Hey I loved this video dude, quite easy to understand and short. I've got a 2001 Toyota 4Runner Limited Edition with just 130k miles on it, I'm its second owner ever. Greetings from Costa Rica. 🇨🇷 🤙🏻
I appreciate it!! Honestly when i first got my 3rd gen I had no idea how use all the functions and use them correctly. One you get to know your car these things can go anywhere
Also if you want to turn it all off when the center diff is locked, you can push the button on the shifter and it’ll turn off the 4 wheel drive and center diff lock at once.
I really appreciate this. Thanks man! I found a few other vids that were wrong...then read the manual. This is the right way. I think the instructions are up in the visor in case one forgets.... (at least on limited 02') Cheers!
Little tip when shifting into and out of 4Low, don't stop at neutral just shift right up into it or out. If you do stop in neutral you'll have that grinding when you move to 4Low or H
Just bought an 02 SR5 4x4 with the Ediff, had no idea I could swap on the fly let alone at up to 60mph. Probably still won’t to be safe, it’s a city crawler, only hits dirt on the weekends. Thanks!!!
Well you don’t want to lock the diff going up to 60mph but the button on the shift that engages the rear transfer case can be done up to that speed. The lock-in diff is really only for off roading and slower speeds.
@Rick Yeah it can be pretty confusing at first. Honestly I had no idea how to do it when I got mine. Trying to build this channel and get more great content up soon so feel free to subscribe it this was helpful!!
Great video, I am hoping to get one of these in KC, MO in a week or so, it’s got a lot of miles but seems very well taken care of. I’ve only driven 3.4 engines, T100 (‘96 bought it totaled, fixed it, drove it 4.5 years and sold it at 306,000 after it had been totaled by me), and two 2wd 4runners (‘01 at 262,000miles distracted driver in a Chevy Cruze totaled it…, and my current ‘02 with 280,000) Anything I should be looking out for? Red flags?
Per the manual for my 2002 SR5 it says you can engage from High 2WD to High 4WD at any speed under 62mph and can switch back from High 4WD to High 2WD at any speed. If you want to be in High 4WD with the DIFF locked it doesn’t state any specific speed however I usually only do this when stopped or at a very low speed.
Does it have the go in 4 hi first before putting into 4low. Or can you go straight from 2wd come to stop shift into neutral and engage 4low from there? Thank you for content your what to look for when buying video was awesome dude!
No at a problem at all. Thank you for the support on the channel. Well considering that 2wd is RWD in the snow at least in Colorado the backend can slide out. It makes a world of difference.
Do you know if there is a max speed to go with the Diff lock on? The 4WD w/o Diff is under 62mph...just wondering with the Diff lock on if the max speed lower?
So you can engage 4wd without the diff locked under 62mph but i couldn’t find anything about diff. I have never used it except for in really deep snow and rock climbing and not sure I would use it going any faster than like 10mph personally.
Don't know if this will help but in my 88 cherokee I put it in neutral,. engage 4wd then back up a few feet. Then when I put it in drive it engages. Mine will also engage while driving but I don't like to do that.
It does not hurt it. It's meant to shift on the fly. The only vehicles that you need to back up to disengage the front hubs, are 80s trucks with auto hubs.
@@joyride9390 oh nice I'm gonna turn this into a over-lander did timing belt water pump and all the pulleys today. tomorrow trans filter change, fluid change, trans cooler install and some por 15 prep
So the neutral on the 4x4 shifter disengages the drive train allows the vehicle to roll. This can be useful if you are flat towing the vehicle behind an RV.
@@joyride9390i see. So Neutral on both 4x4 Shifter + Regular Shifter would allow for towing or getting pulled out of a sticky situation. Initially I thought I'd have to keep 4x4 in Neutral in order to ensure 2-wheel drive. I quickly learned that's not the case.
@@AntonioClaudioMichael Well, now I'm confused. When I throw the 4x4 shifter into Neutral, it doesn't go anywhere. Are you sure it's not as @Joyride described? I leave mine in the down position but none of the indicators say I'm in 4x4 mode because I haven't pressed the buttons to engage. Notice at 0:44 his 4x4 shifter is in the down position but he remains in 2 wheel drive because he hasn't pressed the necessary buttons to do so.
@@chrisariasnow like I said you should always leave your 4x4 shifter in neutral it keeps the transfer case disengaged from the front drive shaft and the front diff I been driving these rigs for for 25 years for the 3rd gens if the electronics fail or go haywire it being in neutral is always best you don't need the electronic switch to be on for the shifter to engage the drive shaft or front diff
HELP !!!! Can someone point me in the right direction in resolving my 98 4Runner issue? When I engage 4H it goes in silent but when it goes back to 2H (disengage) the is a loud bang (like a sled hammer bang). The is a delay for about 30 second to disengage as I drive down the road. My other 4Runner does a loud click only. I don't know the history on the car but I have changed all the oil already.
Me too, I have been impossible to drive or stuck on roads with a loud bang when it goes back to 2H(disengage?). I fix it with engaging 2H on the other gear neutral while checking 4WD display off on dashboard as in 4rummer.
@@jangyun6868 - I fixed the issue with cleaning of the switch. Its was dead silence shifting between 2h and 4h. But the other day the car ran a little oil in traffic and now there is no activity after I press 4H now. Back to square one.
In just 4 wd with the diff unlock you get good traction and grip on paved surfaces but a diff lock should only be engaged on rough slippery surface where the rear and front axel share equal power regardless of any of the wheel spinning. Means a single wheel spinning freely can cause a 4wd system to fail without a diff lock.
Hi there I have a 2000 4Runner limited has center diff lock just like your on the cluster gauge, but I don’t have a center diff lock button on the side?
Typically only the 4wd especially for driving at higher speeds. Typically the diff lock is reserved for off roading in more extreme conditions or when you are stuck in snow or in really deep snow. With the right tires these machines are incredible capable.
That neutral is for the drive train. I have only used it once and that was when I have my vehicle towed and wanted to make sure they didn’t mess up my transfer case or differential by towing it the wrong way.
So 4low is to really only to be used when you need a lot more torque such as rock crawling and when you are going very slow. H is when you are driving at normal speeds even when in snow. I’m CO when it snows I always put it in “4WD and leave it in H without the DIFF locked.
@@joyride9390 - Hey Thanks for this vid. I just got a 02' limited. So if im hearing you correctly, me going from normal 2WD to what people are referring to as pseudo "AWD" is simply pushing the "4WD" button and getting the "4 green wheels"? Also in colorado, so just wanting to know best mode to drive when snow or icy like this weekend. Thanks.
I am running 265/75/16. Just a tad bigger then stock but since they come with more tread than stock tires they end up fitting really well. No rubbing at all and most important to be is not having to cut the inner wheel wells.
Its a center doff locker because the transfer case has a differential instead of a chain drive. This allows you to drive in 4wd and still make full lock turns without binding up the drivetrain. If you lock the center diff then its equivalent to a chain drive because you cant split the power between all 4 wheels. With the center diff lock off, you can split between all 4 wheels and not bind.
@@kirwankars8597 yes and no, its still a 2 speed transfer case with high and low range, its just gear driven instead of chain driven. I think gear driven is better than chain driven transfer case. But with the center diff you can out it in 4wd but not lock the diff and drive like normal. My 03 discovery is full time 4wd with a center diff lock. Love it because if I have to make a tight turn on the trail i can habe the center diff unlocked and make a full lock turn. I like this over a chain drive where your drivetrain will bind whem you try to turn in 4wd.
@@Jackmerius_Tacktheretrix Yes. That's another way to put it. Full time 4WD is the name for vehicles that have that switchable system. But an AWD vehicle e.g.(Subaru Audi) that doesn't have any switchable options is called AWD. But same principle.
So when they are flashing it means they arent locked yet. So when you hit the button on the 4wd and it’s flashing it needs to be locked. Can usually be accomplished by putting into neutral or drive and creeping forward. One the lights are solid the 4wd or locking diff is locked
@@joyride9390 Can you rephrase this? It isn't clear to me. If I want to put diff lock ON, do I have to be in 4wd mode already as a requirement? Can I do this traveling 70 mph?
Yes you have to be in 4wd to lock the differential. The diff lock is really only the be used at low speeds and terrain such as dirt roads or gravel. Traveling on pavement is actually not good when the diff is locked.
So usually if it’s having a little trouble engaging I’ll try a few things. If in I’m drive I’ll put the transmission in N. If this doesn’t work I’ll reengage in drive and drive forward. Sometime it takes the transmission shifting gears to engage. It doesn’t always engage at a standstill as our system are on the fly. Try this and see if it works.
The best way I’ve found to shift my’02 into 4wd is to to coast along at about 10 mph with my foot off the gas and it seems to kick into gear pretty quick, maybe try that hope it works!
Thank you. I watched 5 videos before this and this is the only one that made the owner's manual instructions make sense.
This was such a good breakdown thankyou so much picking up a 2001 4wd sr5 in a few weeks with over 320k on it but she runs like a top im so pumped!!!!
Hey I loved this video dude, quite easy to understand and short. I've got a 2001 Toyota 4Runner Limited Edition with just 130k miles on it, I'm its second owner ever. Greetings from Costa Rica. 🇨🇷 🤙🏻
Great presentation! Owners manual is confusing. Thanks for the video, I feel more comfortable pushing buttons now!
I appreciate it!! Honestly when i first got my 3rd gen I had no idea how use all the functions and use them correctly. One you get to know your car these things can go anywhere
Also if you want to turn it all off when the center diff is locked, you can push the button on the shifter and it’ll turn off the 4 wheel drive and center diff lock at once.
Thank you so much for the review! I'm crossing my fingers to get over Donner Pass tomorrow. This was VERY helpful!!
I really appreciate this. Thanks man! I found a few other vids that were wrong...then read the manual. This is the right way. I think the instructions are up in the visor in case one forgets.... (at least on limited 02') Cheers!
Not a problem at all! Unfortunately it can be super confusing until you figure out how to use it correctly.
I have an 01 and in OH. winter time is no issue with 4X4... Thanks for the video 👍🏻
Thank you for this! Me and my ‘02 4Runner appreciate it!!
Little tip when shifting into and out of 4Low, don't stop at neutral just shift right up into it or out. If you do stop in neutral you'll have that grinding when you move to 4Low or H
I think u have to be. I tried it without putting it into neutral and it was grinding.
Thanks man this video really helped me out of a jam. Thanks again!!
Not a problem. Easy to use once you get the hang of it.
THANKS for the info. just got a 2001 Four Runner.. This video helped me very much.. Got a new Sub.
No worries. Thanks for the support!
Just bought an 02 SR5 4x4 with the Ediff, had no idea I could swap on the fly let alone at up to 60mph. Probably still won’t to be safe, it’s a city crawler, only hits dirt on the weekends. Thanks!!!
Well you don’t want to lock the diff going up to 60mph but the button on the shift that engages the rear transfer case can be done up to that speed. The lock-in diff is really only for off roading and slower speeds.
Thanks for the video. I really needed this...
@Rick Yeah it can be pretty confusing at first. Honestly I had no idea how to do it when I got mine. Trying to build this channel and get more great content up soon so feel free to subscribe it this was helpful!!
Great video, I am hoping to get one of these in KC, MO in a week or so, it’s got a lot of miles but seems very well taken care of. I’ve only driven 3.4 engines, T100 (‘96 bought it totaled, fixed it, drove it 4.5 years and sold it at 306,000 after it had been totaled by me), and two 2wd 4runners (‘01 at 262,000miles distracted driver in a Chevy Cruze totaled it…, and my current ‘02 with 280,000)
Anything I should be looking out for? Red flags?
Hey mate.. thank you very much for the information..
My question is do I have always to press that 4wd bottom before I put it into H or L??
Thanks bro. You saved my manhood!
Great video very well explained, i have A 96 but non of the 4x4 lights turn on in the dash
Great video! thank you
Damn fresh ride bro!
Thanks man much appreciated!!
I’d didn’t know you could engage 4wd while moving, thanks for that lol I would pull over to engage.
Yeah it’s on the fly which makes it nice.
Per the manual for my 2002 SR5 it says you can engage from High 2WD to High 4WD at any speed under 62mph and can switch back from High 4WD to High 2WD at any speed. If you want to be in High 4WD with the DIFF locked it doesn’t state any specific speed however I usually only do this when stopped or at a very low speed.
You can ship from tool drive to full-time four-wheel-drive but you have to be stopped and in neutral to shift to part time four-wheel-drive
Just press the 4wd button and nothing else?
I'd slow down to about 5mph
Beautiful ride
Does it have the go in 4 hi first before putting into 4low. Or can you go straight from 2wd come to stop shift into neutral and engage 4low from there? Thank you for content your what to look for when buying video was awesome dude!
Great Video
Thank you! I really appreciate the support
Life saver
Thank you
No at a problem at all. Thank you for the support on the channel. Well considering that 2wd is RWD in the snow at least in Colorado the backend can slide out. It makes a world of difference.
Can you make a tutorial to turn vsc off?
Is the vsc traction control?
So to be driving regular in 2wd that green 4WD light on the dash needs to off right ? Thanks for this video
Yes
how many inches. it's the led bar
Do you know if there is a max speed to go with the Diff lock on? The 4WD w/o Diff is under 62mph...just wondering with the Diff lock on if the max speed lower?
So you can engage 4wd without the diff locked under 62mph but i couldn’t find anything about diff. I have never used it except for in really deep snow and rock climbing and not sure I would use it going any faster than like 10mph personally.
Don't know if this will help but in my 88 cherokee I put it in neutral,. engage 4wd then back up a few feet. Then when I put it in drive it engages. Mine will also engage while driving but I don't like to do that.
Never tried that method before as the on the fly works pretty flawlessly. Ill keep that in mind for the future.
It does not hurt it. It's meant to shift on the fly. The only vehicles that you need to back up to disengage the front hubs, are 80s trucks with auto hubs.
I have a 2001 4runner limited with 120k and didnt know that it had a locking center diff
Yeah and the performance off-road improved a lot when you turn it on
@@joyride9390 yup just got one for cheap and from what people tell me low miles lol
We are expecting up to 24 inches of snow this weekend and I can’t wait to take the 3rd Gen out.
@@joyride9390 oh nice I'm gonna turn this into a over-lander did timing belt water pump and all the pulleys today. tomorrow trans filter change, fluid change, trans cooler install and some por 15 prep
Yup. The Limited has a simpler system. Full time 4wd (AWD) then you hit the center diff lock button, for fully locked part time 4wd.
I have a 2000 model the setup is a lil different but is the process the same thanks.
Yes. Do you have a Limited? They have full time 4wd. No 2H option.
@@kirwankars8597 yes it is a limited I’ve been doing it wrong for 10 years thanks
Thanks for sharing. Quick question, what is "Neutral" on the 4x4 shifter for?
So the neutral on the 4x4 shifter disengages the drive train allows the vehicle to roll. This can be useful if you are flat towing the vehicle behind an RV.
@@joyride9390i see. So Neutral on both 4x4 Shifter + Regular Shifter would allow for towing or getting pulled out of a sticky situation.
Initially I thought I'd have to keep 4x4 in Neutral in order to ensure 2-wheel drive. I quickly learned that's not the case.
4x4 shifter should always be in neutral if the 4wd isn't being used it allows the front drive shaft to be disengaged from the front differential
@@AntonioClaudioMichael Well, now I'm confused. When I throw the 4x4 shifter into Neutral, it doesn't go anywhere. Are you sure it's not as @Joyride described? I leave mine in the down position but none of the indicators say I'm in 4x4 mode because I haven't pressed the buttons to engage. Notice at 0:44 his 4x4 shifter is in the down position but he remains in 2 wheel drive because he hasn't pressed the necessary buttons to do so.
@@chrisariasnow like I said you should always leave your 4x4 shifter in neutral it keeps the transfer case disengaged from the front drive shaft and the front diff I been driving these rigs for for 25 years for the 3rd gens if the electronics fail or go haywire it being in neutral is always best you don't need the electronic switch to be on for the shifter to engage the drive shaft or front diff
HELP !!!! Can someone point me in the right direction in resolving my 98 4Runner issue? When I engage 4H it goes in silent but when it goes back to 2H (disengage) the is a loud bang (like a sled hammer bang). The is a delay for about 30 second to disengage as I drive down the road. My other 4Runner does a loud click only. I don't know the history on the car but I have changed all the oil already.
Me too, I have been impossible to drive or stuck on roads with a loud bang when it goes back to 2H(disengage?). I fix it with engaging 2H on the other gear neutral while checking 4WD display off on dashboard as in 4rummer.
@@jangyun6868 - I fixed the issue with cleaning of the switch. Its was dead silence shifting between 2h and 4h. But the other day the car ran a little oil in traffic and now there is no activity after I press 4H now. Back to square one.
@@Asian_Connection Helpful....Thanks
@@jangyun6868 - Start with the switch above the ADD, also make sure your solenoid under the driveside hood is working and no holes leak.
@@Asian_Connection Yes sir. I will do it ASAP.
What does the center lock do, as opposed to just 4wd?
In just 4 wd with the diff unlock you get good traction and grip on paved surfaces but a diff lock should only be engaged on rough slippery surface where the rear and front axel share equal power regardless of any of the wheel spinning. Means a single wheel spinning freely can cause a 4wd system to fail without a diff lock.
Hi there I have a 2000 4Runner limited has center diff lock just like your on the cluster gauge, but I don’t have a center diff lock button on the side?
Is there a potential that yours did not come optioned with the center diff lock from the factory?
@@joyride9390 could be I don’t understand why my has the picture of it on the cluster but no button to engage it🤷♂️
Do you have the window sticker at all that came with the vehicle?
@@joyride9390 no I don’t
Doing some research it appears that some 00 didn’t come with this feature. Hard to believe anyone would have ever removed it.
Great!
Thank you! More great content to come! Feel free to subscribe!
@@joyride9390 this gonna help me crawl over the snow np in NYC
I wish we had any snow in CO right now. As a matter of fact today is like 65 and sunny today.
@@joyride9390 HAHAHA it's crazy times for sure!
So I'm going to be picking one of these up, so I live in Maine where we get SNOW do you lock the dif when driving in snow? Or just 4 wheel
Typically only the 4wd especially for driving at higher speeds. Typically the diff lock is reserved for off roading in more extreme conditions or when you are stuck in snow or in really deep snow. With the right tires these machines are incredible capable.
I only leave it on normal H2/H4 for snow.
What’s the neutral for on the 4wd gear selector
That neutral is for the drive train. I have only used it once and that was when I have my vehicle towed and wanted to make sure they didn’t mess up my transfer case or differential by towing it the wrong way.
For flat towing behind an RV. You can roll all four wheels on the ground, with the transmission in park.
And your 4x4 selector is what tells the transfer case to engage and the button locks your front differential into posi
For snow...Should I drive with “L4” or “H”??
(I’m new to this😬)
So 4low is to really only to be used when you need a lot more torque such as rock crawling and when you are going very slow. H is when you are driving at normal speeds even when in snow. I’m CO when it snows I always put it in “4WD and leave it in H without the DIFF locked.
@@joyride9390 thank you!
No worries!
What’s the difference between 4wd with and without center diff lock?
@@joyride9390 - Hey Thanks for this vid. I just got a 02' limited. So if im hearing you correctly, me going from normal 2WD to what people are referring to as pseudo "AWD" is simply pushing the "4WD" button and getting the "4 green wheels"? Also in colorado, so just wanting to know best mode to drive when snow or icy like this weekend. Thanks.
Wait what????? I swear this guy i bought my 4runner from said do not turn on your rear dif lock on unless u in 4low anyone know what he meant?
what size tires you running?
I am running 265/75/16. Just a tad bigger then stock but since they come with more tread than stock tires they end up fitting really well. No rubbing at all and most important to be is not having to cut the inner wheel wells.
The button on the left engaged your rear locker in the third member to make it full posi traction by the way
Not on this vehicle. It's got the center (transfercase) diff lock button. Not the RR DIFF LOCK button.
Its a center doff locker because the transfer case has a differential instead of a chain drive. This allows you to drive in 4wd and still make full lock turns without binding up the drivetrain. If you lock the center diff then its equivalent to a chain drive because you cant split the power between all 4 wheels. With the center diff lock off, you can split between all 4 wheels and not bind.
@@Jackmerius_Tacktheretrix Yup. Technically AWD....Then you can lock it to give you 4WD.
@@kirwankars8597 yes and no, its still a 2 speed transfer case with high and low range, its just gear driven instead of chain driven. I think gear driven is better than chain driven transfer case. But with the center diff you can out it in 4wd but not lock the diff and drive like normal. My 03 discovery is full time 4wd with a center diff lock. Love it because if I have to make a tight turn on the trail i can habe the center diff unlocked and make a full lock turn. I like this over a chain drive where your drivetrain will bind whem you try to turn in 4wd.
@@Jackmerius_Tacktheretrix Yes. That's another way to put it. Full time 4WD is the name for vehicles that have that switchable system. But an AWD vehicle e.g.(Subaru Audi) that doesn't have any switchable options is called AWD. But same principle.
TYY
Not sure what TYY means but I hope its good and thank you!
Joyride yeah it’s good it’s means thank you
What does it mean when I turn the diff like on & it flashes?
So when they are flashing it means they arent locked yet. So when you hit the button on the 4wd and it’s flashing it needs to be locked. Can usually be accomplished by putting into neutral or drive and creeping forward. One the lights are solid the 4wd or locking diff is locked
@@joyride9390 Can you rephrase this? It isn't clear to me. If I want to put diff lock ON, do I have to be in 4wd mode already as a requirement? Can I do this traveling 70 mph?
Yes you have to be in 4wd to lock the differential. The diff lock is really only the be used at low speeds and terrain such as dirt roads or gravel. Traveling on pavement is actually not good when the diff is locked.
Does the parking brake need to be on?
No
I have a 97 and my dash doesn't have that. It's also a 4x4
How is the toyota truck running ?
@ednan9 Running absolutely amazing. 234K miles and roughly 50 miles a day to and from work.
@@joyride9390 wow - i got 236k now, bought it brand new in 2002. It runs like new 🤞
@@ednan9 have you changed the oil in the transmission. Just wondering on the maintenance on the tranny?
@@israelrodriguez6986 you mean transmission flush
@@ednan9 Just wondering what kind of maintenance has been done to the transmission
My center diff lock is flashing and won’t engage. 4wd is fine but center lock won’t engage..any ideas?
So usually if it’s having a little trouble engaging I’ll try a few things. If in I’m drive I’ll put the transmission in N. If this doesn’t work I’ll reengage in drive and drive forward. Sometime it takes the transmission shifting gears to engage. It doesn’t always engage at a standstill as our system are on the fly. Try this and see if it works.
Transfer case lock not center diff lock
My light keeps flashing and it's not going off
The best way I’ve found to shift my’02 into 4wd is to to coast along at about 10 mph with my foot off the gas and it seems to kick into gear pretty quick, maybe try that hope it works!
So to be driving regular in 2wd that green 4WD light on the dash needs to off right ? Thanks for this video
That is correct. If the green light is not illuminate you will most likely be driving in 2 HI which is RWD until you engage “4wd” on the selector.
@@joyride9390 thank you