Tacoma Off-Road 4x4

eventually

 

Thanks a lot man! Honestly, I just needed to hear that it won't be a PITA to do this monthly maintenance thing. Just kicking into 4H on a straight path sounds very easy to do. And the added benefit of having a 4x4 in the snow is awesome! I was just thinking... "How can I get a taco and no 4x4?".... It just didn't feel right.

 

Yup, wet pavement the tires will slip, so there's no issue with turning and having front or rear outrun/drag each other while linked together by the 4wd system.

 

For those doubting whether it's recommended to periodically engage 4wd, this video is by a Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician talking about the reliability and functionality of Toyota's 4WD systems. He recommends the monthly 10 mile trip in 4hi to maintain the actuator motor/travel and lube the front diff, etc. Although the vehicle behind him is a 4Runner, he goes on to explain how the part time 4wd system Toyota uses is functionally identical in the 4Runner, Tundra, Tacoma, Land Cruiser, etc. The whole series is pretty informative, and he obviously knows his stuff.

Will the 4wd stop working or engaging if you don't do your monthly 4hi trip? Tough to say, but I tend to follow OEM recommendations from the folks who designed the system.

 

Throw it in 4hi during a a rain storm. Works great

 

Just going to say that I don't think its good shop practice tearing that actuator apart without (apparently) doing any troubleshooting with an ohm meter before-hand to even see if its the ADD at all, and if it is the motor or feedback inside the ADD..., but I havent made a youtube video so I guess not really fair of me to talk trash.

A quick note, when you reinstall the ADD, the actuator can accidentally be positioned too far toward 2wd or 4wd, and will therefore be forced into a position that is electrically unacceptable to the 4wd ECU. In that case a good or properly repaired ADD will therefore NOT WORK. It doesnt matter where in the acceptable range of motion the ADD actuator is positioned when reinstalling, be it 2wd, 4wd, or somewhere in-between... But the mechanical travel is farther in both directions than the electrical acceptable range. (This appears to be another fail-safe, to shut down the system if it tries to operate past its intended limits)

 

If I've understood you correct, it can be driven normally on the street on 4H when raining? As in, it doesn't have to be just a straight path in the rain?

 

Thank you for sharing. I've seen that video and he is awesome! In the video, he just throws it in 4H while driving straight and he's a Toyota master technician.... But then the engineers at Toyota are saying not to do this on dry pavement.... and there is where the confusion starts.

 

Does it have to be straight paths only in a rain storm? Or can it be normal driving too? (Like turning right/left, etc...)

 

Just try out for yourself.
You will feel it when the truck is struggling while cornering. You prob won't feel it if doing mild curves, even on dry pavement.
You'll get a feel for the 4x4 thing.

If you hear metal on metal grinding, see differential leaks under the truck or if the bells and whistles start going off, you done f'd up.
This is NOT THE SAME as 4x4 engaging/disengaging, you will feel a 'bump' when the 4x4 locks in and that's normal if you're engaging 4hi while moving.

 

Here is Tacoma specific video on the 4wd system. Someone posted about his series on the Tacoma a little while back. Somewhere in there he talks about the periodic engagement of 4wd.

 

Very true for a large % of 4x4 owners. I am in that . 01%, but do have to use a rough gravel road often. I've been wheeling with others in rear wheel drive vehicles, and unless we go to the real tough stuff, they manage just fine.
But it's nice to know I have the capability should I need it, or just want to play a little harder. A client of mine years ago owned a 4x4 specialty shop. When I was looking back then for a 4x4, he put it in perspective when he asked how many weekends I would actually go going truly off road. Say that is 3 weekends a year. That is 6% MAX that 4x4 is needed, and even then it may only be for sections of those drives.

 

Yup. That is correct.

 

Even better!

 

That guy is very knowledgeable. I watched a few more of his tacoma videos. I thought his brakes video was good and kinda makes sense of the drum brakes. I think that every Karen Taco owner(you know them, the ones that whine daily about something) should watch all of this guys videos. It would be a literal therapy session for these mechanical hypochondriacs.

 

Rain is inclement weather, just like snow & ice. It would be to your advantage to drive in 4hi. Your manual states not to drive in 4Hi on dry roads.

Before people start telling you don't need it , and you should just slow down in the rain, you are correct. Same as a snow storm, it is recommended that you drive accordingly to the weather. Doesn't mean you have to suffer in 2wd, and slide around uncontrollably. Sure get better tires, sure put weight in the back if that what helps you.

I don't have weight in the back, but have awesome Duratracs, and once I'm in 4Hi, I have no issues driving in a foot of snow, while other vehicles are stuck.