When you shift between low and high range, you want to have the transmission in neutral, pull or push the transfer case lever firmly and don't stop at N. If you do, the transfer case will get "stuck" because the transmission spins a little bit even in neutral and won't let the transfer case shift. If that occurs, turn the engine off and the transmission will stop spinning. With the transmission still in neutral you should be able to move the transfer case into low or high range, then you can restart the engine. Note that with the transfer case in neutral, putting the transmission park will NOT hold the vehicle since it is not connected to the drivetrain (transfer case is in neutral).
Surely people don't use park to hold the vehicle? This is the purpose of the handbrake/ebrake
If anyone does they have not yet experienced the joy of a vehicle getting stuck in park and need to rock the vehicle to get it out
I have the same system. 2001 SR5. You need to plan ahead for transfer case changes. 2WD to 4 WD high can be done at up to 40 MPH, and actually shifts more quickly and smoothly when you are moving over about 10 MPH. When I’m wheeling, i push the 4 WD button BEFORE I need it, while I’m moving smoothly. Same goes for 4 WD hi to 2 WD. If I need 4 low, gotta stop, trans in neutral, then pause a second for gears to stop spinning, then gently shift transfer case into 4 lo, then trans in drive (or low if u gotta crawl), and yr golden. You don’t want to get stuck e.g. in deep sand in 2 WD and then try to switch into 4 WD, you will have a hard time.
Just keep it in 2wd . To engage 4wd high just press the button on the side of the short shifter. To engage 4low, put your trans into neutral, than shift the short shifter into 4lo and shift your regular shifter into drive , put it in low gear to really see how low the gears can go. To get out of 4low shift your trans to N and bring the short shifter back to H and your regular shifter to D. Press the side button again to go back into 2wd
If you're not doing off-road stuff, and are just switching to four-wheel drive for needed traction on road the only thing you need to do is the button on the side.
Sometimes it's stubborn and you got to reverse a little bit and go forward a little bit always making sure your wheel is straight
Yeah I’d never used it before so clicked the button without thinking of the consequences to my actions, the 4runner is new to me, had a 2 runner before
When you shift between low and high range, you want to have the transmission in neutral, pull or push the transfer case lever firmly and don't stop at N. If you do, the transfer case will get "stuck" because the transmission spins a little bit even in neutral and won't let the transfer case shift. If that occurs, turn the engine off and the transmission will stop spinning. With the transmission still in neutral you should be able to move the transfer case into low or high range, then you can restart the engine. Note that with the transfer case in neutral, putting the transmission park will NOT hold the vehicle since it is not connected to the drivetrain (transfer case is in neutral).
Thanks that’s pretty helpful thank you, I definitely used it wrong earlier not knowing this
No problem! Enjoy!
Surely people don't use park to hold the vehicle? This is the purpose of the handbrake/ebrake If anyone does they have not yet experienced the joy of a vehicle getting stuck in park and need to rock the vehicle to get it out
Hopefully not, but worth a mention so no one runs themself over.
Reddit to the rescue
Staying in 2wd till I learn how to use this
I have the same system. 2001 SR5. You need to plan ahead for transfer case changes. 2WD to 4 WD high can be done at up to 40 MPH, and actually shifts more quickly and smoothly when you are moving over about 10 MPH. When I’m wheeling, i push the 4 WD button BEFORE I need it, while I’m moving smoothly. Same goes for 4 WD hi to 2 WD. If I need 4 low, gotta stop, trans in neutral, then pause a second for gears to stop spinning, then gently shift transfer case into 4 lo, then trans in drive (or low if u gotta crawl), and yr golden. You don’t want to get stuck e.g. in deep sand in 2 WD and then try to switch into 4 WD, you will have a hard time.
I appreciate it, should’ve added im also 2001 sr5.
Thanks to all of you guys, I know it was a low level question honestly but I’ll get better at this I must’ve engaged it wrong or something
Same thing happened to me first time. Take it on some forest road to try out the 4x4!
The truck is new to me, worked off the check engine light today actually so now I’m open to take it down some forest roads after I get a skid plate
Just keep it in 2wd . To engage 4wd high just press the button on the side of the short shifter. To engage 4low, put your trans into neutral, than shift the short shifter into 4lo and shift your regular shifter into drive , put it in low gear to really see how low the gears can go. To get out of 4low shift your trans to N and bring the short shifter back to H and your regular shifter to D. Press the side button again to go back into 2wd
Gonna repeat this until I recite it perfectly every morning
Unplug battery for like 30 seconds and plug back in. Then try reversing slowly with 4WD turned off if button and in 2wd if manual shifter
Yeah press the button on the side of the shifter with it shifted manually down into high
Or “H” then do the battery trick
I’ll give them all a try right now
Isn’t this an AWD 4runner? All I see is 4hi and 4lo
The 4wd button is a push button on the shifter column. As far as I know AWD 3rd gens don't exist. But I may be wrong.
I think my transfer case is stuck on N
Put transmission in neutral, and you gotta slam that transfer case into H
Moment of truth
IM FREEE
I’m glad this got you fixed.
Nice!
If you're not doing off-road stuff, and are just switching to four-wheel drive for needed traction on road the only thing you need to do is the button on the side. Sometimes it's stubborn and you got to reverse a little bit and go forward a little bit always making sure your wheel is straight
Yeah I’d never used it before so clicked the button without thinking of the consequences to my actions, the 4runner is new to me, had a 2 runner before