4WD on the V6

[Kwik8608]

So I'm def. an oober noober when it comes to the 4wd. This is the first vehicle that I've ever had to switch from 2wd to 4wd. My brother's '95 Land Cruiser was All Time 4wd, and my mom's '05 BMW X5 has that XDrive or w/e which is AWD.

I guess my question is, how exactly does my 4Hi work? I put my car into N and turn the knob from 2Hi to 4Hi and the light in the dash just blinks. Sometimes it'll take like 15 seconds for the light to stop blinking, and other times it'll just blink and blink and blink till I put the car into either reverse or drive.

Next question is the differential lock or w/e. What does this do, and how do I know it's locked/unlocked.

I just want to get this stuff out of the way and test it out a bit before the Cleveland winters arrive, as there's snow in the forecast for this weekend apparently.


Muchas gracias

 

[LV4R]

So I'm def. an oober noober when it comes to the 4wd. This is the first vehicle that I've ever had to switch from 2wd to 4wd. My brother's '95 Land Cruiser was All Time 4wd, and my mom's '05 BMW X5 has that XDrive or w/e which is AWD.

I guess my question is, how exactly does my 4Hi work? I put my car into N and turn the knob from 2Hi to 4Hi and the light in the dash just blinks. Sometimes it'll take like 15 seconds for the light to stop blinking, and other times it'll just blink and blink and blink till I put the car into either reverse or drive.

Next question is the differential lock or w/e. What does this do, and how do I know it's locked/unlocked.

I just want to get this stuff out of the way and test it out a bit before the Cleveland winters arrive, as there's snow in the forecast for this weekend apparently.


Muchas gracias

You can change it on the fly from 2 to 4hi as long as you are under 60 mph. The driveline actually needs to be moving to engage it I believe. You can lock the differential in either mode but not really necessary unless you are rock crawling or doing some offroading. I wouldnt recommend it for concrete. To go into 4lo you have to put it in park or neutral to engage it. Once it is in lo you will have to drive for a bit and it should engage as well. 4lo should not be used over 30 mph.

The differential is locked when you have the driveline with the x lit up on the dash I believe - just like the button for it.

The manual is the most help if you have it.

Have fun in the snow!!

 

[Kwik8608]

Ah ty ty. Yea, I was checking out the manual, but I guess you could say it was beyond me. It just seemed really repetitive and confusing. Oh well, thanks for the help! I'm really excited to see what this thing can do in the snow.

Hopefully I can get some pics of the ride up shortly (I can't find my camera charger).

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Welcome and you

 

[DTro]

3) You must be fully in 4hi BEFORE switching to 4lo. And when going from 4lo to 2hi you must sequence through 4hi 1st. So what I am saying one mode change at a time.]

Ok, so say I back my boat trailer back into the water, load boat, go to pull it out and notice that I'm back in the mud.

I cannot switch directly to 4LO?

Since I'm stationery, I then need to spin the tires to engage 4 HI first?

 

[Falls]

Ok, so say I back my boat trailer back into the water, load boat, go to pull it out and notice that I'm back in the mud.

I cannot switch directly to 4LO?

Since I'm stationery, I then need to spin the tires to engage 4 HI first?

I would suggest you put it 4lo beforehand and NOT lock the center diff. That should do you just fine for putting it in and out of the water .

 

[Thai]

I would suggest you put it 4lo beforehand and NOT lock the center diff. That should do you just fine for putting it in and out of the water .

Falls is right. In addition, if you're going to lower a boat into the water, then you should be in 4wd (4HI or 4LO) anyways since, in all likelihood, your rear tires will be touching water or on a slippery slope.

 

[DTro]

Still didn't answer my question:biggrin2:

 

[Thai]

Still didn't answer my question:biggrin2:

You can always pump some iron and lower the boat by yourself...i do it all the time!!

 

[DTro]

You can always pump some iron and lower the boat by yourself...i do it all the time!!

Lower the boat? Missed that one.



No really, a lot of times I drop off my partner and tell him to back down, well where I fish the launch conditions always change (river).

It's very hard to describe to someone driving the vehicle while I'm in the boat how to get it into 4LO.

Why the cycle. Why not go from 2wd to 4LO?

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Why the cycle. Why not go from 2wd to 4LO?

This is why, it won't do it reliably. It may do it sometimes, it may grind gears,make awful noises and not provide the desired performance. That's the trouble these guys went through. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=41978

If I had backed my boat in 2hi and was hell bent on using 4lo to get back up the ramp I would:
1) Place it in 'N' and then 4hi
2) Reverse then Drive (or vice versa) until the dash lights went solid. That may mean some gentle, slow rear wheelspin.
3) Then back to 'N' and 4lo. It'll complete the cycle and the dash lights will be steady and it'll be ready to go. If you have an '08 you might want to push the VSC off switch right now too, if you don't lock the center diff. (Remember no t-case diff lock on dry pavement.) That's to prevent the VSC from cutting the engine power too much at the first sign of wheelslip.

I usually set mine in 4lo before I back down the ramp as Thai suggested...

If it's not that steep of a ramp I would go for 4hi with defeated VSC or the center diff locked before I'd worry about 4lo, especially if I'm pulling just the trailer out.

I hope that helps. I know that seems way complicated but it seems like the t-case gets confused if you don't wait for stabalized modes (steady dash lights). When the t-case is confused and trying to change modes it can thump, bang, beep and do horrid sounding things; it can't be good for it. That's been my experience.

:cheers:

 

[DTro]

Ok that makes sense, because when I need to use 4 LO the guys are always like, "man why does your truck keep beeping in 4WD, that's annoying".

Does that mean it's not really in 4? Why the beeping.

Thanks

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Ok that makes sense, because when I need to use 4 LO the guys are always like, "man why does your truck keep beeping in 4WD, that's annoying".

Does that mean it's not really in 4? Why the beeping.

Thanks

That's correct, you're not really in 4lo. It beeps when the switch position and the condition disagree or you try to do something it can't like 2hi to 4hi at 90mph.

:cheers:

 

[Hayn4R]

yeah...took me a while to get the whole 4LO thing down... Now it doesnt beep on me anymore.

Just make sure when you are going to 4LO, that you are in neutral or park with the foot brake on...that was my problem. I left the 4R in "Drive" and tried to go from 4HI to 4LO and it wouldnt stop beeping.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Just make sure when you are going to 4LO, that you are in neutral or park with the foot brake on...that was my problem.

Yes but for most relaible switching don't do it in 'P', use 'N'. If there's a load on the gears caused by being in any gear other than 'N' it can prevent the shift. You could do it successfully in 'P' I guess. It would mean stopping, holding your foot on the brake (as Hayn4R said), shifting to 'P' and not allowing the truck creep at all (ie, continue to hold the brake).

:cheers:

 

[[DT]]

How much does this differ from the AWD system in V8s? (FWIW, curious about an '08 specifically)

Thanks!

DT

 

[Uneek]

How much does this differ from the AWD system in V8s? (FWIW, curious about an '08 specifically)

Thanks!

DT

They are identical 4WD systems, not AWD, because it has a 2-speed (with low gearing) transfer case. The only difference is the V6 has the option of being in 2WD that the V8 doesn't. A 4WD V6 in 4H or 4L is no different than a 4WD V8.

 

[Jason07]

Is the Diff locked in when there is a "x" in the drive line? going from 2 hi to 4 hi it showes without the x until in hit the button... anyway how does that work?

 

[Baba Booey]

Ok, so say I back my boat trailer back into the water, load boat, go to pull it out and notice that I'm back in the mud.

I cannot switch directly to 4LO?

Since I'm stationery, I then need to spin the tires to engage 4 HI first?

I'm with DTro on this one. I agree that it is much better to think ahead and be in 4WD if it may be needed. However, there are times when you can find yourself stuck and needing 4WD without the ability to drive around waiting for the 4Hi to decide to kick in.

On several occassions I've experienced unexpected situations where 2WD wasn't cutting it and I needed 4WD to get moving. I am able to put the vehicle in 'N' and get into 4Lo, although sometimes I do get the beeping backtalk.

As far as I'm concerned, a switchable 4WD vehicle that cannot get into 4WD at a standstill is severely handicapped. I've driven vehicles from the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s that could get into 4WD from a dead stop, and owning one from 2006 that couldn't would suck, IMO.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Is the Diff locked in when there is a "x" in the drive line? going from 2 hi to 4 hi it showes without the x until in hit the button... anyway how does that work?

It locks the center diff as part of the transition. I also know that transitioning from 2hi to 4hi I try to do it in a fairly straight line. Sometimes I have coax it by alternating between a gentle acceleration and deceleration. I have experimented in a dirt lot and I am very sure the center diff is locked for part of the transition 2hi to 4hi. Why? I have just assumed that it needs to start that way while the AAD (front axle disconnect) on the front axle gets locked otherwise there'd be an interuption of power to the wheels.

:cheers: