4x4 PSA: Use it or lose it monthly reminder

My question is this... if I keep trying to get it into 4LO every month or so when I give the 4HI a workout, is there any chance that at some point over the next few years it might just break loose and start working again?

To echo the previous 2 responses.... Probably yes.
 
I did this yesterday while on a forest-service road....all seemed to go well. I put it in 4Lo as well. One question- while the Diff Lock light comes on and VSC is off, is that sufficient to know that the CDL is actually on? I know 4Lo comes on based on how 4Lo obviously shifts and drives but not sure if the lights are enough to tell me that the CDL is activated.
 
I did this yesterday while on a forest-service road....all seemed to go well. I put it in 4Lo as well. One question- while the Diff Lock light comes on and VSC is off, is that sufficient to know that the CDL is actually on? I know 4Lo comes on based on how 4Lo obviously shifts and drives but not sure if the lights are enough to tell me that the CDL is activated.

Also curious about this for testing before purchasing.

For us city dwellers - would a boat launch/curb be a decent place to exercise the 4wd?
 
Also curious about this for testing before purchasing.

For us city dwellers - would a boat launch/curb be a decent place to exercise the 4wd?

Pavement would be fine for 4Hi, but go out of town and find a gravel road or lot to engage 4Lo.
 
September reminder. :bounce:

Yikes! :eek:

Doing my monthly "tighten your shit" routine while putting my sway bar back on and found both UCA bolts working themselves out. Pretty scary to see them since I checked a few weeks ago. This simple check just saved me from a bad situation!
 
Soooooo

Who has been switching over to 4x4 Hi and NOT 4lo? Like me? I've had my rig since April 2010 and NEVER switched over to 4Lo. I highly doubt it was used before as it's previous owner used to live in an "uppity' neighborhood.
 
Thank god I noticed this thread a couple month ago, bought my 4runner late may... All in all whoever had the vehicle before me never used any of these features and it took forever to engage 4hi & 4lo. Now I try to switch from 2hi to 4hi on occasion while driving a descent speed, while stopped I will go into 4lo and use the diff button... they all work much better now so whoever said it first use it or lose it.

Thanks!!!

Larry
 
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee hawwwwwwwwwwwwww

I recently moved to another complex and it has some dirt/stone road that is under construction. Perfect surface for trying 4Lo. I didn't have access to such a road in the past.

Anyway, after dropping off my daughter in school, I headed to the small stretch to try out 4Lo. Totally anticipating "beeping" and with a mallet in hand, I didn't expect it to engage.

It did. Took about 2 seconds. Didn't hear any beep. I even tried locking the diff. According to the idiot light, it engauged. Turning it off however took about 10 seconds. Very happy to say the least. I'll be doing VERY OFTEN from now on.

When I had my Heap Grand Cherocrap, engaging 4Lo was via a handle and you KNEW it engauged. It would always grind into gear and throttle response was "touchy". Not so with the 4Runner. Smooth operation.

Goddamn I love my truck!

VoRNhRw.jpg
 
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Crap I never switch to 4Lo. I really need to do that. Whats the best way to do this safely? Do I need to find an empty dirt lot somewhere? Also, every month when I switch from H2 to H4, it grinds a little before engaging...is this normal?
 
To switch to 4Lo, you have to stop, put the transmission in neutral, then switch. You can try the same for going from 2Hi to 4Hi if it won't shift on the fly.

You can drive in 4Lo on pavement. The center differential is still unlocked, so you can turn normally, but the engine will rev higher because of lower gearing, and there will be more engine braking. You can actually get up to about 50-60mph if you want, but you probably won't want to.

You can also lock the center differential on pavement, but I strongly prefer to only do that if I'm going in a straight line. I don't like the drivetrain binding up. People with less sophisticated transfer cases (most 5th gens, for example) will tell you it's not a problem, but I don't like it.
 
Crap I never switch to 4Lo. I really need to do that. Whats the best way to do this safely? Do I need to find an empty dirt lot somewhere? Also, every month when I switch from H2 to H4, it grinds a little before engaging...is this normal?
Do you shift while moving? I don't think I've noticed grinding going from 2WD to 4WD, just a clunk sometimes, the times I've driven a V6 model. I almost always do that shift while moving. I have had grinding going from 4Hi to 4Lo once, and apparently that is somewhat normal.
 
Do you shift while moving? I don't think I've noticed grinding going from 2WD to 4WD, just a clunk sometimes, the times I've driven a V6 model. I almost always do that shift while moving. I have had grinding going from 4Hi to 4Lo once, and apparently that is somewhat normal.

I shift it into 4Hi while sitting stopped at a light, and slowly accelerate as I wait for it engage. After about 5 seconds or so of moving, I hear a grinding noise and then the light stops blinking, confirming that it has successfully engaged into 4Hi. My understanding is that this is normal, except I have heard every time I've done it, which is monthly.
 
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