just bought a 2001 4runner sr5. usually i wont buy anything without an H on it but i decided to try something new this time plus i wanted 4 wheel drive. so im kinda new to the 4x4 thing and i was wondering how exactly to engage it, disengage it and shift it. also was wondering what that center differential lock is for and what it really does. any advice would be much appreciated. thank u.
4x4 use on 2001
- Thread starter mattyv
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RunnerUp
New member
wont buy anything without an H on it? honda, hyundai?
as far as engaging, disengaging and shifting it... all you do to engage is push the button on the side of the shifter that says 4WD. that will put it in 4 hi, to put it in 4lo, put your truck in neutral, and push the 4WD shifter forward all the way. the center diff lock makes your front wheels and rear wheels spin at the same speed. the reason you have that button is so that you can use 4hi on the streets when its raining and such without hurting anything. you would use your center diff while rock climbing or offroading where you needed those front wheels to get 50% of the power
oh, and to disengage, push the button again and pull it back into the normal position
as far as engaging, disengaging and shifting it... all you do to engage is push the button on the side of the shifter that says 4WD. that will put it in 4 hi, to put it in 4lo, put your truck in neutral, and push the 4WD shifter forward all the way. the center diff lock makes your front wheels and rear wheels spin at the same speed. the reason you have that button is so that you can use 4hi on the streets when its raining and such without hurting anything. you would use your center diff while rock climbing or offroading where you needed those front wheels to get 50% of the power
oh, and to disengage, push the button again and pull it back into the normal position
im a honda guy all the way, got 99 prelude type s with many engine mods and going turbo maybe this summer. wanted a nice 4wd suv for winter and the cargo space. so your saying that i can use 4wd in the rain even if my tires arent slipping? i thought you should only use 4wd if there is enough mud or snow to let the tires slip at different paces? so this shift on the fly thing i can just put it in 4 wheel up to like 60 mph right? well im sure u know more than i do about this and thanx for the advice
Panhandler
New member
My '99 limited has both "AWD" and true "4WD", and your '01 SR5 may be the same...I'm not sure. Anyway, the 4WD shift stick has the "4WD" button on it, which, when pushed and without moving the stick at all, will put it in "AWD" mode. This means that the center diff is not locked and therefore can be driven even on dry pavement because no (or minimal) binding occurs between the front and rear diffs as you make turns, accelerate, etc. That said, though, you can avoid unnecessary wear by only using it when needed. My AWD mode is perfect for snowy paved roads, and flat but slippery gravel/sand roads. On ice, the true 4WD (stick pushed into 4hi position, locking center diff) makes a huge difference.
The Honda sounds nice, by the way.
The Honda sounds nice, by the way.
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<==Needs a 4R
New member
80 mph?
Your just saying 80 mph tops while in 4wd right? 4runners go faster then that don't they? Whats the difference between 4wd and All-wd? I thought all 3rd generation were all time 4wd?? I understand how diffs work and what you mean by "binding" but i don't understand the difference between all-wd and 4wd... Please help???
Your just saying 80 mph tops while in 4wd right? 4runners go faster then that don't they? Whats the difference between 4wd and All-wd? I thought all 3rd generation were all time 4wd?? I understand how diffs work and what you mean by "binding" but i don't understand the difference between all-wd and 4wd... Please help???
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lee
New member
Re: 80 mph?
i meant ive run it up to 80 in awd
awd means there is about a 60-40 split, rear vs front
when you lock the center diff, it go to 50-50 split and is more like a traditional 4wd (ie you shouldnt make sharp turns, keep speed low, etc)
<==Needs a 4R said:Your just saying 80 mph tops while in 4wd right? 4runners go faster then that don't they? Whats the difference between 4wd and All-wd? I thought all 3rd generation were all time 4wd?? I understand how diffs work and what you mean by "binding" but i don't understand the difference between all-wd and 4wd... Please help???
i meant ive run it up to 80 in awd
awd means there is about a 60-40 split, rear vs front
when you lock the center diff, it go to 50-50 split and is more like a traditional 4wd (ie you shouldnt make sharp turns, keep speed low, etc)
<==Needs a 4R
New member
Thanks Lee!
Ok this brings me to my next question.. If you aren't running your runner in awd 24/7 what are you running it in? I thought all 3rd gen 4runner that have 4x4 are all time 4x4? Does it have the ability to be 2wd and 4wd? Thank you guys for your continual help in asnwering a noobs questions!
Ok this brings me to my next question.. If you aren't running your runner in awd 24/7 what are you running it in? I thought all 3rd gen 4runner that have 4x4 are all time 4x4? Does it have the ability to be 2wd and 4wd? Thank you guys for your continual help in asnwering a noobs questions!
RonMAIDEN
Super Moderator
2wd since only '01s and the older Limiteds (I think only '99 and up Limiteds) had the multi mode autop which had the AWD feature.
I wish mine had AWD but I would still only use it when needed since using it all the time just kills the MPGs and does put undo wear on the system. Remember the system isn't quite the same as the AWD systems in Subis and the like.
I wish mine had AWD but I would still only use it when needed since using it all the time just kills the MPGs and does put undo wear on the system. Remember the system isn't quite the same as the AWD systems in Subis and the like.
MARSHALLMAY
New member
sounds like alot of people don't know what awd is.
imagine your rear axle stuck in the mud, without a locker only one wheel will spin.
in awd the transfer case will allow the front and rear drivelines to spin independently like a rear diff, to where it's possible, without traction control, to get stuck with only one wheel spinning. when you lock the transfer case, it splits power 50/50 to the front and rear. then if you were to get stuck, without traction control or locker, you could have two slipping wheels, one in front and one in back.
all you want to know about 4wd/awd systems read HERE
imagine your rear axle stuck in the mud, without a locker only one wheel will spin.
in awd the transfer case will allow the front and rear drivelines to spin independently like a rear diff, to where it's possible, without traction control, to get stuck with only one wheel spinning. when you lock the transfer case, it splits power 50/50 to the front and rear. then if you were to get stuck, without traction control or locker, you could have two slipping wheels, one in front and one in back.
all you want to know about 4wd/awd systems read HERE
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MARSHALLMAY
New member
wrong, awd locks when you press the center drivetrain lock. it locks the transfer case but not axles.RonMAIDEN said:
when it is unlocked, all the wheels recieve power but if 1 slips, it gets all the power, this is when your traction control kicks in engaging the brakes to redistribute power to the other wheels.
a locker as you refer to, such as the elocker on my 4runner, locks the left and right rear wheels together, transfer case lock locks the front and back drive shafts together
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RonMAIDEN
Super Moderator
Sorry,I was actually referring to full time AWD vehicles with no selectable diff control like a basic Subaru.
I meant the rear locker positively locks the wheels togehter with no slippage period. Even with center diff locked there still is limited slip between the wheels. There is no substitute for positively locking the wheels together when off road.
I meant the rear locker positively locks the wheels togehter with no slippage period. Even with center diff locked there still is limited slip between the wheels. There is no substitute for positively locking the wheels together when off road.
MARSHALLMAY
New member
if you were to have axle lockers in a awd vehicle, you could lose grip on your rear wheels and your front wheels would lose all power, unless the awd has a viscous coupling, or traction control.
i believe subaru uses viscous coupling
in an awd vehicle like the late 3rd gen 4runners, escalades, denalis etc. you could turn off traction control, jack up the rear tires put the car in drive and it wouldn't go anywhere. the rear wheels would spin in the air.
i believe subaru uses viscous coupling
in an awd vehicle like the late 3rd gen 4runners, escalades, denalis etc. you could turn off traction control, jack up the rear tires put the car in drive and it wouldn't go anywhere. the rear wheels would spin in the air.
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MARSHALLMAY
New member
right, and in 4wd you could jack up the front and rear passenger or drivers side wheels lock it it 4lo and the 2 wheels off the ground would spin while the truck would go nowhere.
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