School me on the 4wd system on the 99 limited

[econhonda]

Well said, good posting.

Thanks, still a rookie, but I'm trying.

 

[brian2sun]

I have a 2000 SR5 with the "shift-on-fly" 4hi/lo stick left of the auto selector (no button) and a Center Diff Lock button left of the steering wheel. I haven't tried the CDL out much so don't know how well it works...

Yours must be an '01 model, but made in '00. Either that or they started the change to making all trim levels with multi-mode 4x4 at the tail end of the '00 model year. What is the date on your door sticker?

 

[zcruiser]

Yours must be an '01 model, but made in '00. Either that or they started the change to making all trim levels with multi-mode 4x4 at the tail end of the '00 model year. What is the date on your door sticker?

I need to look, but it's currently in another city..... went off to college a few weeks ago.

 

[brian2sun]

I need to look, but it's currently in another city..... went off to college a few weeks ago.

That's cool, we don't care if it takes a few hours, just drive home and take a look for us. :jk:

 

[zcruiser]

That's cool, we don't care if it takes a few hours, just drive home and take a look for us. :jk:

Not me, the truck went off to college with my daughter. :cry2:

I had her check, and the mfg date is 03/00. And the switch on the dash is a rear diff lock, not center diff lock.... :shrug:

 

[Nelsonmd]

And don't get me wrong, I'm open to the idea of an AT but have driven a stick for the last 6-7 years and really don't wanna go back. IMO, its the only way to drive, no matter what vehicle you're talking about.

Yeah, I have had the pleasure of driving a stick for a few weeks a couple times, and it has been tons of fun, plus my motorcycle is obviously a manual. I wanted a manual pretty bad, but I found out the only reasonable one i could find had some sort of tranny problem (they couldn't get it into reverse), so I figured I'd stay away. I would still love a manual.

Yours must be an '01 model, but made in '00. Either that or they started the change to making all trim levels with multi-mode 4x4 at the tail end of the '00 model year. What is the date on your door sticker?

That seems like a pretty big change for a mid-year update. Usually they only make small changes at mid year, like to fix a problem they found after launch. Or maybe they did it as an evaluation for the next model year's launch.

 

[brian2sun]

Not me, the truck went off to college with my daughter. :cry2:

I had her check, and the mfg date is 03/00. And the switch on the dash is a rear diff lock, not center diff lock.... :shrug:

I didn't think a non-limited '00 w/ multi-mode was possible (without retro-fitting it). And that's better for you too since you have a rear locker instead of the center - big improvement for off road!

 

[cj80cruiser]

I have a 2000 SR5 with the "shift-on-fly" 4hi/lo stick left of the auto selector (no button) and a Diff Lock button left of the steering wheel. I haven't tried the diff lock out much so don't know how well it works...

You should take your 4r out to some dirt and exercise that diff lock....I'd say atleast once a month or there abouts to make sure it keeps actuating. With that said, I didn't take my other truck out and do this and the diff lock still worked everytime...it's just recommended to exercise it.

 

[audi.subie.T4R?]

Ok, so this pink milkshake thing....is this something that happens to pretty much all 4Rs? Like the 2.5Liter in my legacy had a head gasket issue (that I didn't find out about until after I bought it....d'oh) that was so common that there were threads on the Leggy forums entitled, "Welcome to the 130,000mile head gasket club." Futhermore, if this milkshake deal is that common, why no recall? Just trying to be a smart/informed shopper this time around you know? That being said however, its looking more and more like the 4R is the way to go. Preferrably a '99 or '00 Limited. Even if that means giving up on the 5spd, I like the multi mode option in addition to having the ability to lock the rear diff.

 

[zcruiser]

Ok, so this pink milkshake thing....is this something that happens to pretty much all 4Rs?

Not at all. No way of knowing actual numbers, but estimate 90+% of 4Runner owners have never heard of this, and less than 5% of those on this board have actually experienced it. It's gotten attention here because we're an anal bunch and prefer to learn from the misfortunes of others and perform PM on anything that *could* go wrong and destroy our beloved T4R's. The external cooler will also extend the life of your tranny by keeping the temps down. Other failures like rear axle seals are less catastrophic.

I'm convinced my 2000 SR5 had the pink milkshake before I bought it, because the guy talked about rebuilding the trans and it has an aftermarket radiator.

The 92-96 Land Cruisers had 2 known weakness that fell into the same category: A poorly-designed head gasket that would leak coolant into the #6 cylinder, and a short hard-to-reach heater hose (called the PHH or Pesky Heater Hose) that would burst and cause a very fast overheating failure. Guys who replaced them ahead of time found either perfectly fine parts or borderline catastrophe.

Besides it's a good excuse to get out there and bust a knuckle, that's T4R love.

 

[audi.subie.T4R?]

^^^

Well said, and thanks. I'll keep ya'll posted as to what transpires when/if I get my 4R.

 

[audi.subie.T4R?]

So I had my my eyes on a nice white '99 Limited, but my insurance company has been wicked slow on my claim and the vehicle sold before I could make a move on it. There is also nice green '99 limited I have my eyes on as well, but the drivers side seat leather is ripped to ****, and the way the dealership cleaned the engine bay makes me wonder. Still, it does have a clean carfax and is a certified one-owner vehicle. That being said however, what is the difference between the SR5s and the limiteds? I like the idea of having the multi-mode 4WD for snow, but I also really like having the ability to lock the center and rear diffs as well. Although I don't forsee myself doing a lot of off-roading, something tells me that if I get a 4Runner I'll be doing my fair share. But nothing too gnarly. I'm hell bent on the '99-'00 limiteds if only because of all the 4wd modes, but what in your experienced opinions are other good models to look at? I mainly want 4wd for driving in Colorado this winter, but I also do a good amount of backpacking and fishing and **** so 4wd would be handy in the summer as well. I know these are total newb (JONG) questions, but I'd appreciate any feedback.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Sr5...

Don't pass up a nice SR5, especially with a rear locker. The multi-mode is "nice to have" but the "conventional" 4wd with the manual stick shifter is pretty bulletproof.

Except for the leather, the wood trim (both of which you can add if you really want it) and the automatic climate control, the 4wd mode is about the only difference between the Limited and the SR5. Put more simply, if you can live without multi-mode, you can find a decent SR5 out there for a lot less $$.

I'm loving my SR5, and while there are times when multi-mode might be nice, 99.9% of my driving is pretty definitely either 2wd or 4wd.

 

[Martinjmpr]

On the flip side...

If you can live without a rear locker and you're pretty sure you want multi-mode, just look for an 01-02 in any trim level. All 4wd 01-02 models had multi-mode. IIRC the "base model" was also dropped so your only choices are SR5 or Limited (not sure about the "sport package", as I understand that's just an SR5 with a hood scoop. : )

 

[audi.subie.T4R?]

Thanks, that's defintely helpful info. To me having "multi-mode" is more important than the rear locker if only because I will be doing a lot more driving in snow than I will be driving in burly off-road situations where the rear locker will be important. That being said however, the set up on the limited is still bad ass.

 

[brian2sun]

Thanks, that's defintely helpful info. To me having "multi-mode" is more important than the rear locker if only because I will be doing a lot more driving in snow than I will be driving in burly off-road situations where the rear locker will be important. That being said however, the set up on the limited is still bad ass.

The rear locker is still a big advantage in snow too, but in a different way. As you know, the multi-mode allows you to use 4x4 on a mostly dry, patchy road that would normally bind up a standard t-case, but those of us without the CDL just get good at switching in and out of 2hi/4hi. However, in deep snow my rear locker makes a huge difference. Usually it's the difference between sleeping an extra hour and not having to shovel out my drivway at 6am.

 

[Martinjmpr]

The rear locker is still a big advantage in snow too, but in a different way. As you know, the multi-mode allows you to use 4x4 on a mostly dry, patchy road that would normally bind up a standard t-case, but those of us without the CDL just get good at switching in and out of 2hi/4hi. However, in deep snow my rear locker makes a huge difference. Usually it's the difference between sleeping an extra hour and not having to shovel out my drivway at 6am.

Very true but the difference is that adding multi-mode to a 4runner is financially impractical (IOW, it would probably cost more to add a multi-mode T-case to a 4runner than it would be to just sell the 4runner and buy one that already had the multi mode.)

OTOH, adding a rear locker is pretty simple, whether you do it as a Toyota-branded E-locker or an ARB. So if he's sure he wants multi mode but not sure about the locker, he can get an 01-02 SR5 model with the multi mode and if he wants to add the rear locker later, he can do so.

But if he gets a 96 - 2000 SR5 (non-multi-mode) with a rear locker now, and later decides he needs multi-mode, his only real option will be to sell it and buy a 4runner that's got multi mode.

 

[audi.subie.T4R?]

OTOH, adding a rear locker is pretty simple, whether you do it as a Toyota-branded E-locker or an ARB. So if he's sure he wants multi mode but not sure about the locker, he can get an 01-02 SR5 model with the multi mode and if he wants to add the rear locker later, he can do so.

But if he gets a 96 - 2000 SR5 (non-multi-mode) with a rear locker now, and later decides he needs multi-mode, his only real option will be to sell it and buy a 4runner that's got multi mode.

So how much would adding a locker cost? Definitely sounds like a good way to go. Especially if I can find a 5spd SR5.

 

[brian2sun]

Very true but the difference is that adding multi-mode to a 4runner is financially impractical (IOW, it would probably cost more to add a multi-mode T-case to a 4runner than it would be to just sell the 4runner and buy one that already had the multi mode.)

OTOH, adding a rear locker is pretty simple, whether you do it as a Toyota-branded E-locker or an ARB. So if he's sure he wants multi mode but not sure about the locker, he can get an 01-02 SR5 model with the multi mode and if he wants to add the rear locker later, he can do so.

But if he gets a 96 - 2000 SR5 (non-multi-mode) with a rear locker now, and later decides he needs multi-mode, his only real option will be to sell it and buy a 4runner that's got multi mode.

I agree, you can always add a locker (like I did), but swapping t-cases would probably be a can of worms and expensive.

So how much would adding a locker cost? Definitely sounds like a good way to go. Especially if I can find a 5spd SR5.

This is where you have to really start planning everything major you want to do in the future right now. If you want a locker, but plan on running 33s or 35s in the future, then you will save hundreds if you regear and do the locker at the same time because the labor is redundant. Just an ARB rear locker installed will cost ~$1400-1500. Just doing gears alone would be ~$1600-1800 (both diffs). So if done seperately, you're looking at $3000-3300 total. but I did it all at once and spent ~$2500 total. Just my $.02.

 

[audi.subie.T4R?]

This is where you have to really start planning everything major you want to do in the future right now. If you want a locker, but plan on running 33s or 35s in the future, then you will save hundreds if you regear and do the locker at the same time because the labor is redundant. Just an ARB rear locker installed will cost ~$1400-1500. Just doing gears alone would be ~$1600-1800 (both diffs). So if done seperately, you're looking at $3000-3300 total. but I did it all at once and spent ~$2500 total. Just my $.02.

To be honest, I don't know if I ever plan on running 33s or any big rubber at all. As it is, I'm still trying to wrap my head around driving a vehicle with a high center of gravity. That being said though, I've got a buddy who is a engineer by day and Heep fanatic by night and loves doing **** like rear end swaps, etc. It must be one of those Jeep things I don't understand. Any way, what would just the parts for a locker go for provided I can convince him to help me with the install?