4wd with no locking center diff?

[BlackWorksInc]

[MENTION=49]Sungod[/MENTION]

The point that is being made, is that all North American market 4Runners only came with two transfer case options:

• The multi-mode VF4AM for 1GR-FE equipped units
• The All-Time 4WD VF4BM for 2UZ-FE equipped units.

I believe the non-North American market 4Runners (If I remember correctly, outside of the NA Market they are just rebadged "Hilux Surf") have one or both of the following:

• The manually shifted Non-CDL equipped VF2A
• The electronically shifted Non-CDL equipped VF2BM

Both of which are found as options in the 5th Gen 4Runner for the North American Market (these non-CDL transfer cases were only standard/offered starting with the 5th Gen 4Runners in the US.) Though it is possible they used an older 3rd Gen 4Runner or Hilux transfer case, either way the ECM and associated modules would be non-US market part numbers (not to mention it probably wouldn't meet US emissions requirements), something that would cause issues with any dealership working on the vehicle (since the TIS network and parts fiche is region based for the North American market.)

I can believe that options like roof racks, spoilers, hoods, ect. were optional in the southern US market; but ordering a non-standard, non-us spec vehicle to sell in the US seems a bit too much of a stretch.

 

[YetiX]

Question for the group: Is the VSC Off button (the one on the far right in the ad) only on 2wd 4runners? As you can see my 4wd SR5 does not have it.

For those that don't want to go to the above link and scroll through the pictures here's the photo in question:

Can anyone here with a 2wd 4runner confirm or deny that this photo is more consistent with a 2wd 4runner than a 4wd?

Don't you mean second from right? I believe the far right button is the one to turn off the side curtain air bags.

My 2WD ('06 Sport Edition) does not have a button to turn off traction/stability control. The ONLY button it has is the "AUTO LSD" button.


Also, aren't we talking about two different things here? The presence of a center diff. versus whether it is electronically locking? Or am I missing something here?

 

[the great him]

Just so you know, you cannot "order" a Toyota. You get what you get. If there is a color option or combo you are looking for with a specific package, the only thing Toyota will do for you is search the country for that combo and then do a dealer trade. Its not like a Ford or Chevy where you can just order specific items or accessories, or not order them. I know Toyota stopped doing this back in the early 2000s and possibly even earlier. Toyota makes what they make, then they distribute them accordingly. Like here in the PNW you can not get a fwd Vensa. Its just not at any dealership in the region.

No 4th gens came with manual transmissions period. They were never made, even in 2wd.

 

[Martinjmpr]

No 4th gens came with manual transmissions period. They were never made, even in 2wd.

What about in non-NA markets?

 

[the great him]

What about in non-NA markets?

Idk about other markets, but the US and Canada no. Basically any 4runner you can buy in the us will be an auto unless aftermarket swapped. It has to do with emissions, as well as the traction control and awd systems. Having a direct drive like a manual transmission will not allow for VSC, DAC and TC. That's why the Tacoma's and FJCs that had 6spds didn't get the the nice added traction enhancers. I'm not positive on the rear lockers but I think rear E-lockers also were not available with manuals but I could be wrong on that.

In other markets they had options like turbo diesels ect. And most 120s every places else were Prado's not 4runners and I'm not that familiar yet with Prado's and their options, or any of the packages that Toyota offered on overseas vehilcs.

 

[Martinjmpr]

According to this Wiki page (depends on how reliable you think Wikipedia is) the 4th gen 4runner/Hilux Surf was never offered with a manual in any market. There were a variety of engines, but the only transmission listed is the automatic:

Toyota 4Runner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Of course, I can already point out one mistake in this Wiki, it says the 4th gen only came with the 5 speed auto, which we know is not true as the 2003 - 2004 V6 models got the A340 4 speed. :shrug: So who knows?

 

[miller507]

Kinda of late to the party, just to clarify 4runners did come with a non cdl option if requested by the dealer.

First I thought something was missing and it bothered the crap outta me, but I got my answeres from the dealer.

If you look up my vin number it will say its a 03 4wd Limited.
No steering controls (not sure if available for that year)
No dual climate zone option (or whatever its called)
No side airbags
No CDL.

BTW, I don't remember what a fully limited T4R offers.

Hmm... that's odd...

As far as I know all US bound 4th Gen 4Runners came with CDL if they were 4WD, only non-North American market 4th Gen 4Runners had optional CDLs. The VIN says its a 4WD and that it was originally sold new at a dealership in Florida, so I have no idea where the button went.

Maybe ask them?

It is 100% legitimate. I was going to guess that it was probably a southeast distributed Toyota, but blackworks has already confirmed that. The southeast region is the only independent Toyota distributor and you will see configurations that are much different than the rest of the US where Toyota controls all the distribution. They order stripped down vehicles and add accessories as port installs which is why that one doesn't have a roof rack.

Did you actually see this very vehicle? Because if not then I think the simpler explanation is that the photo is from a 2wd 4runner and was somehow mixed in with an ad for a 4wd.

Otherwise you would have to believe that of all the hundreds of thousands of 4th gen 4runners that were sold between 2003 and 2009, for some reason in 2008 Toyota decided to sell ONE 4runner without a center differential. How the hell would that even happen?

The only other possibilities I can think of are that the vehicle was in an accident and had the dash rebuilt and somehow during the rebuild process they put a blank instead of the center diff lock button (which would mean that there is a center diff lock but the plastic plug and wire are somewhere behind the dash) or, less likely, that the CDL button was switched to a different location (which is possible, I suppose, since after all it's just wires - extend the wires and put the button wherever you want) but why would you do that when you have perfectly serviceable (and unused) buttons on the dash?

Again, unless someone here can verify that there was ever a 4th gen 4wd 4runner without a center diff I think the simpler explanation makes more sense.

EDITED TO ADD: This is one of the biggest 4runner boards on the internet. If Toyota made 4th gens without center diffs, wouldn't you have expected to see at least one person posting here and saying "why doesn't my 4th gen have a center diff?"

Also, I have seen 4th gens without roof racks. They're not common, but I've seen them around.

Well, as I said above, if Toyota did make 4th gen 4x4's w/o center diffs I'm sure we would have seen at least ONE here on T4R.org some time in the past 13 years.

[MENTION=49]Sungod[/MENTION]

The point that is being made, is that all North American market 4Runners only came with two transfer case options:

• The multi-mode VF4AM for 1GR-FE equipped units
• The All-Time 4WD VF4BM for 2UZ-FE equipped units.

I believe the non-North American market 4Runners (If I remember correctly, outside of the NA Market they are just rebadged "Hilux Surf") have one or both of the following:

• The manually shifted Non-CDL equipped VF2A
• The electronically shifted Non-CDL equipped VF2BM

Both of which are found as options in the 5th Gen 4Runner for the North American Market (these non-CDL transfer cases were only standard/offered starting with the 5th Gen 4Runners in the US.) Though it is possible they used an older 3rd Gen 4Runner or Hilux transfer case, either way the ECM and associated modules would be non-US market part numbers (not to mention it probably wouldn't meet US emissions requirements), something that would cause issues with any dealership working on the vehicle (since the TIS network and parts fiche is region based for the North American market.)

I can believe that options like roof racks, spoilers, hoods, ect. were optional in the southern US market; but ordering a non-standard, non-us spec vehicle to sell in the US seems a bit too much of a stretch.

 

[miller507]

I'm not in the US.

Panama, Central america.

We got 4runners with the 1kz-Te diesel engine and they don't come with the CDL option.

As far as I know the only the landcruiser brings that option.

I thought only the first batch of 4th gens where sold without the cdl option, guess I was wrong.