Newbie 4WD Question

K

kgorsuch

New member
Hi all. Just bought a 2004 T4R V8 Sport Edition over the weekend. :D I have a question about the 4WD system - I read through a bunch of FAQs but didn't see the answer in there (may have missed it though).

The salesman told me that if I lock the center differential then I couldn't turn the steering wheel or I could break an axle or something. I thought that I could turn the wheel as long as I wasn't on dry pavement or something like that but he said no. Is this true? Doesn't seem to be too practical if I can only go straight ahead. I'm mostly thinking about a long, winding, generally unplowed, snow-covered hill I have been battling yearly to get to a ski condo in Killington (believe it or not I've been going up there in a VW Beetle for the last two years but it has been scary as heck - lot's of starting/stopping/retreating and, most recently, failing - couldn't make it last year).

Thanks in advance for any help!!!
Kenny g...
 
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seriously now...how much sense would that make if you couldn't turn the wheel with the diff locked?

:D
 
no locking on dry pavement

Read the users manual. It will tell you more than the dealer will ever know.

You can lock the diff on dry pavement if you are going in a straight line for only a few feet, so obviously you would never do this.

You can lock the diff on ice covered pavement or snow, or in dirt/mud without any issues.

Tell the dealer you want your money back.. All other 4Runners allow you to go in circles too! :-)
 
kgorsuch said:
Hi all. Just bought a 2004 T4R V8 Sport Edition over the weekend. :D I have a question about the 4WD system - I read through a bunch of FAQs but didn't see the answer in there (may have missed it though).

The salesman told me that if I lock the center differential then I couldn't turn the steering wheel or I could break an axle or something. I thought that I could turn the wheel as long as I wasn't on dry pavement or something like that but he said no. Is this true? Doesn't seem to be too practical if I can only go straight ahead. I'm mostly thinking about a long, winding, generally unplowed, snow-covered hill I have been battling yearly to get to a ski condo in Killington (believe it or not I've been going up there in a VW Beetle for the last two years but it has been scary as heck - lot's of starting/stopping/retreating and, most recently, failing - couldn't make it last year).

Thanks in advance for any help!!!
Kenny g...
Click to expand...

Please post the Dealership and the name of the Sales Rep so we may all jointly laugh at him/her.
 
I'd post the name but I don't have the heart. He was such a nice guy overall. I generally find I know more about the vehicles I buy than the salesperson knows so he wasn't out of the ordinary in that regard - I just don't know squat about 4WD systems...

Thanks for the help!
 
OK a couple of things.

WHen you lock the center diff you also disable the skid control one 4R. This is normally great off road as it allows wheelspin and the traction control to really kick in. However if you drive at speed on snow/icy raods you might want to reconsider locking it as the safety of the skid system will be disabled. If you climb thos ehills at low speed and you are not concerned about sliding off the road, go for it. If you do drive at speed consider your options.

Also the first time your traction control kicks in, you will hear some thumping noises from the brake booster, dont worry nothing is broken. FOr the traction control to really work, it requires a bit of wheelspeed. SO give it a little gas when things get tough, but not too much. In slippery conditions I normally aim to keep the revs between 1500-3000 and the speed of the 4R constant. You will probably also bebetter off in 4H than 4L.
 
4WD in snow

I seriously doubt there is any reason to lock the center diff in snow on the road. The 4wd system and traction control should handle anything on road.

The center difff lock would be used for off road, usuallly when you might expect to have a wheel in the air over obstacles.
 
Well, when you wake up on a snowy morning and find your 4runner blocked off on both sides by snow, then you may need to lock the center diff to power out. If you don't, then you may have a problem with the computer cutting engine power as you rock your 4runner back & forth.
 
Yeah, what bulldog-yota and ToolmanJohn said.


The salesman told me that if I lock the center differential then I couldn't turn the steering wheel or I could break an axle or something. I thought that I could turn the wheel as long as I wasn't on dry pavement or something like that but he said no. Is this true?
Click to expand...
LMAO! As I have observed before, car salespeople typically know almost nothing about the vehicles that they are selling.
 
dcampen said:
LMAO! As I have observed before, car salespeople typically know almost nothing about the vehicles that they are selling.
Click to expand...

I don't know where that salesman got his information from. It must have been the same place as the one that smoke to my parents about an 05 V8 Limited. He said that the V8's are not in 4WD all of the time and that the sport bumper is only able to be put on to a sport edition. :lmao:
 
Thanks for the help all. Now all I need is some snow. For the first time ever, I'm praying for really bad weather!!! It's raining today - I look like an idiot driving down the road aiming for every pothole and puddle... :D

Kenny g...
 
kgorsuch said:
Thanks for the help all. Now all I need is some snow. For the first time ever, I'm praying for really bad weather!!! It's raining today - I look like an idiot driving down the road aiming for every pothole and puddle... :D

Kenny g...
Click to expand...

I thought it was only me. I was having a field day driving around the local country roads and going through the deep puddles. I can't wait for some snow either!! I actually used to hate the snow, but that was before I had my 4Runner. :D
 
Heh. I thought I was the only crazy one. I work in S. Hackensack and it floods all the time. That's one of the reasons I got a 4Runner. Today it wasn't too bad, only a foot of standing water and I had no problems getting thru it. :D
 
I keep my 4R on smooth pavement only, too scared of dirt, potholes, rocks and water. Forget snow, that is waayyy to hardcore for my baby :)
 
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