Is this normal? Shifting from high to low

[danielzak1990]

Hello
I know i have been asking a lot of noob questions lately but like i said before this is my first 4runner
2001 4runner sr5
When im shifting from high to low or from low back to high it makes a grinding noise. Am i doing something wrong? I come to a full stop, put the car in neutral. When i take it out of high to neutral its ok, it is when i put it back in high or low that it mAkes a grinding noise.
Here is a video
https://vimeo.com/119029743

 

[Kenworth]

Not normal

 

[reelamin]

Not normal at all. Just a guess but your syncros are messed up in your transfer case. If snycros they don't fix themselves nor will any additive work, and will require getting into the transfer case. They have slipped or are stripped and not lining up your gears.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Coming to a full stop and putting the trans in neutral then wait a few seconds .... it should not grind when shifting transfer case from Hi to N to L or back again.

I always to from H to N (wait 2 secs) then L. But I don't know if that is needed.

 

[BoostedRNR]

That is normal. Shift your trans into park. Both of my 4Runners do this if I don't.

 

[danielzak1990]

I was playing around with it and if i do it quicky and dont stop in neutral and go directly from high to low or vice versa it doesnt do it ? It only happens if i shift into neutral and than back in high or low

 

[danielzak1990]

What should my next step to resolve this issue ?

 

[Buckaroo]

Daniel - Assume you have an auto trans and lever (not button) to engage 4wd. There is likely nothing wrong with your transfer case...you just need to step on the brake to avoid the heavy crunch when shifting in and out of L4. Mine does the same thing if you don't step on the brake.....straight from the owners manual......

SHIFTING BETWEEN “H4” AND “L4”
To shift between “H4” and “L4”,stop the vehicle and put the transmission in “N”. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, move the front drive control lever.

There are different directions for the different T4R trans/4wd engagement systems configs in the owners manual. You can find it on-line if you don't have yours....Toyota has a database.

Buckaroo

 

[reelamin]

I was playing around with it and if i do it quicky and dont stop in neutral and go directly from high to low or vice versa it doesnt do it ? It only happens if i shift into neutral and than back in high or low

I tried my 96 and it worked at any time in any manner. What is the result of applying the brake? By going quickly the low range and high range gear packs are not moving yet. By waiting they are moving and not aligning and that is where syncros are needed. I would turn the the motor off and key back on and try shifting it then see if it has properly engaged. If I could get it to shift without grinding then that's the way I would shift it. Nothing will be hurt unless it continues to grind.
Please post up end result so we can all learn

 

[MandAtaco]

Are you at a dead stop with your foot on the brake when you shift? The only way it would grind is if something's moving in the drivetrain. Either the back of the case from the driveshaft turning, or the front of the case from the Trans turning it over.

 

[Brveagle]

That is normal. Shift your trans into park. Both of my 4Runners do this if I don't.

Transmission has to be in neutral. Not park.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Transmission has to be in neutral. Not park.

Mine has to be in park, it or will do the same "grinding" the OP reports. But then again maybe I wasn't pressing on the brake each of those times.

Either way putting it in park works.

 

[danielzak1990]

Daniel - Assume you have an auto trans and lever (not button) to engage 4wd. There is likely nothing wrong with your transfer case...you just need to step on the brake to avoid the heavy crunch when shifting in and out of L4. Mine does the same thing if you don't step on the brake.....straight from the owners manual......

SHIFTING BETWEEN “H4” AND “L4”
To shift between “H4” and “L4”,stop the vehicle and put the transmission in “N”. With your foot holding down the brake pedal, move the front drive control lever.

There are different directions for the different T4R trans/4wd engagement systems configs in the owners manual. You can find it on-line if you don't have yours....Toyota has a database.

Buckaroo

It is 2001 4runner sr5
Yes i have automatic transmission and push button on the side of the transfer case to activate 4x4 , my transfer case lever has 3 options ' H-N-4L ' i am in H 99% of the time , this is my first 4runner and the only reason i came across this problem is because i was playing around testing all the options in deep snow (ontario canada) , when i heard the grind i knew it doesnt sound good, it sounds like forcing a manual transmission into a gear without applying the clutch if you know what i mean.
I make sure i am at a full stop, transmission i neutrAl when i switch the transfer case, i found when i do it firmly and quick without stopping in neutral position it doesnt grind and goes in smooth, it happens when i shift the transfer case out of H or 4L into neutral and i try to go back into H or 4L .
I would be under the car already checking it out if it wasnt -20 degrees celsius in toronto.

 

[danielzak1990]

I tried my 96 and it worked at any time in any manner. What is the result of applying the brake? By going quickly the low range and high range gear packs are not moving yet. By waiting they are moving and not aligning and that is where syncros are needed. I would turn the the motor off and key back on and try shifting it then see if it has properly engaged. If I could get it to shift without grinding then that's the way I would shift it. Nothing will be hurt unless it continues to grind.
Please post up end result so we can all learn

ThAnks reelamin, I have not tested it yet with applying excessive amount of brake, i will try shortly and report.

 

[danielzak1990]

Are you at a dead stop with your foot on the brake when you shift? The only way it would grind is if something's moving in the drivetrain. Either the back of the case from the driveshaft turning, or the front of the case from the Trans turning it over.

Mandataco
Yes i am at a full stop with the foot brake on , not excessive foot brake just regular as i would when i shift my transmission. I was thinking the same thing, for it to grind something is moving in the drivetrain, i need to inspect it, the only reason i haven't yet is because it is so damm cold in where i live and i dont have a garage.

 

[danielzak1990]

Anyone have a trusted mechanic that specializes in toyota 4runners in Toronto, Ontario ,Canada or close by?
2 issues that i am concerned about with my 4runner are 1. The grinding noise stated above and 2. Premature activation of the VSC system, it comes on every time when in 4x4 starting from a dead stop and kicks in prematurely when in 2wd, it cuts of my throttle response which makes it very dangerous making left hand turns at intersections not knowing when and if it will cut off ur throttle. No lights or check engine light, but thats another thread on its own.
I have a good mechanic but unfortunately he doesnt know much about 4x4 and he was honest about and told me to take it to someone that would be able to fix it for me.

 

[nevada]

I was playing around with it and if i do it quicky and dont stop in neutral and go directly from high to low or vice versa it doesnt do it ? It only happens if i shift into neutral and than back in high or low

its normal. the gears will start spinning if the engine is running. shift quickly, there is no reason to wait in neutral.

 

[danielzak1990]

One thing i did not mention that might be important. The transmission had a full overhaul due to radiator failure. Could it be that after the overhaul of the transmission it wasn't installed properly ?