4WD driveline drag

[dgmorr]

Hey guys,

I've experienced this issue twice now. Once about a year ago and then again last week. 2003 Limited V6. I put the truck into 4WD Hi while stationary and didn't lock the center diff. I do this once every couple weeks to keep it working. The lights showed up as they should have so I pulled away. It felt as if the e-brake was on - there was a lot of drag. Drove about 20ft and it was still the same. It felt the same while shifting into neutral while still rolling. Put it back in 2WD and it worked fine. Tried 4WD Hi again and had no issues. Also should mention that I smelled sulfur, guessing tranny or diff fluid, but I didn't see anything on the ground. And no, the e-brake was not engaged. It was the same issue rolling straight and while turning.

Anyone else have this problem? I tried several search terms here and on google but have not come up with anything.

Thanks

 

[nevada]

sounds like maybe the transmission is going down to 2nd, instead of first. that is an option right? i know our highlander has it, but its a button we have to push. maybe yours is doing it automatically?

trying manually shifting it next time, see if it makes a difference.

 

[<<<<]

Don't shift in 4Hi while stationary. Shift on the fly (under 50mph). Drivers visor has instruction card in the pocket.
As for drag issue: it shouldn't be noticable. If you feel "e-brake" like drag then there is transfer case or front diff issue.

 

[dgmorr]

Don't shift in 4Hi while stationary. Shift on the fly (under 50mph). Drivers visor has instruction card in the pocket.
As for drag issue: it shouldn't be noticable. If you feel "e-brake" like drag then there is transfer case or front diff issue.

Thought I had memorized it, but didn't know it was supposed to be in motion. I'll try and not replicate this again

 

[JB.]

Hey guys,

I've experienced this issue twice now. Once about a year ago and then again last week. 2003 Limited V6. I put the truck into 4WD Hi while stationary and didn't lock the center diff. I do this once every couple weeks to keep it working. The lights showed up as they should have so I pulled away. It felt as if the e-brake was on - there was a lot of drag. Drove about 20ft and it was still the same. It felt the same while shifting into neutral while still rolling. Put it back in 2WD and it worked fine. Tried 4WD Hi again and had no issues.

The center diff locks briefly during the process of going from 2wd to full-time 4wd. It sounds like the way you did the first time, the center was in a locked position.

 

[dgmorr]

The center diff locks briefly during the process of going from 2wd to full-time 4wd. It sounds like the way you did the first time, the center was in a locked position.

Center locked shouldn't cause this much drag, unless it was stuck in some state between the modes.

 

[BCfish]

You can shift from 2wd to 4hi while stopped as long as the transmission is in neutral. I do this all the time and actually engages faster than when in motion.

 

[JB.]

Center locked shouldn't cause this much drag, unless it was stuck in some state between the modes.

An in between state would consist of a loud grinding noise.

Only you know how much drag this much is, but the sensation of the e-brake being on is classic 4wd feel on pavement, more so at slow speed and with the wheels turned. If it happens again you can experiment very easily by turning the wheels. If the e-brake sensation increases and decreases with steering angle, you're center locked.