I have a 2007 V6 4wd 4runner, and live in the northeast. i do not take it off road. the 4wd gets some as-needed use in the winter months. I've come across some comments about activating it and working through the various options (4h, 4l, locking diff) monthly. I never heard about this before. Is it just an opinion, or is there some data to support it?
Need to "exercise" the 4wd system?
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Johns06yota
Member
When I first got mine I didn’t engage any of it for roughly 6-8 months and within that time the 4wd had gotten frozen with just blinking lights. Now that I do this monthly my 4hi, 4lo and center diff engage immediately instead of taking 10 seconds
I just bought an '08 Limited V8 from a dealer, and they are replacing the actuator (at their cost) because the center diff lock was never used by the previous owner.
Make a point to use it at least once a month (or more...it doesn't cost anything to engage it from time to time) to keep it working correctly. It's very pricey to replace on your own dime...even if you do the work yourself.
Make a point to use it at least once a month (or more...it doesn't cost anything to engage it from time to time) to keep it working correctly. It's very pricey to replace on your own dime...even if you do the work yourself.
S p a r k y
New member
Reminder in my phone once a month!
It's for real
Toyota itself recommends 10-15 miles of usage per month to keep the system in peak condition. Plenty of frozen actuators back up this point - my 2008 wouldn't go into 4LO when I bought it but the dealer stepped up.
Toyota itself recommends 10-15 miles of usage per month to keep the system in peak condition. Plenty of frozen actuators back up this point - my 2008 wouldn't go into 4LO when I bought it but the dealer stepped up.
To go into 4L (and to go back to 4H) you must be in neutral and stopped when you shift (by shifting, I mean turning the knob)
You can lock the center differential by pushing the button while driving. I tend to let off the gas when I do it.
On mine, which is full time, the 4LO light is steady when 4L is engaged. Same with the Center Differential Disconnect...the light is steady, not blinking.
Blinking lights means you are not in 4L or the center diff isn't locked.
You can have one work but not the other. In mine, I had no issues going into 4L, but the center diff lock would not engage.
You can lock the center differential by pushing the button while driving. I tend to let off the gas when I do it.
On mine, which is full time, the 4LO light is steady when 4L is engaged. Same with the Center Differential Disconnect...the light is steady, not blinking.
Blinking lights means you are not in 4L or the center diff isn't locked.
You can have one work but not the other. In mine, I had no issues going into 4L, but the center diff lock would not engage.
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Berty_K
Member
This is incorrect. You can be in 4LO or 4HI on hard pavement.
However, you cannot lock the center differential on hard pavement. This is how you get driveline bind and end up breaking something.
Dang! I have a lot of "exercising" to do....although the last time I put it 4LO, I heard some crunching...normal?
Doozi
New member
You can lock the center diff on pavement, but you shouldn’t turn which is what would require the front and rear drive shafts to rotate at different speeds... driving straight is fine... not always practical, but I do it from time to time if I haven’t been in the dirt for a while just to exercise the center diff lock actuator. I just use a 50-yard straight section of my street while I’m going 10-20 mph. It took my 4Runner a while to switch in and out of 4HI and 4LO when I first got it (originally leased by a saleswoman in northern CA), but it consistently takes just a few seconds now. I really like the features of these Torsen center diffs!
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Big update: doing searches on reasons for center diff. not to be engaging, and getting worried about lack of use and $2500 actuator replacements, i recalled someone mentioning to check to make sure the locking button was plugged in.
at midnight, i went out to move the 4runner around to try and engage the differential. nothing happened. so i took the fuse cover off and saw an unplugged line. i reached up an popped the differential plug out. no connection!
plugged it in (perfect fit) and went out for a short drive. into 4H and press the button, and it goes on. ran it through some paces, and no issues that i can tell.
didn't really notice anything different driving, but the lights all worked fine.
this is with a 2007 V6 w/200k in MA. as far as i know, neither the 4L or diff. lock had ever been engaged (known it since new).
i can sleep much more soundly tonite. i'll check the actuator breather tube later.
at midnight, i went out to move the 4runner around to try and engage the differential. nothing happened. so i took the fuse cover off and saw an unplugged line. i reached up an popped the differential plug out. no connection!
plugged it in (perfect fit) and went out for a short drive. into 4H and press the button, and it goes on. ran it through some paces, and no issues that i can tell.
didn't really notice anything different driving, but the lights all worked fine.
this is with a 2007 V6 w/200k in MA. as far as i know, neither the 4L or diff. lock had ever been engaged (known it since new).
i can sleep much more soundly tonite. i'll check the actuator breather tube later.
Berty_K
Member
Good clarification on the center diff. You're 100% correct
I've got a '99 100-series Land Cruiser. It has full-time 4WD just like the V8 4R. I recently purchased a '05 SR5 V6. I really like that the center diff will only lock if you push the center diff lock button. In the LC, it automatically locks the center diff when you shift from Hi to Lo. There is a mod that you can do to delete this automatic functioning but I've never gotten around to doing it.
Having said that, I have had many times when I'm backing a trailer up a hill and wanted to be in LO range but was on dry concrete and pavement. I was always very nervous doing this because my backing up usually included some turning of the front wheels, putting things in a bind.
My personal opinion is that you should 'avoid' locking the center diff when you're on dry pavement/concrete. If you're going slow and perfectly straight, then it should be ok but I would personally avoid doing it if at all possible and try to find a dirt lot somewhere to exercise the diff lock in.
Having said that, I have had many times when I'm backing a trailer up a hill and wanted to be in LO range but was on dry concrete and pavement. I was always very nervous doing this because my backing up usually included some turning of the front wheels, putting things in a bind.
My personal opinion is that you should 'avoid' locking the center diff when you're on dry pavement/concrete. If you're going slow and perfectly straight, then it should be ok but I would personally avoid doing it if at all possible and try to find a dirt lot somewhere to exercise the diff lock in.
Montego Murph
Member
True story.
Years ago when the FJ Cruisers first came out, I was pretty enamored with them and went to the local dealer for a test drive.
As we cruised along, the salesman told me (while going about 35) "ok, if you want to see something cool, shift it down into 4Lo and we can really see what kind of traction that gives the tires." Um, no.
Then he tried to explain to me that the differential locker was part of the security system -- it locks the axles so nobody can tow your truck away.
Years ago when the FJ Cruisers first came out, I was pretty enamored with them and went to the local dealer for a test drive.
As we cruised along, the salesman told me (while going about 35) "ok, if you want to see something cool, shift it down into 4Lo and we can really see what kind of traction that gives the tires." Um, no.
Then he tried to explain to me that the differential locker was part of the security system -- it locks the axles so nobody can tow your truck away.
Interesting.....
Totally unrelated to original post, but I had a 2000 LX470 that did have the button to lock and unlock the center diff.
2016 4Runner SR5
Senior Member
Pretty sad that this is even a thing. Super old technology that's been used with some changes by other companies and by no means requires this kind of maintenance. Really a shame a vehicle that's made so well otherwise falls so short when it comes to this specific system.
