I'm new here, 99+ limited 4H unlocked question from a noob to 4x4 and 4 runner

[Steve240]

Hey everyone,

I'm new here, I've been reading the forum for a couple days now. Great forum!! Awesome info.

I have recently decided that I am going to buy a 4 runner. I think they look awesome and it will do everything my car can't. I'm huge gear head, I own a nissan 240sx which barely has a stock part on it. I need a new winter vehicle and I'm also very interested in getting into mild off roading and moding up a 4runner into a weekend trail rig.

After reading the buyers guide I got a bit confused with 4x4. Mainly about 4H unlocked (awd) in the 99+'s. Is this a smart option to have? I have never owned a 4x4 and I'm not sure how it handles in snow. I have driven my 240 in snow before, its got to many mods now, so I can handle a rwd vehicle in the snow.

I did read you can drive in 4H up to 55mph but can I go faster if its snowing? If there is enough slip from the snow it shouldn't be hard on the drive line correct?

Will the 4runner spin tires in rwd in rain or snow, say on a hill? Would I need to put it in 4H then switch back to 2H once I was moving? This can be done on the fly correct?

Thanks in advance I did search but couldn't find the exact answer I was looking for.

Pics of my car for any ones interest.

 

[Bamf_CT2004]

switch to 4h by just pressing the 4wd button on the tcase will give you awd indicated ONLY by 4 green lights on the 4wd indicator on your dash, which can be driven at any speed, rain or shine.

 

[Steve240]

Sorry I wasn't clear enough. What I'm trying to find out is if the option is a useful requirement. I'm looking to get a 3rd gen and I want to pick one up with an e locker. I've already seen a couple 98's I like. And I've seen one 99 with the e lock but its very pricey, to much imo for the year and millage. I know nothing higher than 99 had the e locker option. Will I have any troubles driving a 98 - trim in the snow?

 

[4-Ripcord]

Hey everyone,

I'm new here, I've been reading the forum for a couple days now. Great forum!! Awesome info.

I have recently decided that I am going to buy a 4 runner. I think they look awesome and it will do everything my car can't. I'm huge gear head, I own a nissan 240sx which barely has a stock part on it. I need a new winter vehicle and I'm also very interested in getting into mild off roading and moding up a 4runner into a weekend trail rig.

After reading the buyers guide I got a bit confused with 4x4. Mainly about 4H unlocked (awd) in the 99+'s. Is this a smart option to have? I have never owned a 4x4 and I'm not sure how it handles in snow. I have driven my 240 in snow before, its got to many mods now, so I can handle a rwd vehicle in the snow.

I did read you can drive in 4H up to 55mph but can I go faster if its snowing? If there is enough slip from the snow it shouldn't be hard on the drive line correct?

Will the 4runner spin tires in rwd in rain or snow, say on a hill? Would I need to put it in 4H then switch back to 2H once I was moving? This can be done on the fly correct?

Thanks in advance I did search but couldn't find the exact answer I was looking for.

Did you see this thread that was linked to in the buyers guide?
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...rs-3rd-gens-transfer-case-awd-multi-mode.html
I love the Multi-mode 4wd. IMO, anyone looking for a winter 4runner NEEDS to find one with multi-mode.


-Normal driving is 2wd- Any speed, any surface.

-Push the "4wd" button at any speed up to 62= 4wd (unlocked)= AWD - any speed, any surface.

-(must be stopped) Push the center lock button/ Or shift into 4hi (locked) = True 4x4 - up to 50 mph, suggested for offroad only.

Sorry I wasn't clear enough. What I'm trying to find out is if the option is a useful requirement. I'm looking to get a 3rd gen and I want to pick one up with an e locker. I've already seen a couple 98's I like. And I've seen one 99 with the e lock but its very pricey, to much imo for the year and millage. I know nothing higher than 99 had the e locker option. Will I have any troubles driving a 98 - trim in the snow?

The rear elocker was available up to 2000.

 

[Bamf_CT2004]

ah gotcha. In my opinion I think the awd option. as I said before it can be used rain or shine meaning ANY type of road condition. Dry roads, wet roads, slippery roads, anything. Not having the awd feature limits you to ONLY using 4h in slippery road conditions such as ice, snow, mud, gravel, dirt roads and possible a wet road depending on the pavement. The all wheel drive feature is only available on 99+ models and the rear locker is only availabe on 97-2000 models although I think some late 96 models had the elocker option too.

Basically, you will not have any trouble driving a 98 trim 4runner in the snow. The difference between awd and 4wd is a center diff lock. The center diff lock is different from a the rear diff lock, just in case you think they might be the same. Not sure how much you understand the difference between the two.

 

[Steve240]

Thank you, that was more inline with what I was asking. I do understand the difference, the center diff unlocks allowing the front and rear wheels to spin at different speeds. So when cornering the front takes a shorter path, rears need to keep up.

Is there any disadvantage offroading with the multi mode center diff? Is multi-mode only in 2000 limited trim as well?

 

[4-Ripcord]

Thank you, that was more inline with what I was asking. I do understand the difference, the center diff unlocks allowing the front and rear wheels to spin at different speeds. So when cornering the front takes a shorter path, rears need to keep up.

Ripcord, do you not think the 4runner in 2h alone is very good in the snow? Will the back end loss traction easily?

Is there any disadvantage offroading with the multi mode center diff? Is multi-mode only in 2000 limited trim as well?

Ok, by snow do you mean a snowy road, or like couple inches of powder with not pavement contact at all??

2wd is ALRIGHT on snowy roads.. IF you have traction control.. which is only on the 01-02 4runners. Of course AWD is much better. But 2wd works if you feel True 4x4 is too much for that road.

There is NO disadvantage with the Center diff, just activate the center locker and chango-presto... your in true 4x4.

The Multi-mode came on the 99-00 limited and ALL 01-02's. As the elocker was only up to 2000, the 99-00 limited was the only one with BOTH the rear elocker AND Multi-mode..
BUT the only ones with TRAC and Mult-mode are the 01-02's..


If this really will be a weekend rig in addition to a winter rig.. find a 99-00 limited.. But if its primary focus is winter, get the 01-02 with TRAC.


Take that for what its worth, its just my opinion based on what I know about these vehicles...

 

[Steve240]

Right on, thanks for that response Ripcord. My parents own an 01 highlander and if the trac is anything like that in the 4runner I'll pass. I find its always turning the motor off when I break loss at all.

When I say snow I mean on roads mostly with an inch or less. These are the conditions I was thinking awd would be nice because I do drive up to 120km, 70ish.. in these conditions normally. I do however have the couple a days a year when there is up to 6 inchs or more. I know regardless of trim I'll have no problem in that.

Is cornering dangerous in 4H (normal 4H without multi mode) at higher speeds?

 

[4-Ripcord]

Yeah the TRAC and VSC systems can get annoying when you are trying to have fun, there is a mod you can do to wire in a switch to toggle them off.

Any cornering at all is not recommended in 4Hi, unless there is enough of a lack of friction to allow wheel slip. The binding in the transfer case is either going to cause the rear wheels to break loose or it will cause damage to the internals of the transfer case.

 

[Steve240]

ah thats interesting I wouldn't have though to do that. Thanks again for your help

 

[zcruiser]

Good to see another Nissan tuner and 4Runner fan on here.

One of my friends has a drifter 240SX, looks like you're more of a track guy.

 

[Steve240]

Yeah not much of a slider but spinning tires is always fun. I do like hitting an apex much more.

 

[cfranck1]

Here is one of the best threads on the 99+ 4wd system.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/12-01-up-4wd-system-trac-vsc-torsen-t-3-a.html

 

[Steve240]

thanks that was useful. I wasn't aware stability control turned off in 4lo but that makes a lot of sense. I still feel I'm leaning towards a 98 model with the standard transfer case and an e locker. Does anyone know a rough % of 4runners that were sold with the e locker? I find that most forsale adds do not mention the e locker but the owners also do not know about it.

 

[4-Ripcord]

If you are after a standard t-case, go with a 96-00 SR5. Those had the manual engage shifter.

While the 96-98 limited has a normal t-case, it still has a pushbutton to engage it.

 

[19bham92]

I hate this.


<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s7LO-dCPEPk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Kurtis]

I hate this.


<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s7LO-dCPEPk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Use your brakes. It will allow more power to be transferred to the other wheel.

 

[19bham92]

Use your brakes. It will allow more power to be transferred to the other wheel.

Yeah I thought I'd give it a try, makes this weird rattling noise at first though.