New Owner 4hi question

I am a new owner of a '03 taco 4x4 (previously a '92 p-up 2wd owner). It is the V6, 5spd, lever/button 4x4 option, SR5 PreRunner. I don't know if anyone else has asked this, so I am sorry if this is a repeat (read a lot of posts, didn't see the answer to my question).

When I put it in 4hi during my test it seemed like the locker was automatically engaged. I was chirping my tires around modest turns (on paved roads) and I made a u-turn which was ridiculously difficult and had the tires chirping like a song bird in springtime. Being new to the true 4x4 world (previous "4x4s" were really AWD subarus), I don't really know exactly what to expect. Can anyone lend me any insight? And no, I didn't think to look at the locker button to see if the light was flashing, but I definitely didn't see the ABS light lit up on the dash. If this seems pretty unusual to you experts out there I will put it in 4hi later today and see if the locker light is flashing or solid and verify the ABS light one more time and then let you know what I see.

Thanks for any advice.

 

Question how do you have Prerunner and 4x4 I thought Prerunners were 2wd

 

No owners manuel?

4WD engages with the transfer case and ADD and is 'locked' to the rear driveshaft... there is no middle differential to allow slippage between the front and back (required for dry pavement use) as there is in AWD autos.

4WD High Range is for conditions to get you places that 2WD has difficulty with or cannot. Use it off pavement or in slippery conditons on pavement, only!

4WD Low range is lower gearing for SLOW crawling up & down steep grades or through deep mud or snow.

Welcome... and start reading!

 

DO NOT use 4wd on dry pavement.

 

that was his old truck...read 1992 2wd

 

I did read i guess I read it wrong but the way he has it he's saying he has a Prerunner 4x4

 

with our trucks being as capable as they are, i RARELY use 4Hi in these new england winters. I will only use it if i am being adventurous and ummmm making my own roads in the snow

 

you probably have the grey wire mod done to your vehicle...read the sticky at the top of the page...

 

ah ya i see what you're saying now

 

x2...Prerunners are 2wd...

 

theres your problem...your using 4wd on a dry paved road....not the smartest. only use it off road or in snow...aka low traction situations

and prerunners are 2wd. you cant have a toyota prerunner 4x4, no such thing

 

It doesn't make sense...The OP states he has a "03 PreRunner SR5 4x4"

 

Thanks for all of the info. As to the question about how do I have a PreRunner 4x4, I made a mistake. I mixed up the TRD package and PreRunner because I was talked to someone in my office who has the PreRunner as we were discussing what might be the cause, while I was typing the question.

so it sounds like the common suggestion is to leave the truck in 2wd when I go through chain checkpoints and wait until I get to areas where there is actual buildup on the road, right?

 

To the OP...Read post #9 "GREY WIRE MOD"

 

I had read about the grey wire mod before I posted the question. short of opening up the control box and visually verifying if this has been done, is there another way for me to see if this has been done? When it comes to wiring i pretty much suck at this part.

 

oh ya, and this place is awesome. I can't believe how fast all of you guys jumped in to help get me up to speed on this.

 

And to sound even dumber today, what is "the sticky at the top of the page"? Am I not seeing something that is right in front of my face (happens often, so wouldn't be surprising).

 

When you look at the "1st gen" forum, the first 6 or so threads are "sticky"

The topics are considered important enough to keep them at the top of the first page at all times.

For instance the "gray wire mod" looks like:

"Sticky: Gray Wire Mod"

 

You can push the locker button and drive the truck a few feet. If it locks while you are in 2wd then the mod is done. You will here a click from the rear and the locker light will go solid. If the locker light just keeps blinking and never goes solid then the mod hasn't been done.

 

If you have snow rated tires, with 4WD you may not need to put chains on, just have them with you.

As for when you push the 4WD button... When you are NO longer on DRY pavement or when you start to have the rear tires spin because they are losing traction.

The grey wire mod is for the 4WD owners to get the rear locker to work in 2WD. Seriously, if you need the rear locker, then you should be in 4WD FIRST! A locked rear end makes a truck want to drive straight on a curvy road, and Toyota warns to never go more than 5 mph with the rear locked. The ReaR Locker is only to get you unstuck or to help you climb a hill when normal 2WD (on a 2WD truck) or 4WD LOW (on a 4WD truck) doesn't work first. It is a traction aid that is to be used as a last resort.

Yes, lot's here will tell you it is fine to drive 100 mph with the rear locked. The point is you don't need the rear locked if you have 4WD and it works... it is double the traction of 2WD... I used mine on my '05 and '01 many times on serious steep climbing off road trails where it did improve what Low Range could do. On the 2010, the new Active Traction Control has eliminated the need for the rear locker, but Toyota still offers it, and as a good thing because many have no clue how well A-TRAC works... yet!