How do I get my car in 4x4

[KDENISE977]

I have a Toyota 4Runner that is the full time AWD, which is great and all, but how do I get it in actual 4 Wheel Drive, not AWD. I've googled it, and I've tried looking it up in the owners manual but it doesn't help me. It has the round dial to move it into 4 wheel drive, but it also has a button that looks like it's breaking the axle apart and I think... THINK it's telling me to push the axle button then turn the dial into 4 high?? Anyone have one of these damn things???

 

[glhs837]

I have a Toyota 4Runner that is the full time AWD, which is great and all, but how do I get it in actual 4 Wheel Drive, not AWD. I've googled it, and I've tried looking it up in the owners manual but it doesn't help me. It has the round dial to move it into 4 wheel drive, but it also has a button that looks like it's breaking the axle apart and I think... THINK it's telling me to push the axle button then turn the dial into 4 high?? Anyone have one of these damn things???

MOdel year?

 

[KDENISE977]

MOdel year?

2007 V8 Sport

 

[struggler44]

I have a Toyota 4Runner that is the full time AWD, which is great and all, but how do I get it in actual 4 Wheel Drive, not AWD. I've googled it, and I've tried looking it up in the owners manual but it doesn't help me. It has the round dial to move it into 4 wheel drive, but it also has a button that looks like it's breaking the axle apart and I think... THINK it's telling me to push the axle button then turn the dial into 4 high?? Anyone have one of these damn things???

Pull it in your front yard and try all options, mash the gas and you'll figure it out

 

[KDENISE977]

Pull it in your front yard and try all options, mash the gas and you'll figure it out

my problem is getting down my driveway without plummoting down into the ravine of death... THANKS THOUGH

 

[GURPS]

I have a Toyota 4Runner that is the full time AWD, which is great and all, but how do I get it in actual 4 Wheel Drive, not AWD.

if the vehicle is AWD ... it works ALL The Time

usually a 40/60 split [60 % of the power going to the rear wheels]


Toyota 4WD systems explained - Car Forums - Edmunds


is there a button on the dash ?

2007 4Runner V8 4WD/AWD? - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

As I understand it, our 4th gen 4Runners have MultiMode 4WD - that is to say we have both full-time 4WD (Center diff unlocked, power split varies between front and rear wheels, up to 70% rear and 51% front I believe) and part-time 4WD (Center diff locked, an even 50/50 split of power). Having a V8 means you're in 4H in full-time mode. the V6 models have a 2WD mode only for gas savings. You can switch from high to low for extra torque, and the 4321 is also for more torque or for using the transmission to control speeds going downhill. If you want to engage part-time 4WD, you just hit the button to the left of your steering wheel while stopped, in neutral, and your foot on the brake.

Also from what I can gather, You're running full-time 4WD, not AWD. The difference being most AWD cars provide 100% power to front OR rear wheels, and the transfer of power can happen too late (ie, if you start sliding)

http://www.panavi.kz/toyota/4runner/215/owners_manual/t4r_owners_manual_07.pdf


page 164 / 165

 

[KDENISE977]

if the vehicle is AWD ... it works ALL The Time

usually a 40/60 split [60 % of the power going to the rear wheels]


Toyota 4WD systems explained - Car Forums - Edmunds


is there a button on the dash ?

Theres a button that looks like it sort of separates the rear axles, then their is a dial that says 4 high in one position, then 4 low in another? Why would there not be a need for a dial if it's full time 4 wheel drive all the time?

 

[kwillia]

my problem is getting down my driveway without plummoting down into the ravine of death... THANKS THOUGH

If you are in St. Mary's don't worry about needing 4x4 today. Just put a layer of Bounty across the bottom of your driveway. It's the quicker picker upper.

 

[General Lee]

Put vehicle in neutral, turn nob to 4H. The button that looks like the axle is breaking apart is probably the VCS (Vehicle stability control). Once your vehicle is locked in 4wd, the light should be on (not blinking) on the dash.

You don't have to be in neutral to shift to 4H as long as your below 30mph or so but I like to be in neutral. For 4L you HAVE to be in neutral.

EDIT: same procedure to shift back in 2wd. If light on dash doesn't go out, drive forward and reverse for a few seconds until light goes out.

It is recommended to shift into 4H once a month or so and drive @around 10 miles to keep the relays/contacts clean. If you have never used 4wd it may not engage.

 

[GURPS]

There's a button that looks like it sort of separates the rear axles, then their is a dial that says 4 high in one position, then 4 low in another? Why would there not be a need for a dial if it's full time 4 wheel drive all the time?

With 4 wheel drive systems you need to allow the front and rear axles to move at different speeds [Yes they do move differently] on dry pavement or you wear out components / break things


AWD places a 3rd 'differential' in the transfer case between the axles allowing slippage between the front and rear for 'normal' driving

in snow it is better to have the front and rear axles getting 100% power hence the '4x4' feature

from what I saw in the owners manual, push the button to the right of the steering wheel with x in between the axles ...

4 wheel lo adds additional gearing for more power to pull ... generally NOT needed in snow, just makes wheels slip easier

 

[KDENISE977]

with 4 wheel drive systems you need to allow the front and rear axles to move at different speeds [Yes they do move differently] on dry pavement or you wear out components / break thinks


AWD places a 3rd 'differential' in the transfer case between the axles allowing slippage between the front and rear

So, from your post earlier Having a V8 means you're in 4H in full-time mode. It IS engaged all the time? I don't have to do anything at all?

 

[GURPS]

So, from your post earlier Having a V8 means you're in 4H in full-time mode. It IS engaged all the time? I don't have to do anything at all?

IMHO not for the little bit we are going to get

maybe if we had 6 inches or more ...

I drive my bronco around in 2 wheel drive, until the snow gets really deep

Successful 4 wheeling is 85% driver 15% vehicle

 

[glhs837]

Manual differentiates between full-time 4wd and multimode 4wd.


Your control know low to the right of the steering wheel, what does it have?

H4 and L4, that tells us you have the full time. That button low and to the left of the steering wheel is the differential lock button. You should only ever use that if you are stuck such one set of tires has no traction at all. If you end up in the ditch, then that's a good time to press that button But, it shuts down your vehicles stability control system, and you don't want to do that, so for today, unless you are stuck in a ditch, leave the button alone.

4L, again, you only want that if you want a lot more traction. But unless you find yourself in a position that every single press of the throttle ends up spinning wheels, you wont need 4L.

What I recommend, when you have a chance, is to get yourself on a dirt road or such, and experiment with the selections. You need to be on dirt, doesnt have to be rugged offroad stuff, just not pavement, as that's not good for the system. But get on some dirt and select the various modes and see what they do and how they feel.

 

[KDENISE977]

Manual differentiates between full-time 4wd and multimode 4wd.


Your control know low to the right of the steering wheel, what does it have?

H4 and L4, that tells us you have the full time. That button low and to the left of the steering wheel is the differential lock button. You should only ever use that if you are stuck such one set of tires has no traction at all. If you end up in the ditch, then that's a good time to press that button But, it shuts down your vehicles stability control system, and you don't want to do that, so for today, unless you are stuck in a ditch, leave the button alone.

4L, again, you only want that if you want a lot more traction. But unless you find yourself in a position that every single press of the throttle ends up spinning wheels, you wont need 4L.

What I recommend, when you have a chance, is to get yourself on a dirt road or such, and experiment with the selections. You need to be on dirt, doesnt have to be rugged offroad stuff, just not pavement, as that's not good for the system. But get on some dirt and select the various modes and see what they do and how they feel.

Thank you ! This I understand, for today.. LEAVE IT ALONE UNLESS STUCK !

 

[KDENISE977]

Manual differentiates between full-time 4wd and multimode 4wd.


Your control know low to the right of the steering wheel, what does it have?

H4 and L4, that tells us you have the full time. That button low and to the left of the steering wheel is the differential lock button. You should only ever use that if you are stuck such one set of tires has no traction at all. If you end up in the ditch, then that's a good time to press that button But, it shuts down your vehicles stability control system, and you don't want to do that, so for today, unless you are stuck in a ditch, leave the button alone.

4L, again, you only want that if you want a lot more traction. But unless you find yourself in a position that every single press of the throttle ends up spinning wheels, you wont need 4L.

What I recommend, when you have a chance, is to get yourself on a dirt road or such, and experiment with the selections. You need to be on dirt, doesnt have to be rugged offroad stuff, just not pavement, as that's not good for the system. But get on some dirt and select the various modes and see what they do and how they feel.

I just ran and checked, you're right, it stays in the 4h position. I drive around in 4h all the time, the crappy gas mileage ALL MAKES SENSE NOW !

 

[itsbob]

my problem is getting down my driveway without plummoting down into the ravine of death... THANKS THOUGH

Younshould have a choice between 4 high and 4 low.. OR a mud/snow button to push... mud snow basically puts you into the low range.

 

[itsbob]

Thank you ! This I understand, for today.. LEAVE IT ALONE UNLESS STUCK !

Not true.. you get stuck it's too late. If you THINK you need more tracrion put it into 4 low OR push the mud/snow button.. once you are stuck or in a ditch meither will help you.

 

[glhs837]

Not true.. you get stuck it's too late. If you THINK you need more tracrion put it into 4 low OR push the mud/snow button.. once you are stuck or in a ditch meither will help you.

For off roading, I agree, but if you are sticking to paved roads, even in the snow there are very few places you should ever lock the diff or go into 4 low. And she has no mud snow button, just a choice between 4 high and 4 low. Keep in mind we are not advising for a trip down the powerline roads.

 

[General Lee]

Thank you ! This I understand, for today.. LEAVE IT ALONE UNLESS STUCK !

Not necessarily. Sometimes the vehicle needs some travel to fully engage into 4wd. When your stuck you may not be able to get it to engage.

 

[KDENISE977]

Not true.. you get stuck it's too late. If you THINK you need more tracrion put it into 4 low OR push the mud/snow button.. once you are stuck or in a ditch meither will help you.

Yeah, but how do you need more traction AHEAD of time? I'm talking about traveling downhill and around corners where you can't see where the road is and isn't? THAT is what makes me panic. I have that downhill assist thing too that I use but the fear is sliding off the road into a ditch... when you start slipping it's already too late for me to put it in 4 low.