New 4runner questions

[4runner00]

I just bought a 2000 4runner last night So I was driving it today and there were a couple things i noticed.
The gas pedal was much harder to push then any other car Ive driven and not very smooth after driving for awhile it got alittle better.

The brakes felt alittle weak and if I hit them harder from going fast the truck shudders alitte bit.

Accelerating there's a slight squeaking tapping noise can't tell where its coming from.

Do I have a locking center differential, the manual didn't say anything about it, I don't have the 4wd button on the shifter.

If your stopped can you put it in 4h or 4l from 2h and then reverse or do you have to pull forward first to engage?

Other then those few minor things it runs great, very happy with it.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

If you have the rear locker you'll have a button to the left of teh steering column marked "RR DIFF LOCK" and unless you have the Limited there won't be a button on the 4wd lever,that version is the multi-mode auto tranny with part time 4wd or AWD.

You can engage 4wd up to speeds of 55mph (I don't like doing it above 30mph) and disengage at pretty much any speed. You cannot engage 4lo unless stopped,then you put the gear in N then engage 4lo then back to the D position. You also cannot engage the diff lock (if equipped) unless in 4lo.

 

[Grreatdog]

The brakes felt alittle weak and if I hit them harder from going fast the truck shudders alitte bit.

You sure that isn't the ABS kicking in? My wife thought the brakes were bad on our 2000 the first couple of times the ABS kicked in. She never did get used to how it felt. And I agree that it definitely feels odd. So, if it only does it under very hard braking, then you are probably feeling the ABS kick in.

But the rotors are also crap on these. So if it is pulsing as you slow down then the rotors might be warped. All it takes is one tire jockey with an air ratchet to ruin the rotors. Ours also did that. I had planned to put aftermarket rotors on it before it was totaled.

 

[gapboi210]

How can you ruin the rotors with an air ratchet? They way they get warped is from heat. Also a dirty throttle body usually will not cause the gas pedal to be hard to push. Mine is harder also than most cars but has no problem coming back up so I think it just a heavier spring that is used in the throttle. If it were dirty or something kinking up then I think it would have problems closing too.

 

[techno]

If your stopped can you put it in 4h or 4l from 2h and then reverse or do you have to pull forward first to engage?

When you move the transfer case shifter, 4WD will usually engage as soon as you select 'D 2 L or R', even before you have started moving in any direction. As long as the little green symbol on the dash is lit up constantly, you are good to go.

 

[4runner00]

I know its not ABS Ive had other cars with it and know what it feels like and I'm not braking hard enough for it to kick in, I was thinking the rotors also just hoping it wasn't. I read about run the 4wd at least 10 miles a month and i thought of it when i was in a parking space so i put it in 4H and went to back out and something felt really wrong it wasn't backing up felt as if something was locking up. I put it back in 2H backed out then put it back in 4H and drove forward worked fine. I hope it didn't do any damage reversing though. Also no one answered does my model have the locking center differential when i put it in 4L?

Edit: green light doesn't go on until i move forward about 1-2 feet

 

[RonMAIDEN]

You do have to move forward a little for the light to come on.

 

[techno]

No you dont have a locking center differential. It is not even a differential. Only models with full time 4WD or AWD have a center diff.
So when you move to 4H or 4L you simply connect the front drive shaft to the transfer case. There is no differential action at all.

On my 4runner, if I am in Park, then move to 4H, 4wd engages as soon as i move out of Park into any drive gear. I have never had to start moving forward or backwards first. The only time it sometimes requires movement is if I am stationary in a drive gear when I shift to 4H.

 

[emptypockets]

How can you ruin the rotors with an air ratchet? They way they get warped is from heat. Also a dirty throttle body usually will not cause the gas pedal to be hard to push. Mine is harder also than most cars but has no problem coming back up so I think it just a heavier spring that is used in the throttle. If it were dirty or something kinking up then I think it would have problems closing too.

If you or the shop you have your tires and wheels worked on over torque your wheels, it can cause the brake rotors to warp. I've seen it happen before, luckily not on my rig! IIRC the torque specs are 83 ft. lbs. on the lug nuts.

 

[gapboi210]

I have never heard of ruining the rotors with an air tool. That would mean that you tightened the wheels so much that you crushed the wheel in to the rotor and squeezed the rotor too. An impact isn't strong enough and you would strip the stud before this ever happened.

 

[Griffeycom]

Hard to push gas pedal = cold car. Mine is like the when i park outside and leave it in the cold overnight or for a long time. once the engine and car warms up, Pedal goes back to normal.