Bare with me on this, I came from the old school of actually having to get out and lock hubs manually so this new fangled knob twisting button pushing stuff has be a bit confoosed.

Anyhoo, let's say I'm driving about town and it's raining like hell. I can lock the center diff by pushing the VSC button AND turning the transfer case dial to H4 while in motion? It's only when going to L4 is when I need to come to a complete stop, etc.??

 

I don't know a lot about the 03's but... I know you only should lock the center diff if in mud etc. On the road it would actually cause traction loss. I think the diff is locked automatically when shifting into 4L. Isnt the 03 AWD and you would just put VSC on when road is slick. The 03 owners should chime in because I'm old schhol in mine

 

first off, looks like you have the v6 4x4 right? (just making sure because the v8 4x4 is fulltime 4x4 so.. )

if it's raining, i'd suggest you keeping the vsc engaged (comes this way). locking the center will disengage it.

if you want to switch to 4hi, simple switch the knob from 2hi to 4hi (make sure you're going less than 60mph or something like that).

if you want to go into 4lo, make sure you stop completely and are in neutral (i'm sure u already know this). and if you really need to disable the vsc, then hit the button (but just cuz you're in 4lo doesn't mean the vsc automatically gets disabled).

i'm not sure but i think you need to be in neutral to lock the center (pressing the vsc and disconnecting the vsc). not sure cuz i don't remember... hehe doh!

 

Yes you can switch back and forth from 4hi to 2hi 60mph and slower. You don't have to be in N to lock the diff.
If you lock the diff on the street I think you will get crabbing and drivetrain binding.
There is a little chart that is pretty clear in the manual. I'm thinking of copying and laminating that page so I can have it handy- I forget if I don't use it often. 4hi is easy, 4lo takes a couple steps.

 

What about on the 2nd. Gen Runners? Can you switch to H4 while moving? I was wondering about this myself.

Thanks guys.

 

Yeah, 2nd gen automatics you can through it in and out of 2-4hi at basicly any speeds. You can engage 4low at like anything under 10 and you just just take out out of 4low to 4hi. Basicly on 2nd gens use common sense. They are chain driven ( the auto are) so they are different from gear driven ones of new models.