78,000 miles and the four wheel drive has never been engaged... Reason for concern?

I recently acquired an 03 Taco with 78k on it. I was recently informed by the previous owner (original owner) that he had never engaged the four wheel drive. My other vehicles with 4x4 have always been routinely operated in 4x4. I've never encountered this... Not coming up with anything on the net about such a situation. I would like to begin engaging the 4x4; should I be concerned about putting it into four wheel drive considering it has never been engaged? The truck was regularly maintained at Toyota dealership and is in great mechanical condition as far as I can tell...

 

Do it yourself. You'll be fine.

 

Put it in 4 HI and drive slowly in a straight line for a few hundred feet. If it doesn’t make any weird noises, it’s probably fine.

 

You’d probably want to change out the diff oil, but it’s probably fine. Do what’s been said above and you’ll be fine.

 

It will either work or it won`t.

Then figure out why it is not working.

It has not been used for 14 years or so

 

We should take bets on if it’ll work or not.

I’m betting it’ll work.

 

Owned a 2002, bought used with 30k miles and similar situation regarding unused 4wd mode. Your truck will only be fine if you use it offroad properly. It should spend the rest of its offroad life at pasture; the most scenic, isolated and remote places you can find for it.

Do check and possibly change the front and rear differential oil, grease the driveshafts and check the bushings and CV boots for dryness.

 

its a Toyota, it will work... if this were the Range Rover forum, well, what are the betting odds?

 

Thanks for the responses. I've been busy with an ant infestation in the bed of the pickup (fluid film makes a great insecticide!). Will be looking into diff oil health and a few other things tomorrow. Putting it on a trail this weekend to engage 4X4. For the bet makers: I'll provide a response with the outcome of my 4X4 test over the weekend.

 

Roll the dice!

 

OMG why do people buy 4x4s AND NEVER USE THE 4X4!!!????!!!!???

But I'm sure it'll be fine. At most you'll want to replace the front diff and T-case oil.


Actually, the more I think about it. a 1st gen with 78k miles and never driven off-road. You know what? You're f'd. Better off selling it. It's basically worthless. I'll buy it off you just for a donor truck... $500...

 

I have no idea if the 4x4 was ever used on my truck before I got it a couple years ago. Picked her up with ~24k miles on the odometer and it was an Arizona truck, so even if 4x4 was used I'm sure it was very minimal. I had no issues with it working at all, and I use it often. Same with the rear locker, has always worked like it should for me.

 

The transfer case, when in 2hi, is still rotating and lubricating everything. There is nothing that can go wrong. No, the gears can't "seize" or "get frozen into 2hi" without ever being used. When you shift to 4wd, it simply moves the gears into/out of position. All bearings will still be lubricated, nothing will be stuck in place. If you have the J shifter, shift it into 4hi. If it moves, you're good to go. If you cant shift it, you might have some issues, but I HIGHLY doubt it.

If you're worried about it, from a stop, put it in 4low and slowly go forward. Don't just jam it in 4hi at 45 mph.

 

lol, you shouldn't do that anyway... J shifter OR button...

That's true about the T-case moving all the time, however it's not bad idea to change all the fluids anyway, as you should with most used vehicles.

 

Obviously....but this is TW.

 

lol, so true.

Hey speaking of: what ball joint spacers should I run @Sperrunner?

 

mine was a pita to engage when I bought my truck. you could tell the guy never used 4lo or the locker. works fine now though.

 

Ball joint spacers is the old way. Gotta get those low rider control arms now.

 

Rollin in my 6-4 Impalla, I mean Tacoma...

 

My dad hurt his back and couldn't drive a manual anymore so I was lucky enough to acquire his 2004 RC 4X4. It hadn't been in 4 wheel for over a year and hadn't been driven in over a year. I had problems with it coming out of 4 wheel for a while but it eventually got "unstuck" and worked perfectly in about a week.

If you haven't already gotten it to work just take it out to a big dirt field and drive it around in 4 wheel. Turn it off and drive some. Then turn it on again. Just cycle it on and off in the dirt. Just don't drive it onto pavement with the 4wheel light still on.