Death by Traction Control going into 4wd

[MT4rider]

Hello all, I just bought a 07 SR5 4x4 about a month ago and I've been having issues in the snow shifting into 4 Wheel Drive... Example: I'm on a side street covered in snow trying to merge into oncoming traffic in 2wd, turn the 4wd switch to get some traction and it won't engage leaving me with 2wd useless traction control... Basicly it won't shift into 4wd unless it has traction and who needs 4wd when they have traction. Anybody have this same issue? Or a way to remedy it?

 

[lVlAXX]

I have an 03 and have been having issues as well. Sometimes it takes it a while to switch into 4 wheel drive and then to get out is even worse. Took it in and "they" told me just just put it in reverse. I explained to them that kind of negates the "switch on the fly" option...plus i do not want to be driving down the road and then put er in reverse. intelligent people there let me tell you. Lately i have just been switching in and out every couple of weeks and it has improved it going into 4 wheel drive but getting out is still an issue.

 

[Doozi]

I never shift into 4WD under power... that can't be too good for the transfer case. You can switch into and drive in 4WD while you have traction... your Torsen center diff will act like AWD until you hit the center diff lock switch.

~Doozi

 

[FlipRunna]

I never shift into 4WD under power... that can't be too good for the transfer case. You can switch into and drive in 4WD while you have traction... your Torsen center diff will act like AWD until you hit the center diff lock switch.

~Doozi

agreed, or you can just buy a v8 and have it in 4wd all the time

 

[JB.]

Put it in full-time 4WD for the duration of the winter. During times when the streets are dry, enjoy the straighter lane tracking and glued to the road feel.

 

[snhrph]

Hello all, I just bought a 07 SR5 4x4 about a month ago and I've been having issues in the snow shifting into 4 Wheel Drive... Example: I'm on a side street covered in snow trying to merge into oncoming traffic in 2wd, turn the 4wd switch to get some traction and it won't engage leaving me with 2wd useless traction control... Basicly it won't shift into 4wd unless it has traction and who needs 4wd when they have traction. Anybody have this same issue? Or a way to remedy it?

You can't expect to turn the switch and be in 4WD mode instantly... I have the same exact truck you have, and it does not shift into 4WD mode instantaneously. It sometimes requires to lightly press and release the gas a couple of times. Also, it works best if you do it while driving straight.

The best remedy - like JB said, leave it in 4WD for the duration of bad weather. I actually keep mine in 4WD all the time. My wife and I switch trucks quite often, so its easier for me keep mine in 4WD mode than to explain the difference between her truck and mine.

 

[M1911]

agreed, or you can just buy a v8 and have it in 4wd all the time

The 4th Gen V6 also has a Torsen center diff. You can leave it in 4WD the whole time, just like the V8.

 

[Paul_R_Canada]

I've noticed the lag in the shift from 2-4wd, what I've found to help is this;
- moving under power you shift the switch to 4wd
- 4wd lights on the dash flash as it preps/trys to shift
-let the gas off and by the time your foots off the shift happens

This is a similar principle to split shifting a larger truck, you don't need the clutch but under power it can be too hard for the electric shift to happen, so off the gas lets if "pop in"

Check it out see if that helps..

 

[M1911]

This is an example of why you want to be in 4WD before you think you need it.

 

[scottm]

There is really very little reason to drive around in rear-wheel-drive in these vehicles, it's kind of surprising to me that Toyota included the option. I've had nine AWD vehicles, and never wished one of them could be driven in RWD. There have been plenty of people who modified their AWD trucks to have RWD, and they've consistently found no noticeable improvement in performance or mileage or wear of tires or drivetrain. I do drive in RWD on dry summer days on occasion, I imagine I can feel a difference, but it's so subtle as to be insignificant.

The mechanisms that lock up the front drive are pretty beefy, they don't just flick into position. You should be in AWD if you might need it.

 

[Maz]

The 4th Gen V6 also has a Torsen center diff. You can leave it in 4WD the whole time, just like the V8.

Does leaving the system engaged full have an affect on your gas mileage?

 

[scottm]

Does leaving the system engaged full have an affect on your gas mileage?

Some people have claimed a barely measurable difference, but it's unlikely. There is actually a fair amount of tire slip even on dry pavement on the highway. People might think they drove slightly farther than they did when using RWD.

 

[MT4rider]

Does leaving the system engaged full have an affect on your gas mileage?

It has to... Maybe not a lot but I drive around for work so I try to use 2wd to save money but it doesnt seem worth it when Im stuck in a intersection... If this was a manual transfercase and/or I could turn off the traction control in 2wd we wouldnt be having this conversation... I did notice a new 4runner had a manual transfercase, maybe they must have gave up on it... Thanks for the info, Ill just ride AWD tell the snow melts. On a side note, is the Downhill Assist for offroad only? Ive tried it on a couple moderately steep hills while driving and it doesnt seem to do much.

 

[M1911]

Does leaving the system engaged full have an affect on your gas mileage?

Not significantly. Try it yourself. For the next three fillups, keep the truck in 2WD and record your gas mileage. Do it by hand -- miles driven divided by gallons pumped. For the following three fillups, keep the truck in 4WD.

I doubt you'll see more than a 1 mpg difference, if that.

I did notice a new 4runner had a manual transfercase, maybe they must have gave up on it...

No. The 5th Gen SR5 and Trail Edition have a standard transfer case. The 5th Gen Limited has a Torsen center diff. The GX460, LandCruiser and LX570 all have the Torsen center diff.

Toyota was trying to keep the costs down on the 5th Gen SR5 and Trail Edition, so they did a fair bit of decontenting. Torsen center diffs are more expensive than standard transfer cases, and many (most?) buyers simply don't know the difference.

 

[JB.]

On a side note, is the Downhill Assist for offroad only?

Pretty much.

Low range only and under 14mph.

 

[SSt4r]

Also for the DAC (as well as being in low range), don't touch brake OR accelerator. Doing either will keep it from functioning.

 

[kai920]

Down hill assist works in 4LO only. Low speeds. I think like 3-5 mph. You'll know when its working, major brake chatter, it'll sound like somethings falling off the vehicle but that's normal.