How do I get my car in 4x4

[GURPS]

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.

I drive until I get stuck in 2 wheel drive, engage the 4 wheel drive and pull on out ....


it all depends on how badly one is stuck ... a slick road and need some more traction or 40 ft off the shoulder in the middle of a farmers field in 3 feet of snow




I went plenty of places in the 1990's in a VW Beetle - Open diff and No front drive axle

 

[flomaster]

I have to admit that this forum post was amazingly informative and I can only assume that all the forum bashers are still sleeping or something.

 

[KDENISE977]

Well I got my question answered

 

[somdwatch]

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

She's a woman, she don't care how they work, she just wants it to work! At least that's what my wife says!

 

[KDENISE977]

She's a woman, she don't care how they work, she just wants it to work! At least that's what my wife says!

 

[itsbob]

I drive until I get stuck in 2 wheel drive, engage the 4 wheel drive and pull on out ....


it all depends on how badly one is stuck ... a slick road and need some more traction or 40 ft off the shoulder in the middle of a farmers field in 3 feet of snow




I went plenty of places in the 1990's in a VW Beetle - Open diff and No front drive axle

Down here it doesn't apply, but I was present during a couple of accident investigations in Maine.. person driving a Jeep down a snow covered road, goes into a corner slides off the road into a ditch. Question was asked "When did you place the Jeep into 4WD?" "I didn't, it was still in 2 WD." He was found liable for the damages to the Gov Jeep Cherokee.

You think he would have took the hint from the way the question was asked, but no..

We had a lot of people go off the road in NH and Maine in Jeeps and 4WD Broncos and most because they thought 4WD was for offroad use only.. we also had our share of the opposite, driving 60 MPH in a snow storm because "I'm good, I have 4WD"...

I thought Toyota wasn't really 4WD until you started to lose traction, or were stuck.. basically as you're sliding off the road heading for a ditch THEN it becomes a true 4WD [unless you have the snow button pushed]. I had a chevy pickup that was that way.. put it into a ditch as I'm sliding into the ditch my 4WD light comes on.. like. thanks!

Also not sure if the Toyota Low range is really a low range or does it just lock the differentials?

 

[KDENISE977]

Down here it doesn't apply, but I was present during a couple of accident investigations in Maine.. person driving a Jeep down a snow covered road, goes into a corner slides off the road into a ditch. Question was asked "When did you place the Jeep into 4WD?" "I didn't, it was still in 2 WD." He was found liable for the damages to the Gov Jeep Cherokee.

You think he would have took the hint from the way the question was asked, but no..

We had a lot of people go off the road in NH and Maine in Jeeps and 4WD Broncos and most because they thought 4WD was for offroad use only.. we also had our share of the opposite, driving 60 MPH in a snow storm because "I'm good, I have 4WD"...

I thought Toyota wasn't really 4WD until you started to lose traction, or were stuck.. basically as you're sliding off the road heading for a ditch THEN it becomes a true 4WD [unless you have the snow button pushed]. I had a chevy pickup that was that way.. put it into a ditch as I'm sliding into the ditch my 4WD light comes on.. like. thanks!

Also not sure if the Toyota Low range is really a low range or does it just lock the differentials?

Okay, this is how I interpret this post
KD, you need a new car. You need a car that says "hey, it's a little slick, I'm going to engage my 4wheel drive system", or "hey, dizzy bitch, we're slipping into this here ditch and I'ma have a hard time getting out if you don't put me in 4 low".

 

[itsbob]

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

First time it snowed in NH headed for the nearest parking lot to test the 4WD on the two pick ups.. had a full size Chevy with pushbutton 4WD and a Nissan with manual locking hubs and a manual lever..

Nissan was 10 times better a system.. Chevy, even with the 4WD button pushed was still slipping and sliding, Nissan was rock solid..

Totally different 4WD systems...

 

[glhs837]

Okay, this is how I interpret this post
KD, you need a new car. You need a car that says "hey, it's a little slick, I'm going to engage my 4wheel drive system", or "hey, dizzy bitch, we're slipping into this here ditch and I'ma have a hard time getting out if you don't put me in 4 low".

Okay, Denise, do NOT follow this link, this is for GURPs and Bob, a detailed explanation of the various toyota systems, so we can discuss what we are talking about on the same page. Expect further "I dont car how, just tell what damn button to push when" level advice to be along shortly

http://toyotaia.com/intranet/misc/4wd simplified one page.pdf

From what I see, this vehicle has the second system in the upper right on the linked page, being a V8 4Runner. In which case, for normal ops on snowy roads, she would meet Bobs requirement all the time.

 

[GWguy]

I have to admit that this forum post was amazingly informative and I can only assume that all the forum bashers are still sleeping or something.

I was just waiting for the right time.


The correct answer to the original post:


"Get a MAN to do it for you."



j/k. Seriously, it should be in AWD for normal, everyday driving. If there are times that the wheels may slip, the AWD does it's best to compensate by transferring power to the wheels that have traction. When you are in conditions where the wheels don't actually touch the road, like snow/ice, then it's time for 4WD-H remembering that while 4WD can make you go, your brakes still can't stop you. 4WD-L is really only for when you need full traction AND more power, like riding on the beach, off-roading, pulling a boat up a slippery launch ramp.

 

[glhs837]

I was just waiting for the right time.


The correct answer to the original post:


"Get a MAN to do it for you."



j/k. Seriously, it should be in AWD for normal, everyday driving. If there are times that the wheels may slip, the AWD does it's best to compensate by transferring power to the wheels that have traction. When you are in conditions where the wheels don't actually touch the road, like snow/ice, then it's time for 4WD-H remembering that while 4WD can make you go, your brakes still can't stop you. 4WD-L is really only for when you need full traction AND more power, like riding on the beach, off-roading, pulling a boat up a slippery launch ramp.

Keep in mind, she does not have an AWD selection. There are only two possible settings for that rotary knob, 4 HI and 4 LO.

 

[KDENISE977]

Keep in mind, she does not have an AWD selection. There are only two possible settings for that rotary knob, 4 HI and 4 LO.

YES, i don't have the option of putting it IN 4 HI, the dial stays on 4 HI

 

[GWguy]

Keep in mind, she does not have an AWD selection. There are only two possible settings for that rotary knob, 4 HI and 4 LO.

YES, i don't have the option of putting it IN 4 HI, the dial stays on 4 HI

Right, she did say that.... I'm old school. Manual 2WD/4WD-H/4WD-L with manual front locking hubs.

 

[KDENISE977]

Last time I should have learned

 

[struggler44]

First time it snowed in NH headed for the nearest parking lot to test the 4WD on the two pick ups.. had a full size Chevy with pushbutton 4WD and a Nissan with manual locking hubs and a manual lever..

Nissan was 10 times better a system.. Chevy, even with the 4WD button pushed was still slipping and sliding, Nissan was rock solid..

Totally different 4WD systems...

I've got an older Dodge (2005) and it has a manual shift to go into 4wd, never been able to get it into low, they so go about 3mph and engage it, a little grinding is normal; A little grinding would be ok but it sound like dropping a bolt into a blender, just said f it and don't use it, hope I never get into a situation where I have to.

 

[struggler44]

Last time I should have learned

LOL... the extra weight of the snow on the roof gotcha

 

[glhs837]

Right, she did say that.... I'm old school. Manual 2WD/4WD-H/4WD-L with manual front locking hubs.

Last time I should have learned

Which is what the newest member of the fleet here has, two real levers, solid axles both ends, weighs around 2100lbs

K, yep, at the first hint that it's not moving in 4HI, stop before you make ruts, go with 4 LO, if that wont get it moving, hit that diff lock button. Standard rocking back and forth stuff applies, but never let it get so bad you make ruts.

 

[Gilligan]

As the builder of performance off-road trucks and owner of many an Audi Quattro "back in the day", the one important piece of advice I would offer is to avoid ever using the front-rear lock and, especially, the rear axle dif lock features unless you are in deep snow or off the pavement altogether.

In addition to making the handling of the vehicle at any kind of speed really bad, running on exposed pavement with the locks engaged can make short work of several drivetrain components.

The best all-around traction for "normal" driving, especially on slick roads, with any fulltime AWD vehicle, is always with the differentials unlocked.

Here, for example, is a situation I found myself in where locking everything is OK. Indeed...is recommended even.

 

[glhs837]

I will note, for the record, that the above pic does show deep snow and dirt

 

[Rt235]

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???

Ummm.. here is a guess....GO to the Toyota dealer and ASK!!! Or call one!

A lot more reliable than asking here!