Fo by Fo

Hey guys, sorry if this question has been asked before but I tried searching for it and couldn't find any threads. I was just curious as to why Toyota made the FJ cruiser automatic part time 4wheel drive and the manual full time 4 wheel drive? It just seemed strange to me because I haven't heard of other companies doing that before, seems like it would be more expensive and complicated to produce 2 different systems for the same vehicle. My only guess is toyota thinks the 6 speed will appeal more to owners who will be taking their FJ off road more?
Thanks

rowdy235

no, its just the fact that toyota produces a 6-speed stick with full-time 4wd, so its cheaper to put that in there. The Automatic, however, is commonly used with a part-time 4wd system, so once more, for price sake, toyota chose this option. At least my friend at the yota dealer told me that.

4Rocker

Which vehicle besides the FJ uses the 6MT and a full time awd?

crolison

i think thats it, the taco is part time.

rdang

The 100 series Land Cruisers are auto's with full-time 4WD - I have been wondering this as well, I really like having the full-time 4WD with the center diff lock and was wondering why they don't have this as an option for the AT in the FJ's.

pat161

Per Toyotas own literature on the FJ they use the same auto tranny as the 4th gen Runner, so I have also wondered why they did not include the torsen center diff on autos. I was pretty interested in a 6 speed FJ when I wrecked my 00 Runner, but the fact that it is not selctable kind of turned me off. Same with V8 4Runners, what is the point of full time 4wd in one and part time in the other? At least V6 Runners get the same torsen center diff, seems like the auto FJ should too, I imagine it would be a selling point for many. I know when I had my 00 Runner I would often leave it in 2wd when 4wd may have been nice, but often side streets are snowy and main roads clear and I hated switching back and forth every mile, with my 02 its nice to just put it in 4wd and not worry about it.

rowdy235

does the stick FJ's full-time 4wd reduce gas mileage?

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Indeed it does.
This is why the auto transmission FJ Cruiser gets better fuel economy than a standard transmission for a change.

I also found out a year ago during the icy winter we had than my rig did better coming into work in 2WD than it did in 4WD high.

In 2WD you have the traction control stuff working for you.
In 4WD some of that stuff gets turned off by the computer.

Now if you are out 4wheeling in some deep snow 4WD is going to do better no doubt, but on icy level streets with snow compacted down with ice on top, I did better in 2WD.

Go figure...

BT17R

Yes, but not due to full-time, or at least not by much since the M/T FJ is slightly lighter than the A/T 4WD. It's due to a short M/T 3.9 final drive vs. 3.7 for the A/T. Makes for some impressive giddyup, but real world MPG is a fair amount less.

My stock M/T gets 16 around town on a good day, 21 freeway. Corey's much modded, heavier, taller and wider tired A/T gets about 18 I think.

rdang

Never thought about that, I guess having an AT with VSC would almost be like having it in full-time 4WD in winter conditions. I would imagine that they have VSC in the MT models as well though - does having a full-time 4WD (with a center diff lock) and VSC work better?

I know later model Land Cruiser's have the full-time and VSC, just interested to see how something like this works together. I can also see myself in an FJ one day (waaayyyy down the road somewhere) and even though I know it won't be for a long long time yet, I still debate about the AT/MT models.

BT17R

I've owned different Toyota 4WD SUV's going back to a '98 Land Cruiser. IMO the full-time systems, like the FJ M/T, are highly desirable for all-weather grip. The expensive center Torsen lays down all the torque to the proper axle instantly, no waiting like in a viscous coupling. I've driven both flavors of FJ's and the M/T feels better balanced and able to apply all available power in any conditions, especially on low-grip roads and corner exit.

I don't know if the AWD system works any better off-road. My trail buds all have A/T FJ's and we all get to the destination regardless. The difference is that I usually don't need toi engage the standard RR locker while they usually do.

DEWFPO

The MT's final drive ratio (in top gear going down the highway) is 17% lower than the AT's, so it's spinning 17% more RPM for the same MPH as the AT and that's where most of the MPG difference is derived.

That's what makes it so much fun to drive (responsive) but the cost is lower highway MPG.

DEWFPO

BOSTON4RUNNER

what is the difference between the two systems?
the full time always have all 4 wheels driven?

DEWFPO

Yes, The 6MT has an extra differential (Torsen) in the transfer case to allow both the front and rear axles to be driven at the same time. You can also "LOCK" the differential so that it doesn't allow any slip between the front and rear diff, much like the Part Time case in the 5AT.

DEWFPO