I just bought a 92 4 runner sr5 4x4. Can some please direct me where I can find information about the 4x$ option (4hi 4lo). I'm very new to 4x4 so I I do not know when to use the 4x4 and on what surface. can some please explain when I can use the different 4x4 option. There is also a ETC button too.

Thank you for your guys help.

 

I use 4 hi for general off road duties. Driving in snow etc.Just like 2wd hi but better traction . Braking is the same though. I use 4 lo for more technical driving where speed is no good.Crawling on steep inclines. Or pulling someone out of a ditch. Its a real low gear ratio. No idea about the etc button.

 

I agree with Zedex. Didn't you get a manual with your 4Runeer. Mine has lots of stuff about transfer case management and off road driving in it. The simple t-case info should be on your sunviser placecard too. ECT is electronicly controlled transmission. It raises your shift points for more power for towing and such. Less MPG however. Hope it helps.

 

The ECT button (on the 3rd gens) is "Electronic Control Transmission" I believe that's what it stands for? If activated, in short it changes up shift points in the transmission to happen at a higher RPM, and downshifts happen at a lower RPM to help you get in your powerband quicker. It may eat more gas however and is not all that useful (IMHO). More of a selling point than anything REALLY useful I think, especially at highway speeds anyway. Around town you may notice quicker up/down shift responses when it is activated. Anyone ever do any real world acceleration or gas mileage tests on this? That'd be interesting...

EDIT:Wrote this while post above was done, dont mean to repeat the above...but it's my $.02

 

I never use my ETC button, I think the shift points are fine with it off. I might use it if I was towing something though.

Basicly you don't want to use 4WD on dry roads or other high traction surfaces. If you do the driveline will bind up when you turn the steering wheel and cause a lot of stress and strain on the driveline, ie u-joints, cv joints, gears, etc. If you feel the steering wheel hard to turn then the driveline is binding up. It doesn't bind up on snow or dirt because the wheels slip enough to relieve the stress.

 

After driving on 4hi, is it ok to shift to 2hi after parking? I just don't want to leave it in 4hi while parked in case I forget and drive later on a hard dry surface.

 

Yeah, that's fine. It won't truely be in 2wd until your tires rotate a little and it kicks out, but that's fine. Main thing to remember is NEVER be moving when you shift to and from low range 4wd, as it engages a different set of gears. Also, as others pointed out, don't use 4wd on streets or hard surfaces (grass is okay, but unnecessary) as you can cause damage eventually.

 

Thanks My99.

 

how does a hard surface damage 4wd?

 

If you are locked in 4WD the transfer case is turning both axles (obviously) on a hard surface as you turn the front and rear driveshafts are going to want to turn at different speeds, since they are locked together by the transfer case they can't. Something has to give eather the transfer case gears, the driveshaft or the differential gears if nothing gives something breaks. When driving on soft surfaces the tires can spin or slip not so on hard surfaces.

 

Thank you for your many responses. I appreciate it. Another thing... can I go from 2h to 4h when driving @ 30mph? Is that safe to do when driving or do I have to stop then shift?

 

From high range to high range is fine 2w--->4w or 4w--->2w at anything below about 55. I usually don't unless i encounter unexpected slickness, but toyota say's it's fine to do.

 

I was under the impression with 2nd gens you could always switch from 2hi to 4 hi at any speed under 56mph and from 4 hi to 4 low at any speed under 12mph???

 

Never heard of that crazy low 4 switching at anything faster than parked.

 

nothin was said about a locker so i don't think this is the case. without a locker the diff takes care of the needed "slipping"

ive never heard you could shift to 4lo without being stopped, just try it when you're moving - it won't work

 

Partszar didn't say anything about a diff locker, he said "locked in 4wd." A confusing choice of words, admittedly. What he meant is the speed difference between the rear drive shaft and the front drive shaft. With a part time 4wd system there is no center differential and so binding will occur that the axle diffs can't take care of.

I routinely shift from 4hi to 4lo while moving VERY SLIGHTLY. You're probably not supposed to do it, so I don't recommend it.

 

I do too. It may depend on the year and model. I have a 93 SR5 with automatic transmission and ADD.

 

ahh thanx for clearing that up

 

Ok you got me interested enough to look at my owners manual. For 93 trucks the instructions vary depending on the transmission and engine, ie auto or manual and 3VZ-E or 22R-E engine.


For my 93 truck, 3VZ-E engine with automatic transmission:

Shifting between H2 and H4, reduce your speed to less than 50 mph.

Shifting from H4 to L4, reduce your speed to less than 18 mph.

Shifting from L4 to H4 the vehicle may be moving at any speed (of course top speed in L4 is about 25 mph if I remember right).



For the 93 truck, 22R-E engine with auto transmission and ADD:

Shifting from H4 to L4, stop the vehicle and put the transmission in "P" or "N" before shifting.

 

BTW jayster, you may want to try and get an owners manual for your truck, they have lots of useful info in them. Toyota owners manuals are the best I've ever seen in my life. I have seen them on e-bay before or you may be able to order one from Toyota.