Steering wheel unlock with push button start

I plan to flat tow a 4wd 4runner with a manual transfer case behind my motor home.

The folks that I have talked to that do this all had keyed 4runners and they leave the key in the ignition with the vehicle off and in park and the steering wheel stays unlocked with the key in.

I dont have a 4runner yet but wondering with the push button start if i leave it in accessory if the steering wheel stays unlocked. I have a feeling with it in the off position the steering wheel is probably locked but who knows maybe if the key is sensed in the vehicle it will stay unlocked.

If anyone is bored today and wants to test it out on their vehicle I would be very appreciative.

AJ

 

Welcome to the forum!

Can you keep the steering wheel unlocked with keyless start? Yes - kill the engine in neutral... I think that keeps it unlocked. Which is also how you keep the radio on if you kill the engine.

You might grab a copy of the owners manual. You should be able to find it online. There's a section on how to tow a 4Runner.

I'm pretty sure you can't flat tow a 4Runner, even with the t-case in neutral. Something to do with how the internal lubrication system works. I don't have the manual in front of me but I believe you need all four wheels off the ground: trailer it or sling-lift it with a dolly on the other end.

 

it can be towed no issues with a manual transfer case. its been beat to death on many RV forums. I will see what happens. need to find someone with a push start lol and test. Maybe a dealer will let me screw around with one.

 

Or worst case, rent one for a day.

 

Damn I know I did rent one this summer in Austin but that was before I decided to sell me excursion and trailer and move to an RV and a TOAD. I only have one guy at work with one but his is a 19 with a key. Thanks for your suggestion.

 

found a guy at work with a TRD with a push button! we shall see today

 

update - in acc it keeps steering wheel unlocked. after 30 mins acc times out, steering wheel locked. No off to find out how to over ride the timer.

 

looks like if you kill rig in neutral it will not set the timer. testing now.

 

I’m following your experiments with interest.

 

went back through and jmkulbeth did mention this lol i just saw it.

 

On my 2020 Pro, if you stop the engine in neutral it will stay on accessory until the battery is dead.

 

for folks worried about lube in the transfer case and bearings on the drive shaft read this from someone who is doing this and co-signed by a toyota engineer. Toyota just doesnt want to get in the TOAD market. Thats ok its their business and its my truck and i am all about taking risk to enjoy life.

"the Toyota manual shift transfer case does indeed have an oil pump that is driven from the input shaft only. This pump, pumps oil thru the input shaft gear group, and the bearing between the input and rear output shafts. However, when the transfer case is in neutral, the input shaft gear group is not turning at all, so it doesn't need any oil. The bearing where the front input and rear output shafts meet, is still turning because the front shaft is stationary, but the rear output shaft is being turned by the rear wheels via the driveshaft. But in looking at it closely, there is NO pressure on this bearing at all because it is all freewheeling with no torsional load. Plus it appears that this bearing is still getting some splash lubrication, along with the front and rear output shafts, from the gears and chain spinning in the oil bath at the lower part of the case.

So my take, after research, repeatedly checking the case temps while towing with an infrared temp sensor, and several thousand miles of experience, is no problems, and it works great! As a plus, I did check with my Toyota service writer last week. Although Toyota does not allow towing of any of their vehicles, he said that he knows of quite a few being towed, and has never heard of a transfer case failure."

 

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

Cheers
Mike

 

SOunds like the trick is just leave it in neutral. there really is no reason to put it back in park. With the t-case in neutral it does not really matter what gear its in. This way the acc is on indefinitely while I tow. already planning on a 7 way plug to activate the 4runner lights for towing. I will add 12 volt power to the battery to keep everything charged up from the tow vehicle. going off this guys plan. https://rvheadlights.org/toaddinghy-wiring/ If i really wanted to everytime i fuel up the RV I can put it back in park, t-case in 2h and run the motor for a few mins. Some manufacturers that allow for 4 wheel down towing actually have this in their manual to slosh some lube around.

 

so we did some more testing and if i put it back in park after shut down in neutral and the timer did kill the accessory. Left it in neutral and it never reset.

 

I’m looking for a little more detail on how this override of the lockout delay works. You have done a great job sleuthing out this workaround. I’m looking at buying a new 2023 TRD Off-road 4Runner, and want to be sure how to get it in neutral and ready to tow, and kill the engine.

My BMW has a clutch and I can simply leave it in gear, dump the clutch and it dies.

what procedure do you use to kill the engine and leave it in neutral in order for the keyless entry/start to not reset and lock the steering column.

thanks for the help.