Transfer cases

I have a 2000 V6 manual, next to the stick shift, there is the shorty one for the transfer case with the 2HI-4HI-N-4lo engraved on it, is it the J-shifter? what does J stands for? I do normally shift between 2 and 4 when the gears are in Neutral (stick shift) and between Hi and Lo when the vehicle is not rolling and in neutral is it ok ? the sticker with instructions kind is fade out, not all of it but enough to feel I might be doing something wrong...

 

All this is almost correct . There are two hub systems (manual locking hub and ADD) and two t-case systems. (J-shift and push-button 4WD) Regarding hub system first years were available with manual locking hubs or ADD, in later years manual locking hubs were discontinued in favor of ADD (convenience won). Both T-case systems are used till this day in all generations of Tacoma and 4Runner (I have 5th gen 4Runner with ADD and j-shift t-case). Push-button 4WD (or later: turn the drive selector dial) is used in "luxury" variants (again, convenience costs money).

All systems allow to switch from 2H to 4H and back if the speed is below 50mph (arbitrary set by Toyota), driving steady and straight, pavement or dirt as long as you don't spin wheels. For manual hub there is a prerequisite condition that you have both hubs locked before using 4x4. With ADD it does not matter if you have j-shift or push-button 4WD. System should engage 4H while driving with no issues (with push-button 4WD the 4WD ECU will take care of sequencing all actuators, with J-shift synchro will allow for smooth shifting). By the way ADD does not disconnect the front differential from the front propeller shaft. It is a simple "clutch" between right front axle and the front diff. So even at 2WD both axles and the front propeller are spinning, so switching to 4H does not create any stress (if there is any it will be taken care of by synchro in t-case).

As far as reliability goes, I doubt there is a difference. Of course push button system has more components including 4WD ECU, so more things to go wrong. On the other hand 4WD ECU is protecting the driveline from stupid things (like forcing 4WD while driving to fast or spinning wheels), so it is more foolproof, so maybe more reliable? . For sure push button is more convenient, but j-shift is more macho.

 

And you are almost correct.

With ADD in 2wd the front drive shaft and diff carrier do not turn. The driver side axle, diff spider gears, both side gears and inner diff stub on the pass side spin, driven by the driver side wheel. The side gears are spinning in opposite directions at axle speed inside the stationary diff carrier. The drive shaft/carrier/ring and pinion may "rotate" a bit now and then in sympathy to sloshing gear oil but they are not physically spun. The pass side axle and outer stub shaft are turned by the pass side wheel.
With ADD the 4wd "shift" is synchronized (manual or push button). The syncro spins up the front driveline and reverses the direction of the side gear/stub shaft on the pass side. Shifting into 4hi at higher speeds (over 50-60) puts a higher load (wear) on the syncro. When the 4wd shift is complete the t-case 4wd "condition" switch is made, allowing the ADD actuator to connect the pass side inner and outer stub shafts as all the components are now spinning at the right speeds and direction.

Also in the mix is electric or vacuum ADD actuators.
All Toyota electric actuators found on e-lockers, t-cases and ADD diffs suffer from reliability issues. The greatest being water intrusion/corrosion. "Sealing" up these actuators was once standard practice, long forgotten now.

The most reliable/strongest factory set up is the manual shift t-case with the vacuum ADD actuator.

 

I stand corrected

 

You guys are good engineers. I mean RysiumM and DirtyPool. I even learn more about Boston Whalers from Tacoma World than I do from the two national Boston Whaler sites. I am going to put my big boy pants on and refrain from negatively talking about the two administrators of Continouse Wave and Whaler Central.

 

I have a 2004, 4wd with ADD, J Shift.

 

I've gotta 03 with J shift and electric add