Engaging 4wd on the fly

[snOhio]

Hi all,

I am currently in the market for a 4runner, and I want to run my test drive experience by some experts.

When attempting to shift into 4H on the fly, both 4wd lights (green and orange) on the dash started blinking. Then, I heard what sounded like a grinding thunk and it went into 4H. When I turned the knob back, both lights blinked for several seconds and it went back into 2H. This was at about 45mph. When I stopped and tried to go 2H-4H, it did the same thing except it didn't make the grind/thunk sound.

Is this sound normal when shifting on the fly, or am I looking a tcase that needs to be serviced?

Thanks for any input you can provide.

 

[hearno]

it can get smoother if you change the fluid but a little noise isn't anything to be worried about. make sure you test 4l and the center diff lock too before you buy.

 

[DC runner]

It is also like anything else: Use makes it smooth out. If the previous owner never used it, it could be cranky for a bit.

Toyota 4wd systems have been on the fly for darn near 30 years. I had a 2nd gen 4runner that was on the fly. I could shift into and out of 4wd up to something like 65 or 70 mph.

It actually shifts easier on the fly. I have a Full Time V8 right now, so I can't speak to this particular model's 2hi to 4hi shift, but I do have the center diff lock. I lock it on the fly all the time when I am driving into some nasty weather or mud or snow. Never had an issue.

The occasional "clunk" when going into or out of 4wd is normal. Every 4wd vehicle I have owned did this. New or Used.

 

[EHNWI]

I always assumed that you needed to be stopped to engage 4WD. That's what I do.

 

[scw1991]

that is normal. just depends how in sync everything in your gear train is at that particular moment in time when you engage 4WD system.

follow the procedures in the manual. you never want to be making a turn or have the wheels slipping when trying to engage 2HI to 4HI. Engaging 4HI to 4LO requires you to be at a complete stop and in gear shift in Neutral.

I second making sure you can shift from 4HI to 4LO and also engage center differential lock. The shift rods in the actuators can get gummed up from lack of use.

 

[CXS]

I always assumed that you needed to be stopped to engage 4WD. That's what I do.

Agreed, me too.

 

[EHNWI]

Agreed, me too.

I'm going to carry on with our method haha.

 

[ebg18t]

I'm going to carry on with our method haha.

I think most of us engage it stopped.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I always assumed that you needed to be stopped to engage 4WD. That's what I do.

Agreed, me too.

Nope. You need to be stopped to put it into or out of LOW RANGE but you can engage 4wd or lock/unlock the center diff up to 60mph.

 

[CXS]

Nope. You need to be stopped to put it into or out of LOW RANGE but you can engage 4wd or lock/unlock the center diff up to 60mph.

Agreed. I forget there's a difference with the V6 & V8.

 

[DC runner]

If you only engage the system while stopped, your denying the whole purpose of the on the fly design and the purpose for it. Absolutely operate your vehicle as you see fit, but every bit of literature clearly notes it is designed to be shifted while in motion and under varying conditions to allow for the best possible use of the system.

Lets remove off roading. That is something an extreme minority of people who own 4wd cars actually do and it isn't what the modern 4wds are geared toward.

The practical purpose of the 4wd to your average owner is on the road protection and safety. The whole purpose of the on the fly is to increase the protection and to allow people to engage the system at a moments notice when road conditions change, like in a snow or extreme rain/flooding situation. You are driving with your family on the freeway and due to heavy raining or snowing, the road conditions suddenly change. On the fly lets you literally click a button or move a knob and have the system engage instantly, without trying to remove yourself from the road.

If you want to pull off or pull over and engage, do it; but to be clear: Toyota has manufactured and advertised almost all of their in car 4wd systems as on the fly for most of the past 30 years. I have never owned a non-on the fly toyota and I have owned more than my share. Nor have I ever had a 4wd system fail do to that use. The manual's of every car I owned clearly laid out the conditions for shifting, usually to stay below a certain speed to allow the gears to mesh up easily.

Sorry for the length, but I felt the posts were heading toward operation shaming and I wanted the OP to not get lost in that.

 

[snOhio]

Thanks for the input everyone.

Here's the truck in question if you've got any feedback on it.

Used 2008 Toyota 4runner For Sale | Columbus OH

 

[EHNWI]

Thanks for the input everyone.

Here's the truck in question if you've got any feedback on it.

Used 2008 Toyota 4runner For Sale | Columbus OH

Damn, that's a good deal IMO.

 

[earthrealm]

try to engage/disengage on a straight stretch of roaadway...not on curve

 

[NOVA46]

darn good deal man, that's about how much I paid for mine. also, test out all the little things like DAC and hill start assist.

 

[kimboy]

I usually drop to neutral while coasting in order to engage 4H.

This prevents most clunking.

Caveat, only performed on straight roads of course.

 

[Pbuscemi]

"On the Fly" 4WD Shifting Problems/Questions

Hey guys,

I have a 2005 4Runner V6 4WD. I use the 4WD pretty regularly, but 4lo has never worked. I am sure the actuator is frozen, but that's not why I am here.

We have had a crazy 2 weeks of winter here, and it's currently -4 outside. So anyway, I was driving earlier and went to disengage 4Hi on the fly to 2Hi. When I did this I heard a loud clunking or knocking sound (NOT a grinding sound) that stopped after about 10 seconds, and then my center lock and 4WD light flashed for awhile, and never disengaged. I ended up needing to pull over, put the level back to 4WD, put the car in park, N, R, then D and it disengaged. Anyone else having this problem?

 

[Drcoffee]

If you serpentine while rolling will help to lock and unlock the 4wd allowing the gears to mesh

Also the actuators are electric motors. A weak battery or bad alternator may affect the strength of the actuator.

 

[eleven14]

Hey guys,

I have a 2005 4Runner V6 4WD. I use the 4WD pretty regularly, but 4lo has never worked. I am sure the actuator is frozen, but that's not why I am here.

We have had a crazy 2 weeks of winter here, and it's currently -4 outside. So anyway, I was driving earlier and went to disengage 4Hi on the fly to 2Hi. When I did this I heard a loud clunking or knocking sound (NOT a grinding sound) that stopped after about 10 seconds, and then my center lock and 4WD light flashed for awhile, and never disengaged. I ended up needing to pull over, put the level back to 4WD, put the car in park, N, R, then D and it disengaged. Anyone else having this problem?

Do you know when the driveline fluids were last changed? Were you able to get back into 4H without issue? Or have you tried? That certainly seems abnormal but bitter cold/salt/etc. can def cause issues.

Case in point, it's -10 where I live this AM and I heard noises I've never heard when starting my truck lol. At least it turned over.

 

[Pbuscemi]

Do you know when the driveline fluids were last changed? Were you able to get back into 4H without issue? Or have you tried? That certainly seems abnormal but bitter cold/salt/etc. can def cause issues.

Case in point, it's -10 where I live this AM and I heard noises I've never heard when starting my truck lol. At least it turned over.

Hey, man! Thanks for replying.

yeah, it was -12 this morning when I got up. I thought maybe that had something to do with it. It never got above 6 yesterday when I was trying to engage/disengage on the fly.

I am not sure when the fluid was last changed. I had planned to do that this weekend, actually. I am able to engage and disengage 4WD just fine if I am stopped. What I do is put the car in park, turn knob, then put to N, then R, then D and it kicks right in (or out).