Hey all, newbie with a problem

[thork86]

Hey there.

I'm new here, and new to 4runners, but loving my 95 4runner limited, auto V6, scored for 4500 bucks with just 102k miles from a family friend.

I just got back from the gym, and was right in front of my house, decided to test the 4x4 and make sure it worked, as our friends had said it does.

I was in drive still but stopped and on the brakes, shifted from 2high into 4high, on comes the 4wd engaged light, and I take it for a quick spin around the block; all is well.

I'm stopped up the street, and at a SLIGHT decline, still in drive but stopped, when I shift back into 2high. Makes a slight clunking noise up front, same noise as shifting normally from N to D, and the 4wd light is off.

I just want to check and make sure it wil go back into 4wd, so I get onto dead flat surface again, stop, in drive, and go to shift into 4high, nothing happens, no light or noise.


Now I read the sticky about 4wd sometimes getting stuck, and I'll try the suggestions tomorrow, but is this normal for 4wd systems? Like I said this is my first truck/SUV and 4runner, but that seems kind of odd that it would need some moving and wiggling around to get the 4wd to activate if it is needed.

Please help a fellow 4runnner owner (newb).


Thanks in advance all! :

 

[thork86]

well, i got it to work by doing nothing, and then once again by throwing it in reverse.

if i can post another question though... should the front end feel shakey when the 4wd is activated. It seems like once I hit 30mph, the whole front end gets a little shimmy in it.

Never happens with 2wd though.

Thanks!

(edit: also pulls to the left a little bit at the above 30mph speed in 4wd)

 

[KMX3060]

You should not be in 4WD on dry pavement.

 

[thork86]

You should not be in 4WD on dry pavement.

Oh, ok. So it's not designed to go above 30mph? Sorry, like I said I'm new to 4x4 vehicles.

 

[Mark86]

If I remember correctly, my parents 1996 4Runner made a clunking noise when shifting out of 4WD so that is normal. As KMX3060 said, you should definitely not be in 4WD on dry pavement because you could destroy the entire system.

 

[thork86]

If I remember correctly, my parents 1996 4Runner made a clunking noise when shifting out of 4WD so that is normal. As KMX3060 said, you should definitely not be in 4WD on dry pavement because you could destroy the entire system.

Thanks Mark, much appreciated.

 

[thork86]

Another possible stupid question... why is using the 4wd on dry pavement a bad thing to do?

If it's too complex a question to answer, perhaps some links to point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

 

[spyne]

Another possible stupid question... why is using the 4wd on dry pavement a bad thing to do?

If it's too complex a question to answer, perhaps some links to point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

The reason is that you have the front and rear wheels of the truck locked together when you are in 4 wheel drive. Things like differences in tire size and turning radiuses (radii?) between the front and rear of the vehicle add up quickly and if you're on a paved surface the tires can't slip. So, something else has to slip, or more likely, break, to even out the difference.

Full time 4 wheel drive systems use various methods (clutches, viscus couplings, etc.) to let some slip happen between the front and rear of the vehicle but your truck (and just about every other part time 4 wheel drive truck) doesn't have this. It's intended to only be in 4 wheel drive when driven in the snow, dirt, sand or some other surface that allows the wheels to slip a little.

 

[thork86]

Ahhh, I understand now.

Thanks a ton, makes much more sense now!