4X4 Never worked right

[plumr]

I bought my 4runner with 14k on it and ever since day one the 4x4 did not engage properly. I should of taken care of it way back then but oh well I didn't.

I now have 135,000 on the beast and I'm sick of the 4x4 not engaging properly what can be done. ?? If I turn the nob to 4wheel high it just doesn't want to go in and it seems if it's raining out it's really stuborn.

I can be at any speed our configuration, Stopped, moving slow, back up a little, 10mph, 20mph,30,mph ect ect ect it doesn't like to engage. If I'm driving 45 and I engage it could take 5 miles to engage. It's not always that extreme but I want to hit it and forget it.

Now one it's in it's good exxcept for the fact that I cannot disengage the traction control system which is also a pain in the arse..

Is there any after market 4x4 systems for this little beast.. ??

 

[aha2988]

you can go to marlin crawler and get a dual transfer case setup with twin sticks custom gear ratio's and custom drive shafts (oh what dream for me one day one day...)

Or you could diagnose whats causing the issue with your 4wd system and fix it. have you tried for low, it's engagement procedure is to be stopped, in neutral then turn the switch to 4lo.

does your center diff lock (both the center diff and the 4lo turn off portions of the traction control system to allow better off-road performance)

how can you tell if your in 4hi going down the high way? the drive ratio isn't going to change and you have all open center differentials it's not going to bind up in anyway to let you know your in 4wd. other than a dash indicator light.

 

[plumr]

you can go to marlin crawler and get a dual transfer case setup with twin sticks custom gear ratio's and custom drive shafts (oh what dream for me one day one day...)

Or you could diagnose whats causing the issue with your 4wd system and fix it. have you tried for low, it's engagement procedure is to be stopped, in neutral then turn the switch to 4lo.

does your center diff lock (both the center diff and the 4lo turn off portions of the traction control system to allow better off-road performance)

how can you tell if your in 4hi going down the high way? the drive ratio isn't going to change and you have all open center differentials it's not going to bind up in anyway to let you know your in 4wd. other than a dash indicator light.

Do you think 2 transfer cases would be enough.. ?? I'm thinking 4 would be better.. !! :guitar2::guitar2::guitar2:

Shifting into 4 low hasn't been much of a problem it goes in. The center diff is locking fine you can notice a huge performance difference when it's engaged. And yes I go by the light and also you can hear it "Pop" in.

I can tell you this you damn well better have it engaged before you need it because if you get stuck you cannot get it to lock into 4x4.. You have to plan ahead if you want all 4 wheels spinning.

 

[JB.]

I bought my 4runner with 14k on it and ever since day one the 4x4 did not engage properly. I should of taken care of it way back then but oh well I didn't.

I now have 135,000 on the beast and I'm sick of the 4x4 not engaging properly what can be done. ?? If I turn the nob to 4wheel high it just doesn't want to go in and it seems if it's raining out it's really stuborn.

I can be at any speed our configuration, Stopped, moving slow, back up a little, 10mph, 20mph,30,mph ect ect ect it doesn't like to engage. If I'm driving 45 and I engage it could take 5 miles to engage. It's not always that extreme but I want to hit it and forget it.

Couple of things.

1. Try engaging and disengaging over and over. It may get quicker and easier.

2. The mpg hit to being in 4wd (awd) is miniscule. Most of the difference comes simply from the weight of the hardware. Why not put it in full-time 4wd and forget it. Personally, I don't really understand the appeal of the 2wd setup in the first place.

 

[plumr]

Couple of things.

1. Try engaging and disengaging over and over. It may get quicker and easier.

2. The mpg hit to being in 4wd (awd) is miniscule. Most of the difference comes simply from the weight of the hardware. Why not put it in full-time 4wd and forget it. Personally, I don't really understand the appeal of the 2wd setup in the first place.

Like I said you have to plan ahead with this car so I put it in fulltime 4x4 lots but not always. Switching the knob in and out over and over again doesn't seem like a very sound solution at all I'm probably not going to be doing that.

And it's not AWD it's Full time 4x4..

 

[JB.]

Like I said you have to plan ahead with this car so I put it in fulltime 4x4 lots but not always. Switching the knob in and out over and over again doesn't seem like a very sound solution at all I'm probably not going to be doing that.

What I meant was if you get it working better and then engage it once a month, it may work better all the time.

It's not always that extreme but I want to hit it and forget it.

If you stay in AWD you can eliminate the hit portion.

And it's not AWD it's Full time 4x4..

I try to use language that has the best chance of preempting misunderstanding. I haven't yet figured out how to preempt the grammarians, though.

 

[plumr]

What I meant was if you get it working better and then engage it once a month, it may work better all the time.



If you stay in AWD you can eliminate the hit portion.



I try to use language that has the best chance of preempting misunderstanding. I haven't yet figured out how to preempt the grammarians, though.

Grammarians suck.. !!

I live in the hills bro I'm in and out and up and down with 4x4 everyday. It's getting a work out.. !!