Strange driving experience on wet roads

Yesterday we had some freak flooding in the northwest. I decided to switch from 2WD to 4WD (H4) on my 15' DC SR5 due to the slippery roads and mud in the area. Everything was fine until I had to make a U-turn. Coming out of the turn it felt like the wheels locked up or jittered - I don't think they were spinning. It caused me to brake to a stop before I tried again to complete the turn. I know I don't have rear lock either since this is a non sport/trd model.

Any idea what may have happened? Closer to home I switched back to 2WD. Again, everything fine until right before I pulled into the driveway I made a tight turn and the same jittering happened again. Makes me worried when the real icy weather comes in. I have an AWD Acura and have driven it in all sorts of nasty weather but have never had an experience like this. I'm hoping it's just my inexperience with a 4WD Taco that's the reason.

 

OK, I got some learning to do! Thanks for the reply. So what should I have done in this case? Taken the turn slower? edit: or not as sharp?

 

Make u turns in 4wd not good. Straight line, good.

 

LOL. OK, this is helpful. Man I'm green when it comes to this.

 

Got it. Thanks a bunch!

 

I understand it jittering during the u-turn in 4wd, but you also said it did the same thing in 2wd when you got home?

 

That concerns me also. I've never had that happen. Could you tell us more, Burnside?

 

sounds like it was still in 4wd. maybe he switched to 2hi right before his driveway, and it didn't get a chance to disengage before turning.

 

That's what I'm thinking. I switched to 2hi about a quarter mile before the driveway going uphill. The next morning when leaving I made a uturn and it performed just fine.

 

If the driveline is bound up in 4 wd it may not go into 2 wd even though the selector has been moved to 2 h. Stopping and backing up in a straight line can help "unbind" the driveline. Then the 4 wd indicator light should turn off indicating you are actually in 2 wd.

 

Good to know. The 4WD indicator did go off, but it was still probably stuck in 4WD. I'll try your suggestion next time.

 

Would there be any damage done with it binding up like this 2 times. It's certainly not advised but is it something he just needs to forget about or should he have it checked being its such a new vehicle?

 

I thought we had a sticky somewhere on how to use 4WD, but I can't seem to find it.

If the truck still drives normally in 2wd and 4wd, it is fine. The weakest points will be the CVs/U-joints, they would likely go first. He just caused a bunch of extra stress on the driveline components. Just don't do it again. 4wd should not be used on wet pavement. The only time it should be used on pavement is in the snow. If you cannot see the pavement due to excessive mud, then I would no longer classify it as pavement.

 

Should I have a mechanic look at anything the next time I bring it it? I watched some videos last night on partial, full time, and all wheel drive. I get it now and will never do it again. Learned a good lesson.

 

Thanks for all your help. Great forum of users here.

 

In general, Wet and dry pavement- never use 4wd. If you need 4wd on wet/dry pavement for any reason, no sharp turning. Keep it straight as possible.

Any time you drive anything but a straight line in 4wd, ALL 4 tires will want to travel at 4 different speeds. The sharper the turn, the bigger the difference in speed of each tire. With a taco in 4wd, the wheels CAN'T spin at different speeds. To compensate, each tire "slips" on whatever surface they are sitting on. This may have been the jitter you felt.

If it's a grippy surface (pavement), pressure will build up in the driveline until one of two things happen: (1) the tires eventually slip on the surface and the tension is released or (2) something will break on the truck to release tension. The grippier the surface (and sharper the turn), the more the tires/driveline bind (pressure builds that that will eventually release in one of the above two ways). When you are on snow/mud/slush/ice the tires are able to "slip" independently as necessary, avoiding any binding.

 

You might like to check out this thread, OP.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/4x4-questions.397438/#post-11006549

I provided some additional links to 4wd info in post #13.

 

4wd is massively overkill for WATER.

 

Is that a tutorial for salesmen? I watched the entire thing and wish something like it was available at purchase. Very good info and I feel way more confident now. Really, I tend to not even drive if it snows unless absolutely needed. Still, let's say the roads are snowed and icy and I see a pretty sharp turn up ahead. What's the best course of action?

 

The snow and ice will allow slippage - slow down to a reasonable speed for conditions and continue on.