Engaging the 4WD system

ct221933

ct221933

New member
I have a SR5 4x4, and this is my first vehicle with part time 4WD. How does one engage the 4WD system into H4 or H2? I started the engine and transmission was in P position, the 4WD system was in N. I cannot shift the 4WD system to H4 (or H2). I moved the transmission to D or R and obviously the vehicle did not move as the 4WD is in N. Then I move park to P, and heard a grinding noise .

When I move the transmission to N, I was able to engage the 4WD system to H4 and then H2.

The user manual on page 223 did not mention anything about the position of the transmission before engaging the 4WD system. Any insights? Thanks!
 
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ct221933 said:
I have a SR5 4x4, and this is my first vehicle with part time 4WD. How does one engage the 4WD system into H4 or H2? I started the engine and transmission was in P position, the 4WD system was in N. I cannot shift the 4WD system to H4 (or H2). I moved the transmission to D or R and obviously the vehicle did not move as the 4WD is in N. Then I move park to P, and heard a grinding noise .

When I move the transmission to N, I was able to engage the 4WD system to H4 and then H2.

The user manual on page 223 did not mention anything about the position of the transmission before engaging the 4WD system. Any insights? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Sure.

1 -Turn the page

2- Read page 224.

HTH
 
Last edited:
Shifting from H2 to H4Reduce vehicle speed to less than 50 mph (80 km/h).Shift the front-wheel drive control lever to H4.
The four-wheel drive indicator will turn on.

Shifting from H4 to H2Shift the front-wheel drive control lever to H2.
This can be done at any speed.The four-wheel drive indicator will go off.

Shifting between H4 and L4Stop the vehicle completely.
Shift the shift lever to N.Shift the front-wheel drive control lever to L4 or H4.
The low speed four-wheel drive indicator will turn on (L4) or go off
(H4).


You stated that "The user manual on page 223 did not mention anything about the position of the transmission before engaging the 4WD system." That is accurate. However, page 224 explicitly states "Stop the vehicle completely. Shift the shift lever to N." for any shifts between H4 & L4 or L4 & H4.

Page 224 implies that shifts between H2 & H4 or H4 & H2 can be done in any gear within the speed constraints mentioned. Take you foot off the throttle with these shifts.
 
Froggy said:
Shifting from H2 to H4
You stated that "The user manual on page 223 did not mention anything about the position of the transmission before engaging the 4WD system." That is accurate. However, page 224 explicitly states "Stop the vehicle completely. Shift the shift lever to N." for any shifts between H4 & L4 or L4 & H4.

Page 224 implies that shifts between H2 & H4 or H4 & H2 can be done in any gear within the speed constraints mentioned. Take you foot off the throttle with these shifts.
Click to expand...

Got it. I was confused between "Shift Level" and "front wheel drive control level". My bad...thanks.
 
Has anyone experienced grinding when shifting from H4 to H2? I've had a few occasions where the vehicle will not shift from H4 to H2, but gets stuck in neutral between those two. It then grinds when I try to put it in H2 or back to H4. I have to turn the vehicle off to get it back in gear.
 
when my TE was new, i also had a hard time shifting from H2 to H4 with no feel that the gear was engaged plus grinding noises plus the 4wd indicator light not lighting up; this was while the transmission was shifted into Neutral with the truck at a complete stop;
this happened so many times that i bought my truck to my local toy dealer where i was able to talk to the head tech who explained and demonstrated to me that it was better to leave the transmission in Park gear instead of Neutral(as recommended in TFM) before shifting in/out H2/H4 b/c grinding can occur in Neutral in AUTOtransmlssion vehicles b/c "there is still some slow movement of gears in N"!
i know that at least in my Manual transmission 86 FJ60, the trans was supposed to be in N before shifting in/out 4wD gears and never had grinding issues.
i welcome any comments from guys on this forum who are mechanics/knowledgable who can verify the above toy tech's explanation on engaging trans in P instead of N before shifting into H4, etc.
to this day, i have been following the tech's advice and have not experienced any grinding; am paranoid to try again in N as i also experienced grinding when engaging L4/H4 while in N transmission when the truck was new. do find that now after break-in period, the 4wd gears are easier to shift in/out of. HTH
 
wanted to make clear that in Manual trans vehicles with part-time 4wd, the trans is supposed to be shifted into Neutral before engaging 4wd gears ( as per FM recommendation in my FJ). my question is this different in Automatic trans vehicles with part-time 4wd in that the trans should be in Park before engaging 4wd gears b/c grinding will occur in Neutral due to gear movement being present according to the toy head tech who i talked to??? (FM states trans should be in Neutral before engaging 4wd gears for 4-runner)
 
toyslug said:
wanted to make clear that in Manual trans vehicles with part-time 4wd, the trans is supposed to be shifted into Neutral before engaging 4wd gears ( as per FM recommendation in my FJ). my question is this different in Automatic trans vehicles with part-time 4wd in that the trans should be in Park before engaging 4wd gears b/c grinding will occur in Neutral due to gear movement being present according to the toy head tech who i talked to??? (FM states trans should be in Neutral before engaging 4wd gears for 4-runner)
Click to expand...

I think you may be over thinking this one.

The manual simply says the vehicle can be shifted from H2 to H4 while in D below 50mph, and from H4 to L4 when the vehicle is in N. If that's how the Toyota engineers wrote the manual, then I think we should consider that gospel.

I doubt the engineers who actually designed our equipment would advise us to do something that could possible damage the transfer case and open them up to all sorts of warranty claims.
 
toyslug said:
when my TE was new, i also had a hard time shifting from H2 to H4 with no feel that the gear was engaged plus grinding noises plus the 4wd indicator light not lighting up; this was while the transmission was shifted into Neutral with the truck at a complete stop;
this happened so many times that i bought my truck to my local toy dealer where i was able to talk to the head tech who explained and demonstrated to me that it was better to leave the transmission in Park gear instead of Neutral(as recommended in TFM) before shifting in/out H2/H4 b/c grinding can occur in Neutral in AUTOtransmlssion vehicles b/c "there is still some slow movement of gears in N"!
i know that at least in my Manual transmission 86 FJ60, the trans was supposed to be in N before shifting in/out 4wD gears and never had grinding issues.
i welcome any comments from guys on this forum who are mechanics/knowledgable who can verify the above toy tech's explanation on engaging trans in P instead of N before shifting into H4, etc.
to this day, i have been following the tech's advice and have not experienced any grinding; am paranoid to try again in N as i also experienced grinding when engaging L4/H4 while in N transmission when the truck was new. do find that now after break-in period, the 4wd gears are easier to shift in/out of. HTH
Click to expand...

I experience grinding if I'm in neutral as well in my SR5. I have to be in Park before going to 4Lo or it will grind. Sounds like the tech is right.
 
JasonCz said:
I think you may be over thinking this one.

The manual simply says the vehicle can be shifted from H2 to H4 while in D below 50mph, and from H4 to L4 when the vehicle is in N. If that's how the Toyota engineers wrote the manual, then I think we should consider that gospel.

I doubt the engineers who actually designed our equipment would advise us to do something that could possible damage the transfer case and open them up to all sorts of warranty claims.
Click to expand...

By the way, the manual does not mention ANYTHING about driving in 4Hi on dry pavement. They inadvertently left out this important item. Therefore, I do not trust the manual at all.
 
adoihcj said:
By the way, the manual does not mention ANYTHING about driving in 4Hi on dry pavement. They inadvertently left out this important item. Therefore, I do not trust the manual at all.
Click to expand...

I have an easier time engaging in 4Hi and then shifting to back 2Hi in my monthly drive since my original post. This forum provided lots of good info.

I also called Toyota Customer Experience to ask about it. I was told no problem to drive 4Hi in dry pavement. I repeated the question to make sure and I was given the same answer. I rather trust the wisdom and experience of contributors in this Forum.

Questions on 4WD comes up every so often in this forum proves that the owner's manual needs to be improved.
 
The little placard on the driver's side visor gives the appropriate warning about dry surfaces.

But yes, it should definitely be in TFM.
 
adoihcj said:
By the way, the manual does not mention ANYTHING about driving in 4Hi on dry pavement. They inadvertently left out this important item. Therefore, I do not trust the manual at all.
Click to expand...

The manual does say that H4 provides "Greater traction than two wheel drive. For when you experience a loss of power, such as wheel slipping"

I think its a bit overzealous to throw out all the knowledge in the manual because Toyota was a bit vague in one of their directions.
 
jasoncz;thanks for your response to my question re: trans in P vs. in N when shifting in/out 4wd gears. so today i tried shifting h2-h4 with trans in N and did not hear/feel any grinding noises. i guess there is a break-in period that it shifts smoother over time with use. as for the comments about not using 4wd on dry pavement, it is probably ok for short-term, short distance use as when FM recommends monthly maintenance of 10miles engaged in 4wd to keep parts lubed!
 
toyslug said:
jasoncz;thanks for your response to my question re: trans in P vs. in N when shifting in/out 4wd gears. so today i tried shifting h2-h4 with trans in N and did not hear/feel any grinding noises. i guess there is a break-in period that it shifts smoother over time with use. as for the comments about not using 4wd on dry pavement, it is probably ok for short-term, short distance use as when FM recommends monthly maintenance of 10miles engaged in 4wd to keep parts lubed!
Click to expand...

Regarding driving on dry pavement, see the thread I started last year http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/58477-okay-use-4wd-hi-dry-pavement.html.
 
86' 4runner 22r with automatic tranny 4WD slips from H4 H2

Hi, NEW ! :jump:4runner person here.....my 1986 4runner 22r with automatic tranny 4WD slips from H4 H2.....bottom line ...is you put the tranfer case into H4 and after a few seconds it slip back to H2....anyone ever seen this issues?

What the heck is going on?? HELP !!!!!!
 
oc4runner1 said:
Hi, NEW ! :jump:4runner person here.....my 1986 4runner 22r with automatic tranny 4WD slips from H4 H2.....bottom line ...is you put the tranfer case into H4 and after a few seconds it slip back to H2....anyone ever seen this issues?

What the heck is going on?? HELP !!!!!!
Click to expand...

Not trying to run you off but you might get a better answer in the 1st Gen forum off the main page. This one is for 2010+ 4runners. Different drivetrain.
 
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