4Lo not working or am I doing it wrong?

Friday88

Friday88

New member
I've had this truck for about a month and a half and it's my first 4x4 vehicle. Its a 96 limited with push button 4Hi and diff lock. 4Lo is engaged manually by shifting the lever forward.

I've shifted the truck into 4Lo twice. The first time was to check that the diff lock worked, and the second time was to use 4Lo while offroading. Both times I have only managed to get it into 4Lo while stopped and in park. However, both times I've also had a hell of a time getting it out. While in park when I pull the lever back, it stops halfway at the "neutral" position, then struggles to enter back into the 4Lo position. At this point I have attempted to shift the vehicle into drive OR neutral to get it to roll forward and it grinds horribly. Both times i got it out of 4Lo by shifting the transmission back to park and just waiting, occasionally trying to shove it forward into 4Lo from neutral until it accepts it, then driving forward 6 inches or so, and then quickly throwing the lever backwards, at which point it does go back to 2wd.

While moving in drive the lever doesn't seem to want to move and I'm afraid to force it or mess with this further until I get some clarification. Something I have not tried yet it shifting into 4Lo while 4Hi (the button) is active. I have only tried shifting to Lo from 2wd.

Thanks
 
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It sounds like your 4runner just hasn't been in 4x4 mode too often. From everything I've read on here, some of the problems could simply be attributed to lack of use.

Using the 4x4 more often (I think the owner's manual suggests driving about 5 miles in 4x4 per month) will keep things lubricated.

Speaking of lubrication, another thing to have a look at is having the diffs and t-case fluid replaced.

Thirdly, maybe crawl underneath and just inspect the T-Case level and linkage to make sure nothing is jammed in there that could intrude on the movement of the lever.

I'm sure that more knowledgeable T4R members will reply with more indepth answers soon, but off the top of my head, that's what I'd be looking at first.

That, and if you still have you owner's manual, re-read carefully the 4x4 instructions to ensure that you are doing it right.

If you don't have the manual, a quick google search should lead you to a place on Toyota.com where you can download a PDF version of it.
 
The tranny needs to be in neutral and the vehicle stopped to shift into 4Lo. Sometimes you can bump the vehicle forward a bit to help it shift in, but the drivetrain should be plenty free enough for it to shift in with the tranny in neutral.

You can do damage to the transfer case if the tranny is in gear, in park, or the vehicle is moving. Definitely going to grind some gears, thats for sure.
 
Shifting from high to low range (or vice versa) is about equivalent to shifting from 2nd gear to 4th gear (in a manual trans) with no synchromesh and no clutch.

As others have said, you need to be stopped and in neutral. The goal here is that the wheels aren't moving and the output of the transmission isn't moving but is free to rotate to align gears in the range box.

It should take one firm motion from L to H or H to L to get the shift to happen. Don't wait in the (4WD shifter) neutral position if you can avoid it.

-Charlie
 
^^^ This! Also when getting out of 4lo you may need to stop and put the car in reverse to relieve tension on the transfer case, then shift back to neutral so you can get back into 4hi and 2wd.
 
Another thing to make sure when shifting in and out of 4lo is to have the vehicle level and the steering completely straight. When I first got mine, I couldn't get it out, but once I straightened the steering up, it came out fine. Kindof takes some getting used to the feel of it, keep using it and you'll be a pro in no time.
 
SpidermanGeek said:
Good info in this thread too:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/133571-shifting-4-low.html

It loos like the proper process that seems to work for most people is:

Apply brakes and hold
Shift Transmission into Neutral.
Push 4WD lever forward in one firm motion from Hi to N to Lo.
Shift Transmission back to Drive
Release Brake

An optional step, if you are having difficulty getting into 4LO with the engine running, is to turn the engine off.
Click to expand...

Wow, tons of helpful info... I'll try and do this tonight and report back. I don't think I've tried shifting it in with the transmission in neutral before.
 
Friday88 said:
Wow, tons of helpful info... I'll try and do this tonight and report back. I don't think I've tried shifting it in with the transmission in neutral before.
Click to expand...

Thats your issue. Stop. Neutral. Solid shift to 4lo. You will have all the TQness.
 
well I put the transmission in neutral and it worked perfectly. I don't think I've broken anything by doing it the other way....

Thanks everyone for being polite and telling me how this works lol
 
now remember, exercise it occasionally
I do mine every month and now that Ive got a swapped in elocker I exercise it often
 
I now have to get to 4lo like this: click 4wd, move forward a bit, put transmission in N, turn off truck, shift transfer case from 4HI to 4LO, start truck, put transmission into drive. Drive away.

I used to be able to keep the truck on but lately due to age I've encountered grinding unless the truck is off. The method I mentioned works great for me, every time.
 
I sometimes have to do something similar and my 4Runner is only 13 years old (130k and change). Normally I need to neutral and sometimes reverse like 1/2 foot. Though on occasion it works like it should. I've replaced everything but even my BRAND new rigs with elocker and auto transmission said sometimes you need to back up due to gears being slightly binding.
 
If you don't shift into 4lo right after putting the trans in neutral it output shaft will start to spin causing the grinding. I sometimes have to shut off engine on my Cummins to get low range if I'm not quick enough.


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