what does this light mean? It comes on when I shift the '98 into 4-low - should it STAY on?

thanks!
aaron

 

The manual says it's an unengaged "park" indicator. Something vauge about having the transmission in Park while the 4X4 selector is in N. Either way, I doubt it should be on in 4L.

Not that this really helps or anything... but now you know it has something to do with the Transmission not being in Park when the truck thinks it should be

-Byron

 

cool then, 'cause it DOESN'T stay on...and I was wondering if it SHOULD or not. It just pops up btwn Nuetral and 4L - sounds like it's ok then!
cheers,
aaron

 

That's normal it's just a warning light because even if the tranny is in park when the t-case is in neutral it will roll.

 

are you shifting into 4WD with the tranny in Park?

 

ok, so your NOT supposed to shift into 4wd in PARK?

Yes, that is in fact (really!) what I've been doing. What are you "supposed to do"????

ack.

 

To go from 4H to 4L you want the truck stopped and the transmission in neutral, then push the selector forward to 4L.

 

Ok...now I'm enlighted!
so, going from 2wd to 4wd (low or high) you need to be in NEUTRAL as well, correct? or am I missing it?
<-amorphous

 

Well it depends what type of t-case you have. With mine I just push a button on the shifter and if I'm below 60 mph it clicks in. Maybe Ryan has the other kind. What year is your rig?

 

woops....it's a '98 sr5 4wd, auto....did jah need other info?

thanks!
aaron

 

The '98's had the button, right? My mom has a '98 Limited, and I'm pretty sure it does... I would Imagine the SR5 did as well. Your selector should just have the 3 positions in a straight line, 4L, N and 4H, with the button on the side, right?
To go from 2H to 4H, just push the button. to go from 4H to 4L, as FattyCBR said, be in 4H, stop, put the tranny in Neutral, hold the brake and move the selector up through N into 4L. It should not really provide much resistance at all, just like shifting gears in a 5-speed.

-Byron

 

Hey,
I have no button....just the stick selector
I'm thinking the button was only for the Limited model)?)

aaron

 

ahh.. Not really sure then. My '97 Taco had the no-button selector as well, but it was a 5-speed. I went back and forth between 2H and 4H with just the clutch in, moving or still.

To err on the side of safety, I'd stop and put the tranny in neutral for all transitions then, 2H <-> 4H <-> 4L. No harm will come from doing it that way, for sure.

-Byron

 

cool, thanks for the info Byron!

so, in PARK is a BAD idea then.....neutral it is!

MY bad!

aaron

 

There should be directions in your owner's manual about how to shift into 4H and there may also be a card on the sunshade with directions. I'm not sure if yours is shift on the fly like the push button, but you're definitely ok if you stop completely and put it in neutral first.

 

Some trucks had the push button option, and some didnt. On the Taco's, only the Limited's in certain years had it (like my 98).

Now my 96 has the shift selector. To be honest, I dont think the push button is any easier than the shifter. I just lightly pull down and 4WD is engaged.

The push button is just another elec part to break if you ask me.

But, like the other guys said, you should be in N.

 

According to my manual, I have the shift on the fly option.

It says that I can shift to 4L or 4H as long as I am driving under ten miles.

By the way, I own a '94 TOYOTA PICK-UP TRUCK.

 

to shift for the stick selector for 4hi you can shift on the fly as long as it is under 55mph. just keep it in drive and pull back on the stick. to shift into 4 lo you must stop, put the truck in neutral and then shift into 4 lo. then you can drive away. getting back to 2wd is the same but in reverse. from 4 lo you must again stop and put it in neutral. for 4 hi just keep it under 55. this is per owners manual for a 99 sr5 runner.

 

you can go from 2WD to 4HI in D or N.

but to go from 4H to 4L, you need to be stopped and in N.

if you need to park your truck, either leave it running with tranny in N or put the t-case in 4HI or 2WD and then the tranny in P.

 

Hello list....I have a '97 4Runner Sr5 4WD Automatic, which has given me little to now problems (just an oil leak that needed to be patched twice).

However, today, as usual while driving on a wet pavement, I engaged the 2H to 4H for better traction. I made sure I was doing less than 60MPH, but when I switched from 2H to the 4H lever, I heard a grind, and put it back into 2H. When I tried to engage it into 4H again, the lever was in the 4H position, but the 4WD did NOT kick in, and the light failed to come on. After I parked and tried again, still nothing. I tried the N and 4L, and still nothing.

Can anyone tell me what possibly happened? And what is a fair estimate for a repair on something like this? Thanks again.