Help! I keep hitting the 4 wheel drive dial when I turn the ignition key!

[rhlitt]

Is it just my 4runner and me, or do others bump into the 4 wheel drive dial, and turn it accidentally when just starting your runner? This dial turns very easily, and I am wondering if there is something others have put on it or attached to it, or whatever, to keep it from being accidentally turned?

 

[khaug]

In 18 months and 27K miles, I've not had a problem with this.

 

[rhlitt]

Thanks for the reply Karl...does your dial turn really easily or do you have to give it a little effort as maybe mine needs to be tightened?

 

[jharris2]

Never had the problem, either. When you turn the dial, it feels like there are "indentations" at each stop. Does yours? If not, maybe the dial has a small problem.

 

[Mark86]

I never had that problem. It would be impossible to actually move the 4WD wheel while turning the key. You have to push it in to move it to the next position. I have bumped it by accident, but it did not move.

 

[rhlitt]

Mark...thanks for your reply...maybe that's the problem...I do not have to push it in at all..is slides from 2 to 4 without any effort or push at all. I would thereore like to ask: Does anyone else out there have to push the dial in before they can turn it or is theirs as loose as mine....thanks to all

 

[Mark86]

If you look at the dial, it says somewhere that you have to push to turn it. I once tried to turn it without pushing and it would not go. Do you have a V6 or V8? Maybe it is different on both models. On the V6, there is one more selection (2WD).

 

[TranceKrayz]

weird....i've switched mine a couple of times, and i do not have to push it. there are just "indentations" or notches where you know to stop at for your selection. it doesn't turn as easily as you are claiming yours does. i haven't had the problem of accidentally bumping ti while starting the car either. maybe there's a diff. between v6 and v8. we do have one more selection...2wd.

 

[rhlitt]

mark...I leave it in 2w (all the way to the left) but it moves to 4w. It accidentally moved twice today and at least once a day.

 

[Mark86]

rhlitt, I have the V8 so I do not have the 2WD selector. Maybe the design of the wheel on the V6 is different. The only two selections I have is 4HI and 4LO. To switch between them, you have to push the wheel in and then turn.

 

[TechWrench]

The V6 has three positions on that rotary switch. 2WD, 4WD, and
4WD Low range. You don't have to push the switch in to go from 2WD to 4WD. Only need to push in to go into 4WD Low. And so far, I haven't had any problem with accidental switch movement when starting.

 

[sharp4runr]

The V6 has three positions on that rotary switch. 2WD, 4WD, and
4WD Low range. You don't have to push the switch in to go from 2WD to 4WD. Only need to push in to go into 4WD Low. And so far, I haven't had any problem with accidental switch movement when starting.

:iagree:

I've never had a problem hitting the selector dial when turning the key. I acutally like the placement of it.

 

[rhlitt]

Boy I must be a spaz!!! Thanks to everyone for their reply. At least I know that the switch is supposed to be that way and I'll just have to make it a habit to check it each time before I go into drive.