2001 - All four wheels locked up at 50mph!

[Noelarnim]

Hi There,
Noob here. I recently purchased my first 4runner last friday. It's a 2001.
Brief description of the event:
* Drove to Wyoming from Colorado no problem 200 miles
* Drove approximately 20 miles in 4H No problem
* Left out from the hotel for home in 4H
* Drove 5-10 miles down the rode (covered in ice) at 45-50mph and the whole front end locked up!
* Slid for about 500ft before gradually slowing to a stop. During this time I had zero control over the vehicle. Thank the gods I was on a straight highway and only one angry person behind me!
* At first I thought all the brakes had locked up. The truck was stuck in the middle of the highway and I could not get it to move at all. I managed to get it out of 4H and I was able to drive in 2H, in forward and reverse.
* Being that I was still driving on a sheet of ice, I stopped the truck and re-engaged 4wd switch on the side of the Automatic shift lever.
* Pulled forward slowly until the 4wd drive indicator showed good lock up in 4H
* Gradually got up to speed about 40mph and same thing....full lock up of all tires! This time I almost got creamed by a snowplow.
* Got it out of 4wd again and said screw it and drove slowly home in 2wd.
* I dropped it off at the dealership I bought it from and explained the issue. They didn't have an explanation for me. Waiting on a callback

I am fairly versed in how 4wd works, both with manual and automatic transfer cases. I drive a 1980 International Scout also. I have NEVER had anything like this happen! It was terrifying to say the least and had I been on a mountain road, or a freeway and this happened I would most likely be dead, or seriously wrecked.

Any thoughts on what this could be?

I did a search in this forum for similar problems, but was unable to find any previous posts. Apologies if I missed any.
Thanks in advance.

Noel

 

[D Farms]

I think it was in awd not 4wd, 4wd is when the indicator shows the four green tires and the orange circle. Awd is just the four tires. If it was in 4wd with the center diff locked something could have happened to the transmission if you were driving on a normal road.

 

[Noelarnim]

I think it was in awd not 4wd, 4wd is when the indicator shows the four green tires and the orange circle. Awd is just the four tires. If it was in 4wd with the center diff locked something could have happened to the transmission if you were driving on a normal road.

Aha. So I have learned the difference between awd and 4wd. Thanks. Yes, it was all 4 green tires and I did not engage the diff lock (no orange light).

I should also note that I drove almost 180 miles home in 2wd no problem at all at speeds up to 75. Seems like it's a transfer case issue?

 

[DeathCougar]

being in AWD may have saved you from major drivetrain destruction. Sounds like your front diff is seizing, likely due to broken teeth or similar issue, which locks up the front end. Since you were only in AWD, the sudden stop of the front drive shaft doesn't affect the rear driveline. If you had pushed the center diff lock button, i fear you would have many more broken pieces.

If you are 100% the brakes are not the issue, the only logical issues remaining are the front diff, or possibly the front output of the Tcase. My money is on the Diff.

 

[Noelarnim]

Hmmm. Broken teeth sounds ominous. I just hope the dealer doesn't try to make me pay for it. It was within the 3 day return period. Hopefully they'll get it fixed for me!

I appreciate the replies. I'll update this post with any news.

 

[Noelarnim]

update

Update:
The Dealer I bought it from (a Subaru dealer) sent it to a Toyota dealer who said the front diff basically exploded. Ring gear shattered sounds like. Awesome. In a rare twist of good fortune, the dealer is going to pay to get it fixed! Who knows where they'll get the parts, of course. Hope it works.

 

[shootmymime]

Update:

The Dealer I bought it from (a Subaru dealer) sent it to a Toyota dealer who said the front diff basically exploded. Ring gear shattered sounds like. Awesome. In a rare twist of good fortune, the dealer is going to pay to get it fixed! Who knows where they'll get the parts, of course. Hope it works.

Where were you on 80?

Sun and Monday I drove from Idaho to Missouri on 80 then down to Denver . But got stuck multiple times from the road being shut down and having to stop. My cb radio sure did help out because all the truckers were talking and had internet and weather /road updated.

 

[Noelarnim]

I was in Centennial, WY headed east towards 80. The highways were closed for weather sunday. Pretty brutal. Hwy 130 was a sheet of ice. Glad I wasn't on a freeway when this happened!

 

[Ghost.]

Thank god for lemon laws!

 

[Twan]

Thank god for lemon laws!

Not even close... Lemon law is for cars sold as new and when it's an issue that requires meets a bunch of specific criteria. That's just the beginning of the fun too. Good to hear the OP is getting taken care of, since a lot of places would tell you to get bent.

 

[Twan]

It's also relevant in this situation that in CO when it comes to used cars, especially on dealer lots, there's going to be a sticker on the window that says "As-is, no warranty unless otherwise noted".

 

[Ghost.]

It's also relevant in this situation that in CO when it comes to used cars, especially on dealer lots, there's going to be a sticker on the window that says "As-is, no warranty unless otherwise noted".

Just looked up CO Lemon laws great that they are covering it

In NM, Lemon Law covers mechanical issues not disclosed on used vehicles 15 days/500 miles whichever is first

 

[Twan]

It would be nice to have something like that here. Unfortunately, most cases the purchaser is screwed.