4x4 PSA: Use it or lose it monthly reminder
- Thread starter Kmvreter
- Start date
Sonnystile
New member
My 4Lo would not work and just beeped at me for MONTHS after I bough my 08.
I kept trying and trying.
We recently had a warmish spring day and I had a long highway jaunt in front of me.
I went ahead and ran 4Hi for about 50 miles, alternately engaging the center diff on and off.
When I got to my destination, I tried to engage 4Lo... WENT RIGHT IN WITH NARY A BEEP!
I’ve since taken to engaging it every day to the end of my alley as I leave the house.
Persistence is key!
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I kept trying and trying.
We recently had a warmish spring day and I had a long highway jaunt in front of me.
I went ahead and ran 4Hi for about 50 miles, alternately engaging the center diff on and off.
When I got to my destination, I tried to engage 4Lo... WENT RIGHT IN WITH NARY A BEEP!
I’ve since taken to engaging it every day to the end of my alley as I leave the house.
Persistence is key!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
sport2004
Member
Interesting...use of a long distance 4Hi and CDL to coax into 4Lo. Wonder if anyone here having insight would venture a guess as to why this worked...???!!!
Warmed up the thickened grease, and the electric motors over came the mechanical resistance and poof 4lo.
Both my 4runners were bought with non functioning 4lo, and both started working over the course of the summer with persistent working of the dash switch. Took a few months of messing around, but much less expensive than paying for a unneeded repair.
Only costs time..... and if gets fubar from trying, well you were spending the money anyhow.
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Bluesky 07
Senior Member
My favorite way to give the 4WD a workout. ;-)
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vf02AOilEgo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vf02AOilEgo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
sport2004
Member
I have tried switching during periods of hot weather, never made a difference. However, have not tried running 4Hi over a distance, in hot weather, or for that matter repeatedly switching the CDL on/off. Correct me if wrong, but doesn't the truck need to be stopped to switch the CDL? If possible on the fly, would be risky to do at higher speeds.
Activating CDL on the fly is fine, as long as you're tracking straight or on a surface loose enough to avoid binding the driveline (mud/ice/gravel/sand/etc).
2hi to 4hi on the fly under 62 mph
4hi to 4lo stopped in neutral
CDL on/off anytime, though best used on the lawn, snow, sand or other surface that allows slippage.
To quote that cartoon, ya got ta work it, work it.....
sport2004
Member
thank you, over the last few years sure i have read and forgotten that more than once...
Thanks for the reminder. I cycled the 4WD system twice from 2WD through 4HI then to 4LO and back. Everything functioned normally including diff lock and running through all transmission gears while in 4LO.
I think this vehicle has never been shifted into 4LO before, and it has 206,000 miles. Good to know it still works.
I think this vehicle has never been shifted into 4LO before, and it has 206,000 miles. Good to know it still works.
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Sonnystile
New member
Mine had been stuck but freed up with perseverance.
It goes easily now, but 4Lo makes a bit of a crunchy noise when it engages.
That Ok?
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It goes easily now, but 4Lo makes a bit of a crunchy noise when it engages.
That Ok?
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flipflopnfly
New member
The Toyota ADD 4WD's I've owned crunched going into 4LO 99% of the time, and that's with fresh gear lube. Makes you cringe when you hear it, yeah? The manual transfer case, manual front hubs were better.
Well thanks for the reminder, did the CDL, 4LO.
You might get better responses in the 5th gen forum. :wink2:
Thanks for the monthly reminder on this - I just found this thread and realized it's been years and I live in the NE where salted roads are the norm. Was thankful to hear that satisfying shift on mine.
sport2004
Member
Any tips on what finally worked?
I cycled from 2WD to 4LO twice, and rode the gears up. The transmission seemed to only shift three times, or to have used 4 gears. I have a 5 speed automatic transmission.
When in 4LO, is first gear locked out, or did I not drive fast enough to achieve fifth gear? Or is fifth gear locked out? I was driving approximately 30mph around 2500rpm in 4LO.
When in 4LO, is first gear locked out, or did I not drive fast enough to achieve fifth gear? Or is fifth gear locked out? I was driving approximately 30mph around 2500rpm in 4LO.
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Sonnystile
New member
Scroll back a bit.
I picked a warm day and a long freeway run to cycle though 2hi, 4hi and center diff lock on and off a bunch for about 90 minutes.
When I got off the highway, 4Lo engaged on the first try.
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sport2004
Member
Thanks, I do remember seeing that.
