When Do I Turn on/Use the 4wd?

[beancat425]

I was told by one mechanic I could use it in heavy rain or snow and never on dry roads. Then another said, only on rough terrain or snow but not in the rain. One day, I was driving with it on. It wasn't raining at the time but it had been earlier and I forgot to turn it off. I came around a curve at regular speed and out of nowhere spun out and did a 180 in the opposite direction. Thank goodness nobody was coming. The only thing that stopped me from hitting the woods was the curb. Tore up my driver side rear rim and of course I had a flat but no damage otherwise, although THAT was expensive enough. So now I am scared to death to use it at all... or did that have ANYTHING to do with the wipeout at all. Someone said it was probably just oil on the road or I hydroplaned or both. I just want to put my mind at ease about using it before the snow season comes. I felt so safe with the 4wd on but now I'm scared to death. Thanks!

 

[jgue467]

what year runner ya got? depending on the year you have some options, see chart below.

but yeah I don't think the use of 4wd would cause that, usually excess speed and/or insufficient traction (whether it be tires and/or road conditions) did instead. you have the idea right of when to use it, in slippery conditions where you need more than just the rear wheels pushing you along. all models allow for awd and some allow for 4wd.

 

[beancat425]

Sorry about that. I meant to say it's a 2002 SR5 v6. So pretty much stick with using it in heavy snow or if I hit the beach or rough terrain or something?

 

[jgue467]

yeah your model allows for full time use (awd) or 4wd (where you lock the center differential via the dash button). Use 4wd only on loose surfaces like dirt, small/med rocks, mud, grass, snow/ice etc. otherwise you can use it in awd all the time without the center diff locked. Luck and enjoy. :cowboy:

 

[alumarine]

what year runner ya got? depending on the year you have some options, see chart below.

but yeah I don't think the use of 4wd would cause that, usually excess speed and/or insufficient traction (whether it be tires and/or road conditions) did instead. you have the idea right of when to use it, in slippery conditions where you need more than just the rear wheels pushing you along. all models allow for awd and some allow for 4wd.

Good chart.
I can't quite read it though.
Do you have a link to it?

 

[pauldub]

You can read the owners manual if you have one or you can read the card on the sun visor for 4WD instructions. If you don't have the owners manual you can get it from https://techinfo.toyota.com/techInfoPortal/appmanager/t3/ti?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=ti_home_search_docs_page

 

[beancat425]

NOW I'm excited about it snowing and hitting an empty parking lot to test it out! Thanks so much. I've had this a little over 2 years and know NOTHING except to get in and drive. I was also told I have a Sports Edition (whatever that means). Lol Love this forum!

(Now to figure out HOW to get a picture of it on here. My picture is not on a URL but on my PC...anyway...thanks again)

 

[185Runner]

(Now to figure out HOW to get a picture of it on here. My picture is not on a URL but on my PC...anyway...thanks again)

Photobucket is the easiest way to share as it creates the URL for you!

 

[beancat425]

VSC should have all but completely prevented the spinout, unless you took the extra step to press the center diff lock button by the headlamp dimmer knob.

When the orange circle inbetween the 4 green 'tire' markers lights up, VSC is disabled and a dash lamp should light up telling you just that. Go practice donuts in RWD, AWD, 4WD and 4LO (center open and center locked) in the snow, mud, gravel, grass, or dirt in all the different 4WD modes. Not only will this keep the system lubed up and help keep the actuators mobile and free from sticking but you'll learn what VSC and 4WD feels like. Your 4Runner is a highly capable adverse terrain conquering tool but you must learn how to use it. Seat time is key. Practice.

BTW, the VSC Off/VSC TRAC/Check engine light has been a on and off (now on all the time for last year) and were on when I spun out WITH the 4WD engaged. Have no idea what the combination could/would do or did. Just gotta get those lights out, get all the rust from under there, and replace stuff. I was thinking of junking it at one time but it runs really well.... well, the rack and pinion needs replacing. (Maybe I better go back to my original junkin' it plans) Thanks a bunch though!

 

[bearcat90]

(Now to figure out HOW to get a picture of it on here. My picture is not on a URL but on my PC...anyway...thanks again)

The paperclip button above the text box will give you the option of uploading from url or file.

As for 4WD, consider also that your fuel economy is decreased when using it. I don't have the AWD option so I stick to the 2WD unless driving on a dirt road with some significant terrain or mud, haven't seen snow with my 4runner yet, hoping it handles as good as my beetle. Wet pavement might benefit from AWD but why use 4 when 2 will do?

 

[RPS99SHO]

Where in MD are you? If you're close I would be happy to look at that code for you and give you some guidance on the health of your Runner.

 

[fblainen11]

NOW I'm excited about it snowing and hitting an empty parking lot to test it out! Thanks so much. I've had this a little over 2 years and know NOTHING except to get in and drive. I was also told I have a Sports Edition (whatever that means). Lol Love this forum!

(Now to figure out HOW to get a picture of it on here. My picture is not on a URL but on my PC...anyway...thanks again)

You should really read your owners manual.

If I were you I'd get on an empty street with little to no trafffic in a neighborhood and get used to how your 4Runner engages in 4wd on the go by pressing the button on the 4hi/lo selector knob.

You are supposed to run it about 10 miles per month in 4wd to keep things lubed properly. Do not engage over 62mph. I always adhere to a conservative 45mph or slower before engaging 4wd.

You can run your 02' in AWD (button pressed on selector) in all conditions including dry roads.
However, ONLY lock center differential (dash button) when you are on loose gravel that will allow the tires to slip.

Enjoy!

 

[ajordan1975]

:doh:

 

[beancat425]

Where in MD are you? If you're close I would be happy to look at that code for you and give you some guidance on the health of your Runner.

So very kind of you to offer your valuable time; however, I'm waaaay in Middle River (Baltimore) and since this/these posts I've had my entire exhaust system replaced, brakes, rack & pinion/power steering pump, and all belts. Had/Have major rust underneath. The VSC/TRAC/check engine thing miraculously disappears on it's own after the exhaust work. I was so used to it being on that I didn't notice it was actually off. I had failed emissions with P0136 & P0446 so I just went ahead and bit the bullet and got things fixed. She is driving like a champ and no longer sounding like a monster truck!

Thank you again for your kind offer!

 

[beancat425]

You should really read your owners manual.

If I were you I'd get on an empty street with little to no trafffic in a neighborhood and get used to how your 4Runner engages in 4wd on the go by pressing the button on the 4hi/lo selector knob.

You are supposed to run it about 10 miles per month in 4wd to keep things lubed properly. Do not engage over 62mph. I always adhere to a conservative 45mph or slower before engaging 4wd.

You can run your 02' in AWD (button pressed on selector) in all conditions including dry roads.
However, ONLY lock center differential (dash button) when you are on loose gravel that will allow the tires to slip.

Enjoy!

Thanks for the info!

 

[beancat425]

Very common to see VSC OFF and TRAC OFF when a check engine light code is thrown. Why? I have no idea why they would temp disable VSC and TRAC when totally unrelated CEL is thrown could have been firmware and I/O limitations near the end of model generation that got new VSC hardware... but anyway... it happens and I get the exact same thing when mine throws the occasional P0420.

Buy a $10-20 bluetooth OBD module. Plug it in under your dash and get the torque (free) app for android. Find your code. Reset your code to turn those lights out and then go fix your problem. Very possibly it's P0420, if so 1st step is probably replace your rear O2 sensor with the Denso part, same as Toyota part but cheaper cause not in a red box.

All this stuff (bluetooth, VSC OFF, P0420) has been discussed at length, and probably will be again at some point.

Don't give up on her just yet!

Use this excellent link and instructions to find those threads:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...te-search-toyota-4runner-3rd-gen-section.html

Why does the steering rack need replacing?

Hello,

So it's been a bit since I've been on here but I will definitely give your info a try. I think due to the major rust issues I've had to replace a lot of things. The rack & pinion, power steering pump, and belts were replaced by force; my upper arm strength was great with no power steering. Lol. Fluid would leak out to the ground and I was putting it in too often until I got the money for repairs. Then I unwisely stopped adding fluid not realizing the pump would be effected and that went up so... while that particular belt was being replaced they suggested replacing them all. The tail pipe had fallen off months back. I couldn't pass the state emission test so had all work done. A few days or maybe even the same day (lights had been on so long that I stopped noticing) after having exhaust work done the VSC/TRAC Off and check engine lights went off on their own on the dash and haven't been back on since. So at this point, I am loving my 4Runner even though my pockets aren't... but I feel safer than I ever have.

Thanks again!