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4x4 hesitation

Discussion in '3rd Gen Tundras (2022+)' started by TundraTun, Feb 1, 2023.

  1. Feb 1, 2023 at 7:36 PM
    #1
    TundraTun

    TundraTun [OP] New Member

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    Anyone intimately familiar with this 4x4 system?

    today it hesitated and shuttered, with the steering wheel turned at low speeds. The wheel was much heavier (which I would expect). But I’ve never felt a 4x4 buck like that, especially a new truck.
     
  2. Feb 1, 2023 at 7:44 PM
    #2
    Mr Badwrench

    Mr Badwrench New Member

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    Its normal. The harder you cut the wheel the more it bucks.
     
    TundraTun[OP] likes this.
  3. Feb 2, 2023 at 3:56 AM
    #3
    raylo

    raylo not so new member

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    You should not be using 4WD on dry pavement, except maybe briefly once in awhile on a straight stretch of road to exercise the engagement mechanism. Trying to turn when there is good traction in 4WD binds the axles up because the front and rear wheels trace different arcs and need to rotate differentially, which 4WD prevents.
     
    WFD473 likes this.
  4. Feb 2, 2023 at 4:08 AM
    #4
    Tundra9271

    Tundra9271 New Member

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    Noob when it comes to 4x4, but I’m learning…
    How long is briefly? To exercise the mechanism would it be better to do it on a gravel or dirt road instead smooth pavement?
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2023
  5. Feb 2, 2023 at 4:16 AM
    #5
    SWB Tundra

    SWB Tundra New Member

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    Do it on a surface that is not firm. Go to places such as grass, gravel, mud. Better if its a surface that will not bind up drive line. Stay off concrete, pavement. Unless you drive in a straight line bor one of those that got ice or snow on them.
     
  6. Feb 2, 2023 at 4:26 AM
    #6
    Adam B

    Adam B New Member

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    Snow /Mud my friend.
     
  7. Feb 2, 2023 at 4:27 AM
    #7
    Mswwalker

    Mswwalker New Member

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    4x4 noob here as well. Good info. Thanks.
     
  8. Feb 2, 2023 at 5:58 AM
    #8
    TundraTun

    TundraTun [OP] New Member

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    Thanks guys. It was in fact icy/snowy here, but I was pulling into a parking lot a noticed.
     
  9. Feb 2, 2023 at 6:03 AM
    #9
    KNABORES

    KNABORES Sarcasm incoming

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    I find it interesting that we have so many new posts about how 4wd systems behave. Toyota's plan to draw in people who haven't normally been truck or 4wd guys and gals with the new Tundra is working it seems. Their "target" demo has been acquired.
     
    JLS in WA, vtown76 and TUNDRA-TY like this.
  10. Feb 2, 2023 at 6:24 AM
    #10
    TUNDRA-TY

    TUNDRA-TY Winter SUCKS!

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    Never engage 4WD on dry pavement if you plan on turn sharp, that's how shit gets broke....
     
    ryanwgregg and texasrho83 like this.
  11. Feb 2, 2023 at 6:26 AM
    #11
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    I think some folks who've never had or used 4WD confuse its mannerisms with AWD.
     
  12. Feb 2, 2023 at 6:27 AM
    #12
    TUNDRA-TY

    TUNDRA-TY Winter SUCKS!

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    100% like my wife
    :rofl:
     
    raylo and texasrho83[QUOTED] like this.
  13. Feb 2, 2023 at 7:12 AM
    #13
    osu1978

    osu1978 New Member

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    Keep it in 2WD in all situations unless you are on very low traction surfaces or driving in a fairly straight line. Snow covered roads would be okay but 4wd in rain can also cause binding especially on sharp turns.
     
  14. Feb 2, 2023 at 7:26 AM
    #14
    Tundra9271

    Tundra9271 New Member

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    Sorry to hijack this thread...

    Regardless of practical use of 4WD, the mechanism still needs to be engaged occasionally. The occasional part is vague, I get that it needs to be on a straight road when you are just exercising the mechanism, but inquiring minds want to know..

    1. What speed is safe to engage it? 80 MPH? 30 MPH? 0?
    2. For how long should it be engaged until you put it back in 2WD? 1 minute? 1 hour?
    3. Should you also do similar with 4L or is putting it in 4H good enough to keep things maintained? Maybe 4L maintaining has a different procedure.

    Maybe all of this in the owners manual, but I'd like to hear about experience from this community.
     
  15. Feb 2, 2023 at 7:39 AM
    #15
    scatpackchad

    scatpackchad New Member

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    You will get a million different opinions on this for sure. Just for clarification, I am an ASE Tech, and was the General Manager of a company and ran three shop for 20 plus years that specialized in drivetrain. I kinda know what I'm talking about. :monocle:

    In general terms you should exercise your transfer case and mechanism monthly or so. Ideally is in snow or mud, or even a wet road is better than dry pavement. On pavement, wet or not, this should be done at slower speeds( I would suggest 50 mph and below). Engage your 4WD on a straight stretch of road for a couple of minutes. It does not have to be for a long time. The goal is to circulate the fluid, and work the actuators.

    One more thing. This applies mostly to AWD vehicles, but also can apply to 4WD vehicles if you use 4WD often. Driving in 4WD for even short periods of times with mismatched tires or tires that are different diameter (believe it or not more than 1/2 an inch in circumference difference can cause issues) can lead to catastrophic transfer case failure. Don't run a pair of new tires on one axle, and worn ones on the other. And whatever you do, don't use 4WD on dry pavement when turning. Period. Not worth the risk.
     
    Kap1, JLS in WA, Ore43 and 2 others like this.
  16. Feb 2, 2023 at 7:42 AM
    #16
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    For shits n grins, and people who may also have a similar situation, is it OK to run a 35" spare on a 20" wheel when the others are 18s? :anonymous:
     
  17. Feb 2, 2023 at 7:43 AM
    #17
    raylo

    raylo not so new member

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    ^ ScatPackChad - Spot on.
     
  18. Feb 2, 2023 at 9:26 AM
    #18
    blenton

    blenton New Member

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    If you look at the manual, it will give you the information you need about the 4wd system. It is safe to engage/disengage up to 60mph. Beyond that, the ECM won’t command a transfer case shift and the dash will just beep at you. Once engaged, it is not technically speed limited (you can go 100mph in 4wd if you care to, but it’s not necessarily recommended). An hour at 70+ hasn’t caused any I’ll effect on my vehicle.

    The manual also recommends 10 miles of 4wd use MONTHLY. This is often not heeded, especially in dry warm climates. I know when’s I’ve been busy working in the summer and have not engaged 4wd on a stretch of dirt road for a few months, the shift motor acts up the next time I engage it.

    As has been stated, the manual strictly cautions engaging 4wd in high traction situations. It should be engaged in limited traction situations where wheels can slip enough not to bind. Dirt or gravel roads are ok, but even on a packed dirt road, you can get drivetrain bind in a tight turn.

    Some tips about using 4wd: keep up on transfer case and differential oil changes. Go by the mileage advice in the manual. Even if the T case oil doesn’t look bad, if your mileage is up changing it helps 4wd engage smoothly and keep cool.

    Plan ahead when engaging 4wd. Don’t engage under throttle or when the back wheels are slipping. For example, pulling out of an icy parking lot in to traffic, engage 4wd before stopping and before spinning the rear tires. It will still engage at low speeds with some tire slip but this will slam parts and can break things. It’s easiest to engage 4wd when costing at slow speeds. Sometimes it helps to turn the wheel side to side a bit to get the synchros to mesh by putting a little variance in the driveline speed.

    The 4wd actuator can take a few seconds to engage so don’t click the knob then immediately slam the throttle down. It’s also faster to engage when moving; if you’ve already buried the truck in snow or mud or sand, you might find the 4wd difficult to engage.
     
    Jackstraw likes this.
  19. Feb 2, 2023 at 11:25 AM
    #19
    Kap1

    Kap1 New Member

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    Thank you all for explanation.

    My question - if I drive completely straight, on dry pavement, is it safe for me to activate 4wd to "exercise" it?
     
    texasrho83 likes this.
  20. Feb 2, 2023 at 11:56 AM
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    raylo

    raylo not so new member

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    Toyota will probably say no but IMO it is safe enough, as long as your tires are the same and evenly inflated. Just pop it in 4H on a straight stretch of road, run a quarter mile or so, and back to 2H. I did that several times a year for 15 years with my Tacoma and the system was working perfectly when I sold it last week.

     
    Kap1[QUOTED] likes this.
  21. Feb 2, 2023 at 12:03 PM
    #21
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    Yeah some guys do that without an issue.

    Edit: Supposedly you can to into reverse when you're going a min of 40 mph too lol
     
    Kap1[QUOTED] likes this.
  22. Feb 2, 2023 at 9:27 PM
    #22
    Bourbonator

    Bourbonator New Member

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    I honestly haven't read the entire tundra manual, but my 4Runner manual touched almost every question of yours. Try looking in the manual for your answers.

    ETA - Try page 375 ;)
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2023
  23. Feb 2, 2023 at 10:43 PM
    #23
    b0yax

    b0yax New Member

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    So it is okay to switch from 2H to 4H while running at a certain speed? sorry first time owning a 4wd and truck. need to learn all things as much as possible. thanks
     
  24. Feb 3, 2023 at 8:41 AM
    #24
    Maharisc

    Maharisc w/Patty

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  25. Feb 3, 2023 at 8:45 AM
    #25
    raylo

    raylo not so new member

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    You can look in the manual but I have always shifted into 4H on the fly up to at least 55 mph, maybe more. IIRC the computer will lock you out if any required conditions, like speed, are not met. I suspect that limit would be higher than any speed you would be doing in snowy conditions. But I haven't looked in the manual since it WFM (works for me).

    Edit: the experience above was my Tacoma, which should operate similarly to the Tundra. I have not yet had the Tundy in snow. Not that I am complaining.

     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2023

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