Locks up when turning in 4wd

Has anyone had their Tacoma lock up when making a turn while in 4wd? My 2009 access cab will stall out and when restarted and if left in neutral will not roll. To get the vehicle to move you have to move the steering wheel and try and rock the truck back or foreward. This is a stock setup,no changes to tires , wheels , or suspension. Any ideas?

 

Please tell us you're not on pavement in 4WD.

 

sure sounds like he is

 

Whoa!

 

Not on pavement. I've been with him when this has happened before and it's always been off road.

 

New member, 1st post question.

New member, 1st post saying he's been with him.


Everyone's bringing their friends to TW!
Welcome both.

 

Thanks guys. Dbear's my Dad and I recommended that he post his question here. I've been reading for a while, but haven't found much need to post. Most questions have been answered before somewhere on the forum, but I couldn't find anything about this problem.

 

Here's another obvious question: Do you turn the steering wheel all the way to the stop?

 

Welcome to TW. The only time I've heard of this happening was on pavement. If it's still in warranty I'd have the dealer take a look at it.

 

Ive already been to my local dealer with this problem. Even had a Toyota Rep say this is normal. Im not on pavement and the wheels arent turned to full lock. The problem has happened in dirt, and in snow.

 

I would try various dealers if you haven't already. Could you give us some situations that it has happened in? I know you weren't turned to lock but about how hard of a trun? Can you make it happen or is it one of those things that just happens when it wants? Oh and welcome to the forum.

 

It always happens when you make a sharp ( not locked ) turn. Coming out of my drive on snow and off road. Forward or reverse makes no difference. The problem is very consistent.

 

You can't make sharp turns while in 4WD regardless of what terrain you're on. The CV joints bind up and puts stress on the rest of the driveline when under torque. When I'm in 4WD, I'm very careful when turning because of this.

You can make a sharp turn - just don't apply any gas / torque while making that turn. Wait until your steering wheel is about straight before applying the gas again.

 

In 4hi or 4lo i can make as sharp of a turn as I want and it doesn't bind at all.

 

not possible. there is either something wrong with your 4wd or your on sand. Whats happening is when you turn the outside wheel always turns faster than the inside wheel. thats the purpose of a diff. Also when turning, typically the front wheels want to turn faster than the rear wheel. the tfer case does not allow the front wheels to turn as fast as the want to hense the binding. put the truck in 4lo and crank the wheels all the way one way and the truck will not want to move. as you straighten the wheels it will roll no problem

 

Glad you told me that. I've been turning my trail rig (Detroit Lockers front and rear) while in 4hi and 4lo to full lock at full throttle while negotiating sharp turns for years. I better stop before I damage something....

Ding, Ding we have a winner. As long as there's enuf slip to allow the wheels to turn a diff speeds you can drive the truck in 4wd the same as 2wd.

 

Theres the rub, when I straighten my wheels its still no go.

 

My truck does not like to turn sharply at all while in 4Hi either. In the winter, I need to go back 2wd to pull into tight parking spots or negotiating the trailer when up in the mountains or parking at the ski resort.

The other day at a friend's steep dirt driveway with a turn at the top, I had to disengage in order to make the angle. My truck is auto so it doesn't stall and it has done this from day one.