Engaging 4x4 on 1989 Toyota 4Runner 2-door 5-speed

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ALMOSTahero

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Hi, I'm new to this and my dad just got me a 1989 Toyota 2-door 4runner, the ones that you can take the top off and I was wondering if anyone can help me out with the 4x4. When we first drove it, I engaged the 4x4 just to make sure it worked, first 4H than 4L and worked perfect, however when I tried putting it back to 2H it didn't, instead when we drove it it started shaking and we heard some clamping as it moved so instead, we put it on 4H and slowly drove to the guys house (We hadn't gone far) and from there he fixed it, but claims he has no clue on how he did it and didn't give me any instructions. That I can see from 2H you go back to 4H, than forward-right to N than further to 4L. But when I tried a reverse order 2H wasn't engaged properly, any help on how I can put it? Sorry it's so long just trying to be as specific and thorough as possible.
 
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It sometimes is a pain to get out of 4WD. Sometimes a little forward and backward driving will get it to pop out.

But first, is it auto or manual trans, and auto or manual hubs?
 
ALMOSTahero said:
IT's a 5-speed manual transmission and I don't know how to tell whether auto or manual hubs.
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on the front hubs do you have to lock them in to engage the 4 wheel drive or do you push a button to engage the 4 wheel drive ? do you just have to switch it into gear from in the truck to be locked in and ready to go ?
 
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yeah mine does this also, it seems to do it when the tranny is hot, like when i probly shouldnt have in 4wheel, just showin off or when theres not enough snow to constitute putting it into 4wheel, i think this is hard on the transfer case and tranny and it causes it to heat up and not want to shift, if you want to know more you might ask marlincrawler.com that guy could probly tell you he knows a hell of alot more than me. if you persue let us know
 
I just saw they're auto-locked hubs, and uhm..kay basically all I need to know is if theres a trick to disengaging the 4x4 on the truck cause I don't know if I follow the diagram on the stick or is there a trick to it I need to know.
 
The trick with auto hubs is with forward /backward movement. Google the exact procedure, I can't remember the exact steps.
 
I did google it many times, I tried many ways but couldn't figure it out, basically I can engage 4WD without a problem, however dis-engaging it back to 2H is something I couldn't do, I know theres a trick to doing it but I'd just have to see it done on video or something...I'll post a picture tomorrow of what the stick looks like and what the problem is.
 
What I normally do is drive forward 10 feet, and then drive in reverse 15-20 feet then try to disengage. 99% of the time it works on the first try, rarely have i ever had to try for a 2nd.
 
Well when the guy did it he didn't even move it, the thing is what I mean is this. If you look at a Jeep Wrangler or something, the 2H 4H and 4L go in a straight line, forward and back movement, but the 4runner has like side-forward/side-backward movements and I just can't figure out the trick to putting it back on 2H.

That's the diagram on the stick for the 4WD...
 

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Sorry man, mine just goes in and out whenever I shift the little shifter. No tricks to it really. It will engage/disengage without moving an inch sometimes. Other times I have to move it maybe a foot before it clicks in or out.

When your in 4HI, you should just push it straight up to get to 2HI. The mini shifter should move maybe 2 inches and clunk into place.

If your car moves then its obviously in 2HI. Is it just your 4WD green light that doesnt go off or are you sure all 4 wheels are still spinning.
 
Well theres yer problem, your gear selector is all fuzzy and out of focus, no wonder you cant figure it out!!! Just kidding man, If your having trouble getting your transfer case OUT of four wheel drive it is because your binding somewhere, usually its in the auto hubs, which is not a strange problem for 4r. (which is why our bros here are telling you to drive forward and back).


jack the front end up and rotate your front wheels (when this problem is occurring) If your drive shaft turns.... Your hubs are binding. If the front wheels spin free but the stick still wont go to 2wd your problem is in your shift linkage (if your lucky) or your transfer case.
 
fishrod said:
Sorry man, mine just goes in and out whenever I shift the little shifter. No tricks to it really. It will engage/disengage without moving an inch sometimes. Other times I have to move it maybe a foot before it clicks in or out.

When your in 4HI, you should just push it straight up to get to 2HI. The mini shifter should move maybe 2 inches and clunk into place.

If your car moves then its obviously in 2HI. Is it just your 4WD green light that doesnt go off or are you sure all 4 wheels are still spinning.
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Well, the thing is when I try it and I drive forward, the truck starts doing some loud clamping and nasty shaking, but when the previous owner took it off he did it like nothing but didn't explain how he did it. Didn't look like he ever even used the 4WD on the truck ever so I wouldn't doubt that he just got lucky.
 
cometobanks said:
you cant ask the dude you bought the truck from?
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Actually no thing is, he said he didn't know how to use it that the owner before him knew, but my dad burned the old pink slip for some "security measures" that makes no sense so I don't even know where he lives, and also the guy who sold it was leaving that next day out of state so I have no idea where he went.haha I know sounds so strange but it actually happened.
 
ALMOSTahero said:
Actually no thing is, he said he didn't know how to use it that the owner before him knew, but my dad burned the old pink slip for some "security measures" that makes no sense so I don't even know where he lives, and also the guy who sold it was leaving that next day out of state so I have no idea where he went.haha I know sounds so strange but it actually happened.
Click to expand...

is this truck lifted ?
 
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