did my wife cause any damage...?

I love that she wouldn't call you to ask how to properly use 4x4 or look in the manual.

I as well bought a 6 spd for this reason.

 

I have no idea why it didn't engage when she first tried, but she used the 4x4 just fine. I tell my wife to put her 4Runner in 4x4 when there is any snow on the roads, and that she can take it out of 4x4 (she must be doing less than 55 mph) when there isn't any snow on the plowed roads. You don't have to flip it out of 4x4 the second your tires hit dry pavement - you could spend all day in 4x4 on dry pavement and be just fine (though I wouldn't recommend it because it could cause premature wear on the 4x4 parts and your tires).

 

I keep my 4x4 on so I can go around curves better, like a AWD Lamborghini or something.

Truck should be good. My wife can't drive a stick so that's what I buy. I had a 2001 mustang GT 5 speed and we went out and long story short I was unable to drive home. She jerked the hell out of my car that night going home. It was funny.

 

Your fine. If it didnt break while she was driving it... nothings broken.
Sounds like the roads were wet/snow covered anyways. Its all good

 

I think the real issue is when people leave it in 4H all winter. Driving it over a bunch of rocks creates far more driveline stress than a couple snowy miles down the freeway or turning into parking lots.

 

You fine. She is not the only wife that did this.

 

I leave mine in 4wd all winter. We also have snow on the ground for 5+ months of the year.

I used to switch to 2wd when I thought it was ok... then I hit that one spot of black ice that I didn't see on the highway (while driving in a straight line under the speed limit) I got so lucky that I didn't die or kill anybody else... or wreak the truck.... that I just leave it in 4wd if there's snow and below freezing.

I know it's not good but I'd rather have to buy a new truck/fix my 4wd system than be dead. The RWD on these things will spin you like nobody's business.

That said, I have driven yotas with 240k+ on the clock that have been driven like that all winter for years and the 4wd still works fine. I doubt your truck was damaged

My poor future husband.... I know how to drive manual and operate a 4x4......

 

The other sex can be just as stupid too. I knew a guy who asked me for advice after this scenario. It was snowing really hard and snow covered roads and he has sliding in his Mitsu Montero, so he puts it in FOUR LOW and proceeds to drive 45-55 mph for about 50 miles. He "thought the 4wd was making a lot of noise". I bet it was. When he got in the truck the next day he couldn't get it out of 4wd. Wanted to know if I thought he did anything wrong. Needless to say, I gave him quite a lesson on 4wd and when to use what.
However, I know another guy who I have talked to many times who still tells me about how he uses 4lo to get out of mud when 2wd won't do it. I just can't get through his skull - arrrrrgh. Makes me crazy every time I hear it.

 

Just rolled off the couch laughing ^^