1st Gen 4wd issue? and spedo ticking..

Well this is my first winter with my tacoma. Its a 1997 Tacoma with v6 and 4wd. I have encountered a couple problems.

My first one is a ticking that i believe is coming from the spedometer or the rpm gauge or somewhere close to there. It only happens when it is pretty cold and hasnt been started in a day or so. It goes away after driving for a while but is very annoying. It gets louder as you go faster and when i get on the highway it gets pretty loud. What get this be?

My second question is about the 4wd. So the plow trucks came and boxed my truck in. So i thought i would test my truck out and see if i can get it out. i get a couple feet then when i try and turn i get stuck. So i shovel out the snow my tires and still cant get out. My buddy looked at my tires and he said only my front left and back right tires were spinning and my other 2 wheels were stationary. Is this normal or is there a problem with my 4wd?

Thanks for any help

 

I'm 99% sure there are no speedo cables on the Tacomas. So I'm not sure about the ticking.

With regards to the "front left and rear right" were turning is normal. 4WD doesn't mean all 4 wheels pull. Typically only two will pull. If you had an electric locker, you could lock the other rear wheel as well. Sorry, but that's how it works.

 

Pretty sure his truck does have a speedo cable

and you have open diffs so only 2 wheels spin in 4wd when you have little traction. That is why people get lockers, to lock the diffs causing true 4wd.

 

When did they go to no speedo cables? 1998?

 

I think so.

so the OP might just need to lube that cable up.

 

Here is some help in understanding why just two tires spin in 4WD (and the other answers above are correct): http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/129856-traction-better-have-not-need.html


Traction: Better to have it and not need it
... than to need it and not have it!!!

The more traction your truck has the better!

First off, quality tires for YOUR conditions are the first step to gaining traction.

Next, add weight in an empty truck bed to increase traction over the rear drive wheels.

Third, up the level of traction (if you have the equipment to do so).

LEVELS OF TRACTION:

1) 2WD, open differntial. If one rear tire has LESS traction, it will get the torque from the engine... result, spinning tire and then stuck.

2) 2WD, limited slip (differential clutch pack* or TRAC and AUTO LSD). If one rear tire looses traction, the clutches in a limited slip differential or the rear brake on the low traction tire works to transfer torque over to the traction tire. TRAC has engine output regulation, AUTO LSD does not. While the transfer of torque isn't equal between the two rear tires, it does improve the ability to get unstuck. (*'05-'08 Sport TRD)

3) 2WD, rear locking differential*. When activated, torque is divided equally between the two tires. Both rotate at the same rate. Should only be used to get unstuck or cross a difficult surface. Steering ability affected as there is no longer any differntial action (allowing one tire to rotate more than the other, as needed in turns). (*2WD Off Road TRD)

4) 4WD, open differentials. Front and rear drive. The tires with less traction get the torque if traction is less than equal to the opposite tire on each axle. If both tires on the right side of the truck get on ice while the two left tires are on firm ground... the truck stops moving as the two low traction tires spin. Having front drive added to rear drive generally enhances the trucks ability over any 2WD only system. The weight of the engine over drive wheels is one part of the advantage.

5) 4WD, limited slip rear differential. This is one step better as the torque will be shared between both back tires should one lose traction. The torque transfer is not equal but anything is better than one tire spinning per axle.

6) 4WD, locking rear differntial. Both back tires have equal torque along with at least one front tire getting torque. Big improvement in off road ability and a very popular feature used by may companies. All 4WD Off Road TRD Tacomas have this.

7) 4WD, limited slip front and rear differential (TRAC in H4). A big improvement in that torque is shared across both axles. All 2009+ 4WD Tacomas have this.

8) 4WD Active Traction Control (A-TRAC). The ultimate stock traction system equiped on 2009+ 4WD Off Road TRD Tacomas. Provides the traction of front and rear lockers while in low range (L4) by automatically matching a non-traction tire's rotation speed to the opposite traction tire, when there is a difference. Steering control is not affected making A-TRAC superior for trail driving. The rear locking differential is also on the same model trucks should one wish to use it or both together. The A-TRAC will only be active with the rear locked up to 3 mph. A-TRAC used alone has no speed restriction.

9) 4WD with aftermarket front locker (and faxctory stock or aftermarket rear locker). For the true hard-core off roaders as nothing to them can beat front and rear lockers. Both wheels on each axle are gear-locked together for smooth equal torque to each tire. Steering is very difficult, so use of lockers is limited.

 

^^^^^Great post.

I was going to mention tires.

Tires are super important. I personally love BFG A/T KOs. Of course, opinions on tires are like elbows. However, I consistently get 90K miles, fairly good traction, good wet weather traction, not too loud, great snow traction and fairly tough. The only con is that they balance for $hit.

Of course, I don't do any hardcore off-roading. 90% daily driving. 8% towing a large 20' bass boat. 1% for hunting (off-road, gravel, mud, etc), 1% snow driving. They are a great all-purpose tire. Anyway, just my .02.

 

Thanks for the posts guys, i kinda figured there wasnt anything wrong with my 4wd i just figured i would ask to make sure...

As far as the ticking do you think lubbing up the speedo cable will help make the ticking go away??

 

I have a 91 and the cable makes the same noise, i have lubed the back of the speed-o in the dash and the trans., with no luck i just turn up my radio until it gets warmed up, the four-wheel drive problem is a pain, happens to me too, we have no ATRAC or electronic dif locker