What Not to Do...

Maritimer

Maritimer

New member
...before I read my manual.

I'm going to pick up my new 4Runner this week and drive it on the highway back to my home (about three hours). I'm not going to play with the 4WD until I read the manual. Is there anything else I can frig up on the way home if I'm not careful?
 
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stay off your cell phone while your driving!! you can call your friends when you get home and they can come by to see it!
 
don't play with the stereo and the Ipod

congrats on your new purchase.

Spend a moment and check out the turn signals, the emergency flashers, how to operate the front and rear wipers if you encounter rain.

check tire pressures and oil level while cold then maybe the tranny fluid (automatic?) and power steering fluid while engine operating.

Quick factoid-the power steering uses AutoTranny Fluid not power steering fluid....it's a little bit confusing but verify if you like.

safe travels!
 
Thanks for the advice Ron. Just wondering about your Runner--did you get that lift just by putting new springs in? It looks nice. Does it decrease onroad stability at all?
 
Duhockey said:
?????

really???? LOL are you joking or serious?
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I think he's joking, right? I read Thai's thread and 4WD Hi is fine all the time.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/12-01-up-4wd-system-trac-vsc-torsen-t-3-a.html

I'm guessing 4WD would actually be useful to have on if it's raining or I'm on gravel.

Basically my concern stems from the fact I'm going from driving an AWD CR-V to a 4Runner. I like the AWD system on the CR-V, and don't want to end up using 2WD on the 4Runner because I'm scared to frig up the transmission--I want to have that constant muscle.
 
If you have the multi mode auto with the awd mode then it's fine but I wouldn't drive around on dry pavement in 4hi at all since it not designed for that and it's a waste of gas and is hard on associated components.
 
It's a 2001 SR5.

Yeah, I'm not planning to drive in in 4WD on dry pavement. Is it worth switching it on in the rain or on a groomed gravel road, though?
 
Maritimer said:
Thanks for the advice Ron. Just wondering about your Runner--did you get that lift just by putting new springs in? It looks nice. Does it decrease onroad stability at all?
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thanks very much Maritimer-nice of you to say so

as pictured in my signature-that is the Old Man Emu 890s in rear and 881s up front. I have since added a 1" body lift and no compromise is noticed whatsoever in stability.

But! and this is huge-I have been around trucks most of my adult life now and no longer try to drive them like a sports car-early braking, no sudden swerving or rapid turns is a requirement to maintaining control to begin with.

Yes I do use my 4wd even on gravel roads. It spreads out the forces of the drive train in my opinion-kind of balances the pull and push forces- and is especially helpful on the washboard roads we have a lot of out here-thin ripples of dirt that really shake up the ride.

If more folks would use their 4wd when available- especially for climbing switchbacks those washboards would not form as easily I have been told.

I don't use my 4wd on rainy (paved) roads but my manual tranny 4wd system would be quite different than that equipped on the Limiteds.

You're asking good questions and this is how we all learn from one another.
 
Ron Helmuth said:
as pictured in my signature-that is the Old Man Emu 890s in rear and 881s up front. I have since added a 1" body lift and no compromise is noticed whatsoever in stability.
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Nice. I'll have to look into some of that when Mrs. Maritimer lets me out of the dog house just for buying my 4Runner. :crybaby:


Yes I do use my 4wd even on gravel roads. It spreads out the forces of the drive train in my opinion-kind of balances the pull and push forces- and is especially helpful on the washboard roads we have a lot of out here-thin ripples of dirt that really shake up the ride.
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Cool. Nothing I hate more than that floaty feeling on gravel road turns.
 
Maritimer said:
It's a 2001 SR5.

Yeah, I'm not planning to drive in in 4WD on dry pavement. Is it worth switching it on in the rain or on a groomed gravel road, though?
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I would engage 4WD to make sure it works before you pay the man. Personally I would test 4 low/high and engage the center diff. lock(driving straight) before any money changes hands.

And no, you don't need 4wd for rain or "groomed" gravel roads - rougher gravel roads it doesn't hurt. Welcome aboard
 
racedirt1 said:
I would engage 4WD to make sure it works before you pay the man. Personally I would test 4 low/high and engage the center diff. lock(driving straight) before any money changes hands.

And no, you don't need 4wd for rain or "groomed" gravel roads - rougher gravel roads it doesn't hurt. Welcome aboard
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I'll make sure I take a good spin in it first. The 4 low should have a lot of torque, and not going off-road for a test, what should it feel like with the center diff. locked?
 
With 4Hi center locked you will get a heavier feel to steering, 4Lo center locked maybe a little heavier feel to the steering and slower feel. The AWD setting is nice in the newer limiteds and operates much like your CR-V.
 
When the center diff is locked (4hi or 4lo), you'll feel it binding a little bit when making a tight turn in a parking lot. In general, letting it bind up isn't a good idea, that's why they were saying earlier not to drive in 4x4 on the pavement. But, letting it bind just for a second just to make sure the 4x4 is working is a good idea so you don't have to wonder if you made a bad deal the whole way home.

You mentioned earlier about leaving it in AWD mode all the time like your CR-V is. This is not a good idea because you will put unnecessary wear on several components and your mpgs will go to shit. The '01 4runner's 4x4 design isn't intended to be "full-time" like the CR-V's, but rather it's to be used in situations like patchy ice - when you have good traction 95% of the time, but a few rough spots here and there. Here's a little summary of when to use what:

Dry or wet road - 2WD
Wet slick road, gravel, or patchy snow/ice - 4hi unlocked
Packed snow/ice, dirt/mud, or deep gravel - 4hi locked
Deep snow or mud, steep dirt/snowy/muddy hills, rock obstacles, etc.. - 4lo locked
 
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