Proper way to engage 4wd

Ok so I know I'm going to catch some flak for this one but here it goes . I've always had Chevys, my first tacoma is a 03 double cab, auto trans. The 4wd shifter has the 4wd switch on the shifter, 4hi, low, and neutral. What is the proper way for engaging it in to both and do I run the Tcase in neutral during daily driving? Since I've had it it stays pulled down in 4 hi with the switch off. Is this correct?

 

4hi with 4x4 button not pushed is actually 2hi. That's what you want.

Here's a thread over on TTora where I asked the exact same question when I got my 01 Taco:

 

Tcase in neutral, the truck only moves if youre sitting on a hill

 

Cool totally answered my questions. Mine for some reason when I engage the 4wd hi via the button it locks in fine, light comes on and all. When I stop and press the button to take it out of 4wd the light stays on, I creep forward and in disengages pretty firmly makes kind of a bad noise lol. Anyone else have this issue

 

Yeah I get a pretty solid "thunk" when I shift out of 4wd most of the time. Just my truck telling me that it's back in mall crawler mode

 

Typical autohub disconnect (spooling in/out)

See, ask a legit question & the flame throwers stay in the closet....

 

To go into L4 (Low Range 4WD), with your automatic, stop moving, shift into N (Neutral) then move the 4WD lever into L4. When getting out of L4, again put tranny into N Neutral (not P Park).

In 2005, the lever changed to a dial... but still the same procedure: N Neutral, not P Park!

H4 is shift on the fly 0-60 mph (although if you can drive that fast, I doubt you need 4WD)... There can be a loud 'THUNK'/ 'CLUNK' and is normal... may not happen instantly, as noted above.

 

Thanks guys. This clears up a lot. And thanks for not sending me to the gallows for asking a newbie question lol.

 

To avoid the clunk while shifting into or out of 4WD on the fly (while moving), let off the accelerator, and then shift into/out of 4WD. That way you arent shocking the front part of your drive line. Those with the J-shifter will notice that its alot easier to shift as well when you let up off the gas.

I also want to take this time to remind people to grease your driveline every so often. Ideally every oil change and after your truck sees some mud/high water.

 

There should be instructions on the drivers side visor for proper operation.

 

Also, it's best to engage 4x4 with the wheels straight, having them turned puts everything in a bind and will cause problems if you do it all the time.