Very true however with the systems in the 01 and newer Runners it is no big deal to run it in 4wd on pavement as long as you do not lock the center diff. To put ours in 4wd you just push the button on the 4x4 stick and that is it. I should act like an all wheel drive system at that point. If you lock the center diff then is will act like a 4wd 50/50 normal system.

Still cannot think of why you would want to do it but not a big deal. The owners manual also says that you can operate it in the rain to activate the front drive to keep everything lubed up.

 

I'm a big time snowboarder so I mainly got the 4WD for long trips up to Mammoth Mountain (Sierra Nevada Mountains). I'm not super interested in taking it through the mud or in the sand, but if the situation ever arose I knew I would have no problem handling it.

I've engaged the 4WD button on the stick, but have yet to lock the differential and put it in 4H. Do I need to pull over and put the truck in park and then put it in 4H and lock the diff?

WHORERUNNER: Not sure which they are... they came with the truck, and I don't mind them so I think they'll stay. What exactly are they designed for? lol, I'm a newb.

Thanks guys

 

jeenyus, your truck is what they would return to darth vader after a lengthy episode of pimp my ride.

sweet truck! congrats on the score and welcome to yotatech!

 

Mine was that clean, once. Welcome!

 

DITTO

 

you mean 4L?

to go into 4L you need to be stopped. put the main shifter in neutral, then SLOWLY push the 4wd shifter from 4H to N to 4L.

this will automatically engage the center diff lock too. you can, while in 4H, push the button to the left of the steering wheel to engage the center locker too.

 

OH MAN!!! That is exactly what I want to make my rig look like. I have got to get rid of my UGLY chrome bumpers. Even though the wife put the stop on mods for a while, I think I have just softened her up to the idea.

I just went and found her a 4Runner!!! Picking it up in June!

 

Lee, are you sure about that? When I have the button on the shifter pressed and shift into 4L the center orange light does not come on. I even drove around a parking lot like that. It was definately in Low, but when I went around corners it didn't feel like the center diff was locked.

 

Congrats on a nice looking Runner! The 4wd on demand button acts more like an awd system as Eric mentioned... Basically you can engage and disengage it while driving under 60mph (iirc)... the older 4wd's without the button can't be used unless you are on dirt roads and etc... Also need to be parked to activate it...

The 4WD is great but don't use it too much... it eats up alot of gas!

 

Those are the Ventshade 3M versions.

 

Unfortunatly before the '01s the Limiteds were the only ones with the multi-mode auto tranny and having the AWD option is a nice thing to have when it's just slick out.

 

you know what im not 100% now that i think of it. i usually lock the ctr diff while in 4H, get into the trail, then move to 4L.

sorry.

 

when you go into 4lo with our fancy computerized late 3rd gens, the center diff does not automatically lock. you have to push the button to make that happen, hi or lo. i always center lock it either at a stop or moving slowly.

 

yeah sorry, brainfart for me

 

Thanks for the info on 4WD... I need to eat up as much info as possible!

SO my understanding as of right now is...

1: for rain and minor slippery situations, just engage the 4H button on the stick while under 60mph.

2: for more slippy/mud/dirt situations, just engage the 4H button on stick while under 60mph and hit the 'lock diff' button for better grip. (*EDIT* hit the lock button while going slow 20mph?... not 60mph)

3: for snow, mud and ice I will need to pull over put the truck in N and then slowly engage 4L.

4: for getting un-stuck and crazy weather/snow/ice/mud do #3 and also hit the 'Lock Diff' button for absolut maximum grip.

please correct me if I have missed something or there are different sequences of putting the truck in 4WD.

Thanks dudes

 

#1 sounds good...
#2 Don't know if you can just hit the lock button at 60mph... Don't have a locker so I wouldn't know... Doesn't sound like its a good thing to do though....

 

sounds about right.
and 4lo and center lock should only be used offroad. 4hi center open is good enough for just about whatever the paved roads will throw at you.

 

I agree. No need for locking the center diff on the road.

The owners manual is actually pretty good. If you have it I would give it a good once over.

 

Even in a foot of snow on paved roads I doubt you'd even need to leave the AWD mode since my mo just always uses the button in snowy situations and never has had to use true 4wd unless she was off road.

 

Good buy. look for the front aluminum skid plate. it will do nothing to your truck but it makes the front looks nicer/meaner (at least for me).