20084x4 Failure?

I hae a 2008 Tacoma 4x4. It does not have traction control or locking differential as far as i can tell no buttons. Here is what it does.
If I put both left side tires on ice the rear tire spins on the left and i
am stuck no other tire move. If I put both right side tires on ice same thing. If I put in 4x4 hi in either case it plls out. If I put all 4 tires on ice in deep snow only right rear tire spins other 3 nothing and Im stuck. Same in 4x4 lo. It seems to me all 4 tires should be spinning in snow when stuck ?? YEs??

I know its a different animal but I put my 4x4 expedition in snow to pull out tacoma 4x4 and all 4 tires spin to get it out. Any Answers. I cant believe toyota would have built this like this.

 

If I am not mistaken even in 4hi/lo the power will take the path of least resistance unless you have lockers.

 

So all the power went to the rear tire that was stuck least and free spun?
Leaving the other 3 still?
Wow.
If that is true Ford is looking good.

 

without any lockers there should one wheel in front and one wheel in rear spinning.
the first thing i'm wondering is- does the 4wd light on the dash go from blinking to solid??? solid is good. whats the dash doing?
next thought is that if its quiet outside you should be able to hear the electric motor engaging the 4wd when you flip the switch.
have you tried 4Lo?

 

ARE YOU in 2WD here?: "If I put both left side tires on ice the rear tire spins on the left and i am stuck no other tire move."

and here?: "If I put both right side tires on ice same thing."

Because you say this in your next line: "If I put in 4x4 hi in either case it plls out"

So, what's the problem, and why aren't you in 4WD before getting into the snow??

"It seems to me all 4 tires should be spinning in snow when stuck ?? YEs??"

No, depends on the weight in your truck. If your bed is empty, then the weight on the front axle from the engine and cab will require more torque to get that tire to spin (like having the brakes on). The rear axle, with no weight over it will be way easy to get the tire to spin! So, you gave it some gas and right away the rear tire spun, while the front struggled, but you didn't notice it.

Either that or you weren't in 4WD... which with open differentials will have one tire in the front and one in the rear spin given equal conditions.

Wait until you have the limited slip differentials! Big difference..

As for your Expedition, more equal weight and traction on all four tires... but, if they broke free, just one wouild spin in the front and rear... unless it has LSD or lockers.

 

In 4 wheel hi or low atleast 1 front and 1 rear will spin unless you have lockers . I don't think the ford had lockers but i may be wrong. You may have an issue.

 

No unless you have VSC or lockers.
If only one tire spins then you are not in 4x4 mode ...

 

Yes i tried 4 hi and low yes i do hear something when i do it. no only the 1 rear tie was spinning none up front. Maybe some thing is broke?

 

David k.
When I put left and righr sides on ice I was in 2wd when rear would spin. Then when I go into 4x4 it would pull out.
I assume this is because I do not have limited slip? I have no buttons traction control vsr etc.

When in 4 hi it is as I described only rear tire spun freely. I have a cap and a lot of tools on truck but would bet front is still heavier.

Not sure if expedition has lockers but i floored it and it sat there with all 4 tires spinning.

 

So from what I understand now if stuck then only 1 front and 1 rear tire will spin in 4x4 hi or 4x4lo?

I intentionaly drove truck into snow in 2 wd to get stuck just to see what 4x4 would do.

 

I also performed this experiment. While in 2wd I backed up into heavy snow on side of driveway until it was stuck. would not reverse or go forward. The 2 front tires were still on dry asphalt. I then put in 4x4 hi and it pulled itself out effortlessly.

 

I had a 2001 and a 2005 Off Road TRD, normal (open) differentials... I do mostly deep sand driving in 4WD... If stuck (or temporaily immobile, as I prefer to say), then one tire in front and one in rear/ opposite side will spin. That's the nature of differentails.

Both of my previous Tacomas had the locking rear differential... and I only needed that to climb steep grades (see my thread on Mission Santa Maria here in TW)... It only works for us 4WD Tacomas when in Low Range 4WD... and that is usually death trap in sand... digs you in deeper, rather than pulling you out. Letting more air out of the tires (down to 10 psi) and clearing the sand away from the tires and differentails is how I got unstuck with them... in High Range 4WD.

Now, with this 2010 and TRAC in H4 and A-TRAC in L4, everything is different! I no longer need to deflate my tires to cross deep sand (in High Range)... the limited slip is constant in finding tires that won't spin into the sand.. really true FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, even if it is one in front and one in back... they must be switching left to right seeking traction... whatever is happening, none of the four tires spins freely and digs in...

For fun, while on the beach, I turned off TRAC (holding the VSC switch for 3 seconds while stopped) so my truck was just like my previous Tacomas in 4WD high range with open differentials... Because my tires were fully inflated, it wasn't more than a few feet before I began to bog down and get stuck!

My first A-TRAC experience was about to happen... I put the truck into 4WD LOW RANGE, pressed the A-TRAC button... also locked the rear for good measure... and without clearing sand away from the tires or deflating them, I drove roght out of the stuck!

Yesterday I did a bunch of low range four wheeling that I would have need the rear differential four in the past... and did it all with just A-TRAC!

Oh well, I was jazzed...

Anyway, with your 2008 and low rage, you really should be able to do most anything. Also, the torque of low range will get you out of places that High 4 won't, so don't be affraid to use L4!

 

So was you gonna answer the question ? IS THE LIGHT ON THE DASH BLINKING OR SOLID?

 

no blinking no sounds. when in 4x4 hi it says 4x4 and when in low it says lo on display. I am sure it was in just expected more out of truck. Think I am going to sell and get one with limited slip traction control etc.If they ever become available at dealer again any time soon. they got 0 in stock.

I assume my system works fine after test i did above and from what you guys are telling me.

 

No sound with 4WD... the buzzer is for the VSC warning you that your truck is going in a direction you are not trying to go!

When trying to engage 4WD or the Rear Locker (if equiped) the indicators will blink IF the engagement was not successful, and will stay on if successful.

H4 is shift-on-the-fly and doesn't require anything special to engage or disengage. IF you are stopped, and try to engage or disengage, you may need to move a bit for it to 'pop-in or out.

L4 must be done while stopped, in Neutral (not Park) for automatics.

Rear Locker also must be done whiled stopped AND while already in L4 (for 4WD Tacomas)... it can be finicky, sometimes requiring repeted attempts. Again, blinking indicator means NOT engaged.

Yes, if you can... get an '09 or '10 OFF ROAD TRD 4WD... TRAC and A-TRAC will amaze you!

 

Im disappointed dealer did not tell me this thing was basic 4x4 no limited slip no traction control bsc no rear locker . i miss my jeep ruibicon.

 

vsc

 

And one other issue since day 1 about 50% of time i let out clutch in 1.st gear to get going it squeals , sounds like tire squeal but it is not tires.

 

Why is your dealer to blame? Did you not read the window sticker and educate yourself before buying.

Your "squealing" sounds like a bad throwout bearing.