4 wd problem

[pokwa]

I have SR5 2010.I had a problem with 4wd for second time.In northeast region there are alot of snow this time so I have to use 4wd.When I used the first time,it was OK for drivingforward but when I climbed to the parking garage upper floors it was kind of stuck for the motion.I thought I accidentally hit the handbrake.But when I parked with back gear it was stuck again.It happened to me again this morning.I don't know what to do .Any suggestion?Thanks.

 

[westwind77]

I have SR5 2010.I had a problem with 4wd for second time.In northeast region there are alot of snow this time so I have to use 4wd.When I used the first time,it was OK for drivingforward but when I climbed to the parking garage upper floors it was kind of stuck for the motion.I thought I accidentally hit the handbrake.But when I parked with back gear it was stuck again.It happened to me again this morning.I don't know what to do .Any suggestion?Thanks.

Were you still using 4wd INSIDE the parking garage on dry pavement?

Are you talking about the 4wd floor shifter being stuck, as in, not being able to be pulled out of 4wd?

Or, are you talking about the 4R 'binding' up when making sharp turns when in 4wd?

The 4R you have is NOT meant to be in 4wd inside a parking garage. The 4R will 'bind up' when making sharp turns on dry pavement and it will take a LOT of RPMS to move it if you leave it in 4wd. You can damage the system if you are doing that!

Please clarify a little more so we can better assit you

 

[pbm317]

Agreed, sounds like you're still in 4WD when taking some sharp turns inside a parking garage, which is a big no-no with the part time system that exists in the 5th Gen 4Runner, which is the "binding" that westwind mentions above.

 

[pokwa]

Were you still using 4wd INSIDE the parking garage on dry pavement?

Are you talking about the 4wd floor shifter being stuck, as in, not being able to be pulled out of 4wd?

Or, are you talking about the 4R 'binding' up when making sharp turns when in 4wd?

The 4R you have is NOT meant to be in 4wd inside a parking garage. The 4R will 'bind up' when making sharp turns on dry pavement and it will take a LOT of RPMS to move it if you leave it in 4wd. You can damage the system if you are doing that!

Please clarify a little more so we can better assit you

Hi Westwind
It looks like you said the 4R 'binding' up when making sharp turns when in 4wd.Since I have a few knowledge for the 4 wd,I didn't change back to 2WD sometime it couldn't be pulled out of from 2wd to 4wd ,to 2wd.I used L4 OR H4 [didn't remember the number exactly},it doesn't need to stop the vehicle. For future wise,What should I do to avoid these type of problems and maintain the car in a good shape?Thanks alot.

 

[westwind77]

Hi Westwind
It looks like you said the 4R 'binding' up when making sharp turns when in 4wd.Since I have a few knowledge for the 4 wd,I didn't change back to 2WD sometime it couldn't be pulled out of from 2wd to 4wd ,to 2wd.I used L4 OR H4 [didn't remember the number exactly},it doesn't need to stop the vehicle. For future wise,What should I do to avoid these type of problems and maintain the car in a good shape?Thanks alot.

4wd (4H or 4L) should ONLY be used on 'slippery' road surfaces (snow/sand/mud/etc), I do NOT consider rain to be 'slippery'.

Simply, to prevent damage as soon as you are on non-slippery surfaces disengage 4wd (put it back into 2wd).

I see you do have a problem taking it in/out of 4wd, I did notice that on mine as well. After a dozen shifts in and out it seems to go smoother now. I am not sure if when the truck is 'binding' if it makes it any harder to disengage from 4wd, so try to remember to switch as soon as the surfaces change.

There is little to no reason to use 4L unless you are really stuck in deep sand/snow/mud, use 4H for most of your needs.

I hope that helps!

 

[pokwa]

4wd (4H or 4L) should ONLY be used on 'slippery' road surfaces (snow/sand/mud/etc), I do NOT consider rain to be 'slippery'.

Simply, to prevent damage as soon as you are on non-slippery surfaces disengage 4wd (put it back into 2wd).

I see you do have a problem taking it in/out of 4wd, I did notice that on mine as well. After a dozen shifts in and out it seems to go smoother now. I am not sure if when the truck is 'binding' if it makes it any harder to disengage from 4wd, so try to remember to switch as soon as the surfaces change.

There is little to no reason to use 4L unless you are really stuck in deep sand/snow/mud, use 4H for most of your needs.

I hope that helps!

Hi westwind
To be honest with you,I really didn't know that I should put back to 2WD but now I learnt from you that I needed to put back to 2wd.If I knew that there might have a problem with part time 4WD,I would buy limited 4 runner instead of SR5.This problem is really annoying to me.I thought 4 runner was off road truck.Thank you very much for your advices.

 

[scottp999]

...,I would buy limited 4 runner instead of SR5.This problem is really annoying to me.I thought 4 runner was off road truck.Thank you very much for your advices.

I agree with you. If I were to get a 5th gen I would go with the limited since the other levels do not account for 4hi on dry surfaces.

Hopefully Toyota will change it in the future.

 

[M1911]

Hi westwind
To be honest with you,I really didn't know that I should put back to 2WD but now I learnt from you that I needed to put back to 2wd.If I knew that there might have a problem with part time 4WD,I would buy limited 4 runner instead of SR5.This problem is really annoying to me.I thought 4 runner was off road truck.

It is an offroad truck. Most offroad trucks have part-time 4WD systems. Part-time 4WD systems are not designed to be used on high traction surfaces, like dry or wet pavement. Inside a parking garage, even here in the Northeast, you don't need 4WD.

 

[pokwa]

It is an offroad truck. Most offroad trucks have part-time 4WD systems. Part-time 4WD systems are not designed to be used on high traction surfaces, like dry or wet pavement. Inside a parking garage, even here in the Northeast, you don't need 4WD.

YEAH,I understand totally,but we are driving with part time 4WD for at least one hour,we completely forget to change back to 2WD when we enter into garage or some where like dry pavement since we are struggling with heavy snow.I hope you understand my point.

 

[M1911]

YEAH,I understand totally,but we are driving with part time 4WD for at least one hour,we completely forget to change back to 2WD when we enter into garage or some where like dry pavement since we are struggling with heavy snow.I hope you understand my point.

Well, that's how part-time systems work. Not unique to the 4Runner.

 

[westwind77]

Hi westwind
To be honest with you,I really didn't know that I should put back to 2WD but now I learnt from you that I needed to put back to 2wd.If I knew that there might have a problem with part time 4WD,I would buy limited 4 runner instead of SR5.This problem is really annoying to me.I thought 4 runner was off road truck.Thank you very much for your advices.

Personally I do not see the 'need' for a full-time 4wd system.....for the most part. I know I am responsible enough to remember to take it in and out when needed, however, I do not trust my wife to remember. If she was a driver of the 4R then I would opt for it as I would not want to damage the system if she forgot. These things are not sports cars, we are not taking them at 75mph around hairpin S turns where we need the grip/pull of all 4 tires. Full time is 'set it and forget it' setting for lazy people, haha, just kidding.

There is no 'problem' with part time 4wd. It just requires that you be attentive and responsible when needed. I've owned 4wd drives my whole life so remembering to switch in and out comes normal to me, even though my last SUV also had a full-time setting.

 

[024RunnerSE]

I kinda find it funny that you forget to put it back to 2wd. Then again, most of us who have been 4wheelin for a long time always remember to put away our tools when they're not needed..

 

[fxoffroad]

ditto that. there's a great read in your owner's manual about using your 4wd system.

I kinda find it funny that you forget to put it back to 2wd. Then again, most of us who have been 4wheelin for a long time always remember to put away our tools when they're not needed..

 

[morphius909]

This must be unique to the 5th Gen? We keep our v6 Part Time 4wd in 4wd all winter long with no issues.

Wierd Toyota would design the 5th gen like that.

 

[fxoffroad]

We're getting ready to purchase a new 4Runner (hopefully in March). On Friday we went and test drove (for the 3rd time) the SR5 and asked the salesman about driving the SR5 in 4H... he had us drive the entire test drive - up into the Colorado foothills on dry and wet pavement entirely in 4H. We didn't notice any binding or weirdness - even when turning corners - except when doing a U turn.

My confusion continues - and my frustration that the SR5 doesn't have a NAV option is bumming me out.

This must be unique to the 5th Gen? We keep our v6 Part Time 4wd in 4wd all winter long with no issues.

Wierd Toyota would design the 5th gen like that.

 

[JB.]

...had us drive the entire test drive - up into the Colorado foothills on dry and wet pavement entirely in 4H. We didn't notice any binding or weirdness - even when turning corners - except when doing a U turn.

My confusion continues.....

The confusion comes from the fact that the rule about not driving part-time 4WD on pavement is nearly always stated as a simple binary rule -- don't, can't, never -- which works well much of the time. For instance, the rule would have prevented pokwa's problem.

The reality is more subtle and you experienced some of that on your test drive.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/482748-post49.html

 

[Jtraskell]

We're getting ready to purchase a new 4Runner (hopefully in March). On Friday we went and test drove (for the 3rd time) the SR5 and asked the salesman about driving the SR5 in 4H... he had us drive the entire test drive - up into the Colorado foothills on dry and wet pavement entirely in 4H. We didn't notice any binding or weirdness - even when turning corners - except when doing a U turn.
My confusion continues - and my frustration that the SR5 doesn't have a NAV option is bumming me out.

You hit the nail on the head. You will not see a real problem until you turn sharp. Then, the front axle and transfer case etc, has to keep up with the back axle etc. etc. The person starting this thread was in a parking garage. I suspect, he had some pretty sharp turns there....always better to keep it in 2wd until you need the 4wd.

I wonder what these folks would have done if they had to get out and lock the hubs.....some of you will know what I mean!

 

[westwind77]

We're getting ready to purchase a new 4Runner (hopefully in March). On Friday we went and test drove (for the 3rd time) the SR5 and asked the salesman about driving the SR5 in 4H... he had us drive the entire test drive - up into the Colorado foothills on dry and wet pavement entirely in 4H. We didn't notice any binding or weirdness - even when turning corners - except when doing a U turn.

My confusion continues - and my frustration that the SR5 doesn't have a NAV option is bumming me out.

Your saleman was not too smart! You said you 'asked' the salesman about driving in 4H, what was his verbal responce? Or did he just reach down and yank it into 4H for you?

I have yet to find a single saleman/saleswoman in my years of car shopping that actually knew more about the vehicle than I did. I do not understand how they can be so clueless about the products that they sell. Sure, they have a lot of models to memorize, but that is what they are paid to do!

 

[M1911]

This must be unique to the 5th Gen? We keep our v6 Part Time 4wd in 4wd all winter long with no issues.

Wierd Toyota would design the 5th gen like that.

The 4th gen is full-time 4WD for the V8 or multi-mode for the V6. It had a lockable, limited-slip Torsen center diff. That allows you to use 4WD on dry pavement. On the 5th gen, only the Limited trim line gets the Torsen. The SR5 and TE have a simple two-speed transfer case, which is a part-time 4WD system.

Toyota was saving money on the SR5 and TE with the simpler transfer case.

 

[M1911]

I have yet to find a single saleman/saleswoman in my years of car shopping that actually knew more about the vehicle than I did. I do not understand how they can be so clueless about the products that they sell. Sure, they have a lot of models to memorize, but that is what they are paid to do!

Dealers usually have at least 100% turnover in salesmen every year. They don't last long. Typically the bulk of their pay comes from commission. They are far more interested in learning how to close the sale than learning the vehicle. I suspect that you and I (and all the other 4Runner nuts here on the web site) are not representative of their average customer.