Strange 4WD experince in my '07 Limited V8

[LandRvr Convert]

Ok so this weekned I am turning around on a narrow paved street, so to do this I had to back up a little and my left rear tire went off of the pavement and into about 3-4 inches of thick mud........no big deal I thought. I have the V8 4WD, so it's already in 4Hi when this happens, well.....I shift out of reverse and into drive, give it a little gas and NOTHING happens, I try repeatedly and it was as if the engine had stalled, but it hadn't. I open my door and look back at the tire in the mud and it's slowly spinning.

This is where I'm confused (and pissed) because I thought the 4WD system was supposed to automatically supply the power to the tires that ARE NOT slipping.......i.e. the other 3 that were on the pavement. The Slip Indicator light (icon of a car with curvy tire marks) came on every time I pushed the gas petal and the engine was not responsive when pressing the gas just a little or almost to the floor. I was really ticked!!!

I put it in 4Low and came right out, but it seemed like I should have easily been able to get out with 3 tires on paved road and just have kept it in 4Hi.

I rarely go off road, so admittedly, I don't know all of the ins and outs of the 4WD system in the 4Runner.

My biggest concern is there is a problem with the 4WD on my Runner.

Thanks in advance for any info guys who know more about this than me!!

 

[CJ3Flyr]

It sounds like the TRAC component of the VSC was commanding the throttle plate closed to avoid wheelspin and it messed up (hence the stall). Maybe you varied the throttle input just as the computer was doing it and it got confused. 4lo worked, obviously. Locking the center diff would've worked too as that shuts off the VSC but pulling back onto the pavement that may not be the best option.

What you experienced is one of the main reasons some members have put in a VSC defeat switch and why many of us consider the '08-'09 guys lucky, they got a factory VSC defeat switch. When the VSC is defeated, regardless of methodology, you have full control of engine output via the throttle pedal. Your scenario wasn't that different than trying to pull out into a snowy intersection and accelerate, yet another example of when a user selectable VSC off switch is handy.
:cheers:

 

[Autbond]

Yea if you just push the center lock button it makes it so the computer is not holding you back. When the center lock button is not on then the car still thinks its on the road so it is just trying to keep any tire at all from spinning and cuts the power. It happens to me all the time, because I will pull off onto a trail and forget to push the center lock button and it will start spinning and stop the car. As soon as I push the center lock it immediately starts moving perfectly. The traction control on our cars is awesome, but very touchy and over does it at times but it sure as hell saves you on ice A LOT!!

 

[M1911]

Lock the center diff. It's a push button on the dash, to the left and below the steering wheel.

 

[LandRvr Convert]

OK, so I know I can lock the differential in in 4Low but you guys are saying I can lock it in 4Hi too right?

 

[Will_4R]

OK, so I know I can lock the differential in in 4Low but you guys are saying I can lock it in 4Hi too right?

Right.

 

[M1911]

OK, so I know I can lock the differential in in 4Low but you guys are saying I can lock it in 4Hi too right?

Yes.

The 2nd button from the left locks the center diff.

 

[LandRvr Convert]

Cool....thanks guys:dancin:

 

[M1911]

Another thing you might try in that situation (particularly if you can't get the center diff to lock), is to use some mild left foot braking. Sometimes that can help transfer torque.