Used Tundra, 4x4 Questions?

Hello,
I just bought a used 2004 Toyota Tundra Limited Off-Road, as I live off the beaten track. On my first attempt up my crazy hill I live on (old gravel I need to get it redone, and its mushy at the bottom over the creek), I was unable to get up. Understandable, it had just been raining for the past few days, and I didn't have a manual so I didn't want to mess with the 4WD buttons without knowing what I'm doing, so I gave it a shot and it not, walking up the hill was the option. Based on the digs and just the feeling during I could SWEAR the front wheels were spinning (I mean almost burning rubber on gravel type spinning, there were slight black tired marks), so to me that's pretty much the proof in the pudding the front tires were spinning while 4Hi or 4Lo were not engaged. Is this due to traction control somehow? I mean I doubt it but I've definitely been wrong before! ^_^ Is there any explanation for that, or that some sort of malfunction? I also have noticed people saying if 4x4 is engaged then tight turns on pavement would we difficult. I don't think I have experienced that BUT this is a new truck to me, so maybe I'm accepting that as a base not realizing it is harder than it should be?

Anyways, any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! I'm just not sure if there's a "problem" or I'm just unaware of how the systems function, but everything I have read makes me believe the front wheels shouldn't be spinning that much in 2WD as it is a RWD vehicle. Thank you again!

 

Is the front driveshaft free spinning?

dunno about the '04, but my '02 has 4x4 instructions on the drivers side sun visor.

dont run in 4x4 on pavement.

 

You have a truck that is 20 years old. It might have a problem, maybe not. I would jack it up and put blocks or jack stands under it to get all 4 wheels off the ground. Go underneath and spin the driveshafts 1 by 1. Spin the wheels. Now, start the truck and put it in gear. See what turns. Put it in 4wheel. Do it again. See what you got.

 

Umm Im not sure about the front driveshaft and the freespinning, I was reading about that just before, and first thing tomorrow I'm going to take a look at that. Also plan to take it to a friend who has a mechanic shop soon, he's just been inundated lately with vehicles. I haven't run it at all with the 4Hi activated (and for some reason the instructions on the visor don't match my system, I downloaded the manual tonight, and the proper ones are in there.) and since I have never even moved in 4Hi, I was confused as to way in the digs and marks it seemed the front was also spinning. I'll update tomorrow when I test the front driveshaft.

 

Sounds like both a front wheel and back wheel were probably spinning but you lost traction on both so it didn't go anywhere. You probably don't have limited slip in the rear diff which could have helped.

 

Yeah I believe both front and back tires were spinning but since it was supposed to be in 2WD I'm trying to figure out why that would be if its some sort of auto engage with traction control or something or if even though all the lights and stuff seem to be working as expected the 4WD is on even when it toggled off.

 

Sounds like you’re stuck in 4wd and you just need to exercise the button by putting it in, moving the truck and having it engage (or disengage since you describe it to be stuck) and then stopping and doing it again to either put you in or take you out again. If the button doesn’t light up, you probably are in 4wd as you say.

Wait for your friend so he can check what’s happening underneath. The 4wd actuators are notorious for gumming up and not working after years of non-use.

 

the button does light up, in park it blinks waiting to engage, in drive it switches just fine and has the 4Hi light solid on dash as well as the light on the button is solid. I also hear the whir of it disengaging and engaging. Everything SEEMS to be working just fine, the only reason I say this is because when no modes were engaged (so supposed to default to be 2WD) the front wheel caused black skid marks in the digs on the clay and rock, which to me is 100% telling me the front tires were spinning. So just confused. Ill do what you said and as soon as possible try to get my friend to lift it at his shop and test it.

Other than that everything is running just fine. Would driving it be potentially a bad thing? I was going to the store today but don't plan to drive it much in the next couple days, but curious what you guys think about if it could hurt it if it IS in 4WD, since I have heard you don't wanna drive on highways with 4x4, but it doesn't seem to "fight back when turning" on pavement which people report with driving 4WD on pavement. Maybe its some auto engage with traction control or something, is that a thing? Bah I donno. We will see when I get my friend to lift er.

 

It’ll be fine if the 4wd light isn’t engaged and you don’t feel any binding on pavement when turning. If you do, try minimizing your use of it to prevent any damage until it’s looked at.

At least you have a place off the beaten path where you can regularly get use out of it. I’m lucky if I use mine more than a handful of times a year.

 

Okay thank you for the information I will make sure again that its not reacting that way when turning but I swear it was smooth as silk the other day.

And yeah I heard you have to exercise the systems every now and then, so I wont have any issue remembering to do that ^_^ trying to get home everyday will be good enough haha

 

Just to second what everyone else said, the tundra 4WD actuators have a tendency to get stuck when they're not used. Just make sure everything is in good order before you do a bunch of on-road driving. My old Tundra had an issue similar to this and I ended up blowing my front diff, but there was also a few other issues with the front drive that we found later. Just be careful and PLEASE pay attention to what your tundra is telling you
definitely find a place to take it off-roading once and a while. Have some fun and work the truck a little.
Trust me, these trucks are invincible. It'll all be good

 

If I drove it from the dealership home about 80 miles on the highway would I have certainly noticed it was in 4x4? I stopped on a gas station and lots of tight turns around in a parking lot, and it was all smooth. Based on what everyone's said, I feel like I should KNOW or at least the truck would be reacting to it in a way that I would have suspected something. We were listening to the engine and everything like our life depended on it (the Vue started having issues with shifting the second I signed the papers and drove off the lot lol, so was a little paranoid this time.)

And thank you, this forum has been very welcoming. I'm super stoked to have this truck, I was on the precipice of my homestead coming together having everything we need and then my car broke down haha definitely threw me for a loop, but now its even better, I got a Tundra baby! lol Thank you again for all your responses!

 

Lol yeah. Hey im sorry if what i said came off as me accusing you of not paying attention to your truck. Thats not at all what i was meaning. I just dont want you to go through the s**t i went through with my tundra because i was stupid. Best of luck with everything and just reach out to the forum if you need anything. The people here are absolutely amazing.
see you around!

 

Nah I didn't take it that way at all, I'm just still scarred from the last vehicle purchase that has been a NIGHTMARE to own. I've gone through so many systems and replaced so many things and codes and it still has always had that problem, for years, and it just pooped out this week. So I was just SO scared of the same situation happening with this vehicle. ^_^

When you said "lol yeah" you meant to the question about I would most certainly notice if it were in 4WD making sharp turns around a parking lot and driving 80 miles home on highway? Sorry don't mean to annoy you again haha I just wanna make sure because I'm itching to go up to the store but don't wanna drive it too much if until I'm sure its not stuck in 4WD for the highway. Sorry I'm wordy heh

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

Dunno if you've found this thread, but shifty lays out lots of things pretty straight forward.

 

Omg no hayley you didnt annoy me! I promise. i thought i had annoyed you

 

yeah @shifty` is super helpful with literally anything. He’s amazing. I learned to let go that he owns a tacom- i mean access cab. Lol just messing with you bro

 

Thank you. I've been looking through it since you posted that and I have it bookmarked for future use as well. I appreciate that!

Nah, I just spent 10 hours in the office with this dude negotiating the deal for this Tundra, my patience knows no bounds! =P (not that I need it in this situation, you did nothing but respond and try to help me, so you're more than good! ^_^)

 

Haha im a director (which is a step below the operator) at Chickfila at 19. I have to be very tolerant because… well, just people being dumb

 

It doesn’t sound to me like your truck is in 4WD. The marks you saw from your attempt to climb the hill in 2WD don’t mean you were in 4WD. If when rolling, you press the 4WD button, the light goes solid green and the 4HI on the dash lights up, you are likely in 4WD then. Your Tundra shouldn’t have much problem climbing your driveway path in 4WD, they’re pretty capable. Unless you’re on NASCAR slicks.

 

Checking 4HI/4LO would've been something I'd have done before taking possession because repairs could be very costly, but hindsight is 20/20 or better, and it's easy for me to say this from the sidelines.

That said, you could get some peace of mind taking it to overloaded friend's shop for a thorough once-over. But if they don't specialize in Toyota, I'd probably come here for advice on things before letting anyone else do the work. Not because we're "more experienced" mechanics, but there are just a lot of quirks and annoyances users here have found that anyone other than a hardcore pure-Toyota mech may not be aware of, and some of it - like, specific parts - can mean the difference between safely driving vs. totaling your new truck.

That said, as Toyota tells you in your manual, you need to be putting ballpark 10 miles of travel in 4HI per month to keep all things operating properly, and well-lubed, help you avoid costly repairs. Your truck should have a separate ECU for 4WD, unless I'm mistaken, that ECU is what's responsible for using the 4HI/4LO LED to stay lit or flash, and uses those flashes and some beeps to indicate whether it believes things are working or failing. I think your best next-step is to take stock of the current system while NOT in inclement weather.

That, to me, would look something like this:

• Get on dirt, sand, or loose gravel.
• With brake applied and Drive, press the 4HI button, wait for the LED to go solid, release the brake, and roll forward 10-20ft.
• If all seems ok, stop with brake, drop to Neutral, and punch the 4LO button, wait for the LED to go solid, release the brake, and roll forward 10-20ft.

If the light continues flashing in either scenario, that's indicative of a problem. If not, punch out of 4LO/4HI and park it.

It would be curious to know an answer to @Mr.bee's question above.

I'd also love to see a pic of your brake master cylinder under the hood, or just a general under-hood pic from the front of the truck. So we'll know if your truck has VSC, and/or in case there's other crap we can guide you on.

If you can also take a sec to look at the back side of the rear axle's "pumpkin" to check for a rectangular sticker that says "LSD" on it, that could be helpful. Basically, the big part of the rear axle facing the spare tire.