How to test if 4wd is working

[99yota4]

Hey guys, I've been trying to figure out if my 4wd is working properly, I haven't had the chance to get it looked at and was wondering if there's any good way I can test to see if my 4wd is kicked in. The light on the dash NEVER turned on since I bought it and I feel like the steering wheel gets "heavier" when I engage 4Hi but I'm not 100% sure if its really engaged. Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[Justin727]

Take it to a mud hole

 

[Mr. Leary]

Hey guys, I've been trying to figure out if my 4wd is working properly, I haven't had the chance to get it looked at and was wondering if there's any good way I can test to see if my 4wd is kicked in. The light on the dash NEVER turned on since I bought it and I feel like the steering wheel gets "heavier" when I engage 4Hi but I'm not 100% sure if its really engaged. Thanks for any help in advance!

Try popping it in reverse right after you put it in 4wd. The light may come on...

Put it in 4LO. If the t-case engages in 4LO it will engage in 4HI (99.9% of the time).

... or you could find a place to lift a tire and see if it spins.

 

[brian2sun]

You can also tell when you make a turn, it will bind a little and not feel like 2wd. Although this isn't good for the 4x4 on dry ground so don't hold it there, just see if it feels different at all.

 

[99yota4]

I've tried putting into reverse to see if that'll work, but no luck. When I put it in 4Low it definitely revs alot higher so I assume it's working, but i don't feel the grib in the tires or the so called binding noise when making a turn.

 

[CajunRunner]

Take it on a patch of dirt or a gravel parking lot where you can get all 4 tires on soft ground. Justin's mud hole recommendation works fine, too. Stop, put it in 4WD, crank the wheel to the left, stick your head out the window and floor it. If it's working, you'll see the front tire spin.

 

[legokcen]

Take it on a patch of dirt or a gravel parking lot where you can get all 4 tires on soft ground. Justin's mud hole recommendation works fine, too. Stop, put it in 4WD, crank the wheel to the left, stick your head out the window and floor it. If it's working, you'll see the front tire spin.

No No No... turn it to the right, then stick your head out the window. If you get a face full of mud, the 4WD is working. LOL That's much more fun!

 

[CajunRunner]

No No No... turn it to the right, then stick your head out the window. If you get a face full of mud, the 4WD is working. LOL That's much more fun!

Touche'

 

[nor cal boy]

chock the tires on the pass side(front and rear), put the transmission in neutral and tcase in 4wd(lock the center diff if you have one). lift the driver side off the grround so those wheeles can spinn freely. when you spin one wheel, the other will to. if only one spins, something is wrong.

 

[99yota4]

Still haven't figured this out. The light on the dash never comes on even after I think I engaged 4wd. The other day when it was raining I jumped on the gas and tried peeling out to test it, and the front wheels spinned a little! My question is, are the 4runners normally front wheel drive when in 2wd? or are they Rear wheel drive? Thanks!

 

[brian2sun]

They are rear wheel drive.

 

[nor cal boy]

definatly not a fwd base like those pos honda pilots. the light on your dash might be out, but if your front tires are spinning, you are in 4wd.

 

[99yota4]

How do I disengage 4wd then? Is it bad to be driving in 4wd for a long time especially on dry pavement? How do I go about fixing this....

 

[Huilux mad]

you should make sure that you have locked the hubs in otherwise it will not work properly

 

[BlackCat914]

you should make sure that you have locked the hubs in otherwise it will not work properly

we don't have manual locking hubs. It sounds to me like you're in 4x4, but the light isn't working.

 

[KHoffRunner]

Typically when I put mine in 4wd I can hear it lock in and like wise when I disengage it. Forget the light, you should be able to feel it.

 

[forlornRunner]

I went and did a road test of the 4WD, and it definitely works.

So, thanks everybody for your help. I'm pretty sure that chord is for 4X4 indicator and I can live without the light.