Center Diff Question

[Synister]

Spinning tires and moving are two different things. If the tires are spinning, i.e. mud or ice, you can damage the t-case by locking the diff. If you are simply moving, i.e. not stationary then there is no prob locking it up.

 

[DocMT]

I have had my 4Runner for couple weeks and from what I have experienced with mine is that sometimes you need to move a little forward or backwards to get the tcase to lock in. I am just wondering if that is normal for a 4Runner or if I have an issue that needs to be looked at?

That's normal when you're going from 2HI to 4HI. Sometimes the splines are perfectly lined up and other times they are not. If they aren't then you'll have to move just a bit before it will engage. The center diff lock on my 4Runner goes right in every time without having to move the vehicle at all. And keep in mind you can engage it while moving too.

 

[Doozi]

The center diff lock on my 4Runner goes right in every time without having to move the vehicle at all. And keep in mind you can engage it while moving too.

Mine too. I click the button and blink, blink - it's locked. When I'm moving, I just let up on the gas and don't hit the gas again until the dash light is steady, but it's never more than a couple of blinks.

 

[Ross]

Thanks for all the help. When I first tried 4lo it took a few seconds. I tried it a few times when I got home and it was pretty much instant, same with locking the t case while in 4 lo. It takes longer in 4Hi but that won't be a big deal.

Once again thanks.

 

[Jerrydog]

You can drive your 4Runner in 4HI in any conditions because your transfer case has a center differential that allows different speeds without binding .

Ive done this in my 97 Pathfinder for 13 years, never an issue without a center diff.....also has the manual shift lever, Im gonna miss that ALOT.

 

[DocMT]

Ive done this in my 97 Pathfinder for 13 years, never an issue without a center diff.....also has the manual shift lever, Im gonna miss that ALOT.

If you drove your Pathfinder in 4wd on dry pavement for 13 years, I can assure you that it had a center diff. And if not, you would have destroyed your transfer case.

 

[Jerrydog]

If you drove your Pathfinder in 4wd on dry pavement for 13 years, I can assure you that it had a center diff. And if not, you would have destroyed your transfer case.

LOL no, but on wet, icey, snowy, muddy conditions ive always driven it in 4wd even highway speeds in the winter with no center diff. Why would you even want 4wd on dry pavement unless you are running a Suburu Imprezza WRX with slicks down the Kangamangus in a time trial on a sunny summer day? (or similar situation )

 

[DocMT]

LOL no, but on wet, icey, snowy, muddy conditions ive always driven it in 4wd even highway speeds in the winter with no center diff. Why would you even want 4wd on dry pavement unless you are running a Suburu Imprezza WRX with slicks down the Kangamangus in a time trial on a sunny summer day? (or similar situation )

Ok, I see what you're saying. But what I was saying is that you can keep the 4Runner in 4wd forever, even on dry pavement without causing any damage. That's what a center differential does. On the V6 4Runner, the transfer case can be shifted into 2HI. On the V8 4Runner, it cannot. It is in 4wd forever.

 

[Jerrydog]

Ok, I see what you're saying. But what I was saying is that you can keep the 4Runner in 4wd forever, even on dry pavement without causing any damage. That's what a center differential does. On the V6 4Runner, the transfer case can be shifted into 2HI. On the V8 4Runner, it cannot. It is in 4wd forever.

Ahhhhhhhhh! Gotcha, I didnt know that bout the V8's.