All wheel drive and 4 wheel drive

[nissanh]

Correct me if I am wrong.

I recently discovered the mechanical difference between the AWD and 4WD.

My friend in Australia has a prado and he said it is AWD and has a center differential lock. I was kind of upset because we don't have it

Finally he and I did some search and found out that AWD won't windup the gears on paved road because it has a differential mechanism at the transfer case. So when he do off roading he has to lock the transfer case differential to act like a 4wd.

Our 4runners are 4wd and the transfer case is already locked so we don't have the center diff lock function!

 

[GhostRing]

Don't forget Multi-Mode...

 

[T4R2014]

99-00 Limited's and all 4WD 01-02's have AWD. I'm pretty sure the Prado uses the A343F which is AWD with no 2WD mode as opposed to the 4Runner's that has all those modes.

 

[shootmymime]

Correct me if I am wrong.
I recently discovered the mechanical difference between the AWD and 4WD.
My friend in Australia has a prado and he said it is AWD and has a center differential lock. I was kind of upset because we don't have it
Finally he and I did some search and found out that AWD won't windup the gears on paved road because it has a differential mechanism at the transfer case. So when he do off roading he has to lock the transfer case differential to act like a 4wd.
Our 4runners are 4wd and the transfer case is already locked so we don't have the center diff lock function!

it depends on what year you have. my 2000 limited for example

i can push the 4wd button on the side of the lever that will engage the front wheels. aka AWD if im not mistaken.
then again i can pull my lever back (button pressed or not) and it will engage my front wheels as well as lock my center diff. aka 4WD

with the button pushed in (lever still in normal forward position) i can drive on paved roads with no binding r clicking.
once i pull the lever back it locks the center diff and makes turning harder on dry pavement and tires squeak.

another example on my brothers 96 sr5. the only way to make the front wheels turn is by pulling the 4wd lever back to engage the transfer case. its been a while since ive driven it so i dont know how it works on the road. whether or not its got a center diff in the transfer case already. my gut says it does not.

another example is my moms 03 limited, those are full time 4wd/ awd. but they ahve a button to lock the center diff to make it true 4wd like your buddy has.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Correct me if I am wrong.

I recently discovered the mechanical difference between the AWD and 4WD.

My friend in Australia has a prado and he said it is AWD and has a center differential lock. I was kind of upset because we don't have it

Finally he and I did some search and found out that AWD won't windup the gears on paved road because it has a differential mechanism at the transfer case. So when he do off roading he has to lock the transfer case differential to act like a 4wd.

Our 4runners are 4wd and the transfer case is already locked so we don't have the center diff lock function!

Have you seen this thread, linked in the reference and documentation tutorial? http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...rs-3rd-gens-transfer-case-awd-multi-mode.html

It does a great job of explaining the differences. Maybe i'm missing something, but this topic is already pretty well documented.

 

[Singtoe]

I put a button in mine.

 

[nissanh]

Nelsonmd, thanks for the information.
When I put into 4x4 mode I see an icon in my dash just like singtoe's center diff lock switch. So that means, I have 4x4 with locked center diff.

 

[awpsome]

I have the 2000 limited, meaning best of both worlds. 4wd and awd.
Love the awd for rainy days when I feel like having more traction.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Nelsonmd, thanks for the information.
When I put into 4x4 mode I see an icon in my dash just like singtoe's center diff lock switch. So that means, I have 4x4 with locked center diff.

I am not sure which year and model you have, but if you have a 99-00 limited, or an 01-02, then yeah, you have the locking center diff. I wish I had it so that I could have AWD all the time, though it's not so bad just having 4WD and turning it on when there is snow or dirt.