Shift to 4H while driving?

[BrianSD_42]

So friends on the 1997 Automatic Transmission 4WD 4Runner this is what I was talking about. The 1997 owners manual itself flat out says you can shift it while driving.

https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM35694U/pdf/omsource/1997om/974runne/sect1/16.pdf

We can argue about what the visor says of some years 3rd Gen in circles all day but FOR SURE on the 1997 (and likely others but I'm to lazy to check all) it clearly tells owners they can shift LO/HI/LO while moving.

If you have an older 4Runner, note that despite what the owners manual says about shifting 4LO <---> 4HI without stopping, you will probably damage your transfer case if your truck has a lot of miles on it and you ignore the grinding warnings.

Maybe they changed the manual for later years because I don't get why the visor posted earlier basically says the opposite.
:hatsoff:

 

[7echo]

On my '99 Limited I have the multi-mode/AWD button.

When I got it a few years ago I read the manual and looked through threads(the one posted earlier that brian2sun started is great)here.

To make it easier to remember, particularly for my son when he started to drive, we follow these rules-

You can push the button on the 4WD shifter at 50mph or less. Always push the button when it is raining. Everything else happens with the truck stopped and in neutral.

So far that has worked fine with no grinding.

 

[SpidermanGeek]

I've never had an issue going from 2wd to 4HI in mine.

Push the button at pretty much any speed under 50mph.
I've never heard grinding from my t-case using the push button. All I hear is the single light "clunk" from the front end/diff.

I've never shifted in the 4LO while moving. I always stop the truck, slap the gear selector (trans) into neutral and firmly/quickly move the T-case lever from H to LO.

There's usually a split/second grinding sound when I do this, but it doesn't feel like I'm forcing the lever in.

I don't use 4LO very often and honestly, the only time I've used it was simply me making sure it still worked.

Although with some of you saying that there should be zero grinding noise, I'm thinking I should start shutting the engine off before going into 2LO from now on.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Although with some of you saying that there should be zero grinding noise, I'm thinking I should start shutting the engine off before going into 2LO from now on.

Sounds similar to my truck. I used to just stop (with engine running) and then shift with no noise. Now I have to follow the procedure I posted earlier that involves turning off engine.

 

[thegipper]

I don't think anybody here is saying to do 4H->4L or 4L->4H without stopping first. There is NO SYNCHRO on the range box. Once *stopped* in *neutral*, the best way to keep it from grinding on the H-L or L-H transition is to move it firmly and quickly between the two ranges. If you go slow, it will often grind if you are in Neutral and might not be able to mesh gears if you are in Park. Trans in neutral and engine off is the guaranteed way to be able to shift ranges.

For 2H->4H or 4H-2H, that is a completely different story. There is a synchro there. That does wear out over time, but you should be able to still shift 2H to 4H when moving. The synchro has to spin up the front driveshaft, then the ADD actuator has to lock the right side axle to the diff. The slower you are moving, the better, but you don't have to stop. I can still shift mine to 4H form 2H at up to 40mph pretty easily (no bad sounds or anything). Shifting back to 2H can be done at any speed without any risk of damage - all you are doing is 'releasing' locked components...

-Charlie

This.

I shift my 97 on the fly (under 40mph) all the time, no sounds no issues what so ever. Obviously if you hear grinding or some other god awful noises than you need to slow down or even stop.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

... it clearly tells owners they can shift LO/HI/LO while moving.

Not exactly.. If you look at the next page of the manual, it says that for automatics, shifting from H4 to L4 requires a complete stop and trans in N:



We need to be clear on whether we are talking about H2 to H4 shifts or H4 to L4 shifts. It is correct that H2 to H4 can be done while moving.

 

[thegipper]

If you want to shift to 4L, you most definitely need to be stopped and in neutral.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Ok but I have a limited with a button type so shouldn't I be reading the next section which does not mention stopping.

Anyways I agree that everyone should stop and if you feel grinding, even a little then don't force it.

Am I the only one who thinks these instructions are confusing.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Ok but I have a limited with a button type so shouldn't I be reading the next section which does not mention stopping.

Anyways I agree that everyone should stop and if you feel grinding, even a little then don't force it.

Am I the only one who thinks these instructions are confusing.

They ARE very confusing . Nonetheless, I also have '97 Limited with push button, and I still think that for automatics, you have to look at page 85 that I posted, which says H4 to L4 shift requires full stop. Now, H2 to H4 shift can be done while moving, which is what page 84 that you posted says (for automatics). Confused yet?

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[SpidermanGeek]

Ok but I have a limited with a button type so shouldn't I be reading the next section which does not mention stopping.

Anyways I agree that everyone should stop and if you feel grinding, even a little then don't force it.

Am I the only one who thinks these instructions are confusing.

No, I'm with you. Like with the last screen shot of the manual posted by [MENTION=198376]4Runner4Leon[/MENTION], in the leftmost column there it says at the top:

With A.D.D. To Shift from "H2" to "H4"

...and then follows it up with:

To Shift from "H4" to "H2"

The real confusing part there is that these are instructions for shifting to and from H2-H4, yet mentions

Also, disengage both free-wheeling hubs for continued "H2" use.

......Wait wut!?? Is this some sort of magical ADD & Free-Wheeling Hub Hybrid Unicorn 4Runner I didn't know about?

 

[4Runner4Leon]

They ARE very confusing . Nonetheless, I also have '97 Limited with push button, and I still think that for automatics, you have to look at page 85 that I posted, which says H4 to L4 shift requires full stop. Now, H2 to H4 shift can be done while moving, which is what page 84 that you posted says (for automatics). Confused yet?

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Oh wait, I see what you are getting at Brian, the right side of page 85. That does talk about H4 to L4 shifts while either stopped or below 5 mph; but it says to also to depress the clutch pedal, which is sort of hard to do in an automatic. Oy.

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[SpidermanGeek]

I just find that when you're looking for the T-Case procedures that apply to your drivetrain combo, you're often lead down a wrong path or will see a portion of text that feels like it shouldn't belong there.

It's like you're going down the list..

"Okay, so I have an Automatic with ADD hubs and Push Button 4WD. Okay here it is.. I got it."

Read.. read..

"Oh wait, it says depress clutch. This isn't it."

Read.. read..

"Oh.. here it is! Push button.. okay... blah blah"

Read.. read..

"Free-wheeling hubs? What?! This can't be it!"

Keep searching. Then you reach the next section of the manual without having found the T-case procedures that clearly apply to your drivetrain combo. Gotta go back and re-read more carefully only to follow the same "plinko" path again. Scratching your head, you put the manual down and start searching T4R.org... or worse yet, starting a new thread asking the same question that 100 other members have posed before. 20 years later and we still don't seem to have found clear instructions for each specific drivetrain combo of a 3rd gen.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

I just find that when you're looking for the T-Case procedures that apply to your drivetrain combo, you're often lead down a wrong path or will see a portion of text that feels like it shouldn't belong there.

It's like you're going down the list..

"Okay, so I have an Automatic with ADD hubs and Push Button 4WD. Okay here it is.. I got it."

Read.. read..

"Oh wait, it says depress clutch. This isn't it."

Read.. read..

"Oh.. here it is! Push button.. okay... blah blah"

Read.. read..

"Free-wheeling hubs? What?! This can't be it!"

Keep searching. Then you reach the next section of the manual without having found the T-case procedures that clearly apply to your drivetrain combo. Gotta go back and re-read more carefully only to follow the same "plinko" path again. Scratching your head, you put the manual down and start searching T4R.org... or worse yet, starting a new thread asking the same question that 100 other members have posed before. 20 years later and we still don't seem to have found clear instructions for each specific drivetrain combo of a 3rd gen.

I wonder if the online version of the owners manual is different from the original hardcopy. There are some typos in the online version that make me question it. I'm going to go look at the original copy in my glove box and see if it makes any more sense.

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[BrianSD_42]

Here is my 1997 paper manual.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Here is my 1997 paper manual.

Ha, as I suspected, this is different from the online version, which is obviously bootlegged and messed up.

The printed version clearly says that for H4 to L4 shifts, the vehicle needs to be stopped and transmission in N.

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[BrianSD_42]

What you call bootlegged LoL is from Toyota.com

Then there is the question of why the visor on some years says different also. I am starting to believe Toyota has been pretty inconsistent with instructions on this issue.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

What you call bootlegged LoL is from Toyota.com

Then there is the question of why the visor on some years says different also. I am starting to believe Toyota has been pretty inconsistent with instructions on this issue.

I agree, the lack of consistency is bothersome. I'd still go with a hard copy that came with the vehicle instead of any online document, even if it is from Toyota. Especially because in this particular example, the printed version seems consistent while the online one makes no sense.

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[Hunter_eg]

I mean...

Can I shift into 4H while driving? Put it in N while rolling and shift?

Thanks

I mean you can do it if you want to, just kinda think of it as an experiment for the rest of us :thumb:

 

[BrianSD_42]

Can I shift into 4H while driving? Put it in N while rolling and shift?

Thanks

If you are talking about going from 2HI to 4HI while moving, then IMO there is no risk of issue, certainly for those with a push button type. I use the button while moving all the time, never on solid pavement and usually below 15 MPH.

Moving 4HI/4LO/4HI/4LO etc while moving is a different issue.

 

[SpidermanGeek]

Here is my 1997 paper manual.

Wow. It's in much more distress than mine is. Mine is still pretty crisp and in its original vinyl pouch from the Dealership. I think I've referenced it more often than any of the previous owners (If I recall, I think I'm the 3rd owner).