2010 4runner SR5, HELP PLEASE!!!

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love_4runner

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I just bought a 2010 4Runner SR5 last week! I have following problems after one week driving:
1. I didn't test drive the 4WD part of the car. So once I switched 2WD to 4wd on fly, I pull the lever so gentle that it was only on the half way. The 4WD light was not on. Then I pulled it further back at about 30mph, a loud grinding noice came out. What happened? Did I damage the gear box?
2. When I turned in a sharp corner with low speed (such as parking) at 4WD, the wheels feel like stick to the ground and I need to press gas hard to make it move. It definitely is not as smooth as 2WD. Should it be like that? Am I not supposed to use 4WD during parking?
3. The eco light never comes on even I drove it at very low speed with gentle gas pressing
4. Is there a breaking-in period for the 2010 4runner? Is there any speed limit or anything I should be careful about for this new car?

Thanks a lot!
 
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love_4runner said:
I just bought a 2010 4Runner SR5 last week! I have following problems after one week driving:
1. I didn't test drive the 4WD part of the car. So once I switched 2WD to 4wd on fly, I pull the lever so gentle that it was only on the half way. The 4WD light was not on. Then I pulled it further back at about 30mph, a loud grinding noice came out. What happened? Did I damage the gear box?
2. When I turned in a sharp corner with low speed (such as parking) at 4WD, the wheels feel like stick to the ground and I need to press gas hard to make it move. It definitely is not as smooth as 2WD. Should it be like that? Am I not supposed to use 4WD during parking?
3. The eco light never comes on even I drove it at very low speed with gentle gas pressing
4. Is there a breaking-in period for the 2010 4runner? Is there any speed limit or anything I should be careful about for this new car?

Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...

Don't use 4WD on the SR5 unless you are in a low traction situation. Parking in a dry lot in 4WD is very hard on the transfer case.

I doubt you damaged the 4WD by only half pulling the lever. Is it still making noise from the transfer case or not?

Make sure the Eco light is on. Cycle through your odometer settings until you see "Eco" in the orange gage. It will say "ECO on" or "ECO off". If "ECO off", press and hold the odometer button until it changed to "ECO on".

For break-in, keep the revs under 4000 and try to keep the engine speed varied (i.e. don't use your cruise on a flat interstate trip where it just hums along at the same RPM). Keep the revs moving.
 
Thanks for the reply! But the dealer sales told me that I can use 4HI at any surface and speed forever, just same as full time 4WD. Thas was wrong infomation?

The loud noice was heard when I puledl the lever further back to 4Hi and as sooon as I heard the noice I pulled it back to 2HI. Now I can switch between 2HI to 4HI without any problem or noice. Just wonder where that noice came from when I pulled it from halfway to 4HI.
 
Using 4wd all the time in your SR5 is wrong info. If anything use only in straight line on high traction surfaces (street) or on loose traction (dirt, snow, rain) only limiteds have 4WD that can be used all the time. Using your 4wd on the dry street can bind your drivetrain up when turning which is a big No no.
 
love_4runner said:
I am very confused. The multi-mode 4WD has been discussed in this forum beofe.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/problems-warranty-issues/5249-multi-mode-4wd-system-03-4runner.html
Not sure who is correct? The manual does recommend to drive as 4HI at least 10 mile per month to keep the front drive lubricated. Do I need to go off road every month then? Doesn't make a lot of sense.
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In the '10 model year only the Limited has the capability of full-time 4x4. The SR5 and TE are part-time. There are many threads on this in the Fifth Generation forum, just use the search. Or read the manual.
 
love_4Runner: That link is from the 4th generation 4Runner. You have a 5th generation SR5. Your truck does not have a multi-mode 4WD system. Your truck has a part-time 4WD system.

A multi-mode system like the 4th Gen V6, or full-time like the 4th Gen V8 or 5th Gen Limited, has a limited slip, lockable Torsen center differential. The center diff allows the driveline to provide torque to both the front and rear driveshafts, but also lets them spin at different speeds. Because they can turn at different speeds, the truck can be in 4WD on dry pavement and still go around corners with no damage to the driveline.

The part time system on the 5th Gen SR5 and Trail Edition locks does not have a center diff. When you put it in 4WD, the front and rear driveshafts turn at the same speed.

In your 4Runner, driving on dry pavement in 4WD is probably OK provided you don't make any sharp turns. So, once a month, on a straight stretch of road, put it in 4WD for a few miles. Other than that, leave it in 2WD unless offroad or snow covered road. No, you haven't ruined your truck. Just: 1) don't do that again, and 2) never, ever believe what a car salesman tells you.

Now you are starting to understand why some of us 4th gen owners are peeved at Toyota for removing the Torsen center diff from the SR5 and Trail Edition trim lines.
 
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love_4runner said:
I am very confused. The multi-mode 4WD has been discussed in this forum beofe.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/problems-warranty-issues/5249-multi-mode-4wd-system-03-4runner.html
Not sure who is correct? The manual does recommend to drive as 4HI at least 10 mile per month to keep the front drive lubricated. Do I need to go off road every month then? Doesn't make a lot of sense.
Click to expand...

Its best to find a dirt road, if one is not available then just switch into 4HI when your driving on a straight road doing less than 55 mph to keep everything lubricated. You have driven 100 miles in 4WD, I wouldn't worry about it too much, I doubt you broke anything. Toyota's are pretty Stout. I would stop driving it in 4WD 100% of the time on the street ASAP though if you haven't stopped already.

Nathan
 
love_4runner said:
It is great information! Thanks a lot! Don't understand why 5th generation abandons the multimode. It kind of sucks.
Click to expand...
Two reasons: 1) decontenting to reduce cost, and 2) some folks prefer part-time 4WD (for reasons that completely escape me). I agree completely that it sucks.
 
I am guessing eco mode comes on when you get out of 4wd.......

Would you have paid extra for the limited for the full time 4wd? You are still responsible, but if that is the case I would go back to the sales guy and raise hell... If for no other reason then to make sure they don't provide incorrect information to future customers.
 
I am getting more curious; what about driving with 4HI at an offroad condition with a lot of sharp turn? Will the sharp turn at offroad condition cause driveline binding too?

Anyone know about the noice I mentioned above when shift from 2WD to 4WD?
 
love_4runner said:
I am getting more curious; what about driving with 4HI at an offroad condition with a lot of sharp turn? Will the sharp turn at offroad condition cause driveline binding too?
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No, because offroad the roadbed is slippery, so the tires can just slip when you go around a corner. When you are on dry pavement, the tires can't easily slip.
 
Ok, the offroad conditon means the road conditon varies. Then are we sure the tire really slips when it needs to all the time? I guess the driveline binding should happen quite often when driving offroad too since no one knows what ground condtion really is when making a turn. I would think the truck should be designed to tolerate the common binding effect. Making any sense?
 
I think you really need to talk to your salesman or whoever gave you this bad info regarding driving in 4X4. You should NOT drive in 4X4 on pavement if you will be making turns. The tires cant slip so you wind up torqing the suspension/drivetrain. Once a month, take it on a dirt road and drive in 4X4 ....OR.... drive on a straight road on pavement. As for the ECO mode, it wont come on til you go into 2 wheel drive. Reading the manual is also very helpful. Hope this helps
 
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M1911 said:
... some folks prefer part-time 4WD (for reasons that completely escape me). I agree completely that it sucks.
Click to expand...


Isn't a part time 4WD system generally considered beefier?

I'm thinkin' it is good to have equal torque going to front and rear wheels in off-road conditions.
 
1000MPH said:
Isn't a part time 4WD system generally considered beefier?

I'm thinkin' it is good to have equal torque going to front and rear wheels in off-road conditions.
Click to expand...
Beefier? The Torsen center diff has been around for a long time and is very very reliable and will take a beating.

When the Full time Limiteds are in 4HL ,it is locked and the torque is equal going to the front and rear.The same as Part Time locked.

I dont know if it's been mentioned on this forum or not but there is a TSB out for the Part Time 4x4 in the 5th Gens.A few have on here have had the problem and is something to listen for.

Front Differential Growl/Rumble Noise (T-SB-0175-10)

Some 2010 model year part-time 4WD 4Runner vehicles may exhibit a growl or rumble noise from the front differential assembly when the vehicle is in motion in 2WD.
 
1000MPH said:
Isn't a part time 4WD system generally considered beefier?
Click to expand...
Beefier? Huh? The axles are the same. The driveshafts are the same. And Torsen diffs are not, in any way, weak.

I'm thinkin' it is good to have equal torque going to front and rear wheels in off-road conditions.
Click to expand...
When you lock the Torsen diff, it behaves exactly the same as a part-time system -- the front and rear driveshafts turn at the same speed.
 
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