really don't mean to bump a very old thread, but when you push the 4WD button do you have to be in motion and if so what MPH? I read my manual, but I didn't come across that info.

You can push the 4wd button or pull the transfer case shift selector to 4hi locked up to 60 mph or while stopped, but I've found that 4wd will not engage until I start moving in order to allow gears to sync up in the ADD and transfer case.