Shifting from H4F to H4L

Hello Team,

A few weeks back i replaced fluid in Front-Rear Dif, Transfer Case and Transmission.

Something i have noticed now is the truck won't go from H4F into H4L whilst in Drive. Everything is fine when changed in Neutral. I am not sure if that was the case before all the fluid changes.

I don't shift much into H4L so can't say for sure if that was the same situation before fluid changes.

My question is this, is the not shifting into H4L whilst in Drive a symptom of something going wrong with all the fluid changes i made or was it meant to be like that?

Other than that the truck shifts through gears no issue.

2016 4Runner Limited.

Thanks,

 

Generally you want to be moving forward but off the throttle to make the shift easier.

 

Did you verify correct fluid level? That should have changed anything otherwise. I know the knob can be finnicky. The manual says you can go from H4F to H4L at any speed.

 

You have to be in neutral and completely stopped to shift to H4L. Same goes for shifting back.

Edit: Neutral is for L4L. H4L is in drive.

 

Do not have to be stopped.

 

Fluid levels on the difs and transfer case were checked by making sure truck was level then filling the fluid until it started coming out the fill bolt. The trans was done with scanner and pulling the level plug at 100F.

Just tried it again, it really doesn't seem to want to go into H4L when i drive (The symbol just flashes on the dash), whether the car is just rolling or stopped. When it does go into H4L i hear a clunk, its loud if the wheels are not pointing straight.

Thoughts? Is something broken?

 

If it helps, Difs & Transfer fluid was Amsoil Severe Gear SAE75W-90 and the trans fluid was brought directly from Toyota dealer (WS and is red in colour). Thanks.

 

I believe this instruction is only for the manual shift t-case in the OR & Pro.

 

When the wheels are not straight when changing from H4F to H4L I too see the lock symbol flash for few seconds and I could feel it locking. But don't hear a loud clunk. Only thing is I keep the foot off the gas. May be not needed for the Limited but how I do it.

If I'm not mistaken Limited does not require exercise regularly per the manual but I do it anyways.

Just curious is your front shaft turning when you are in H4F? It should be. So when you switch to H4L both at equal speed to be locked smoothly. (Please don't ask me how I checked this )

Sadly I don't have any solution for the problem as I have no mechanical knowledge. Just sharing my experience may be to find a clue.

 

Should be good with the fluid.

 

I thought you must be in neutral to shift to 4L.

 

As far as I know this is correct. 4L in N only for the manual shifter, not sure about the electronic shifter.
Shifting into 4L at 50 MPH your transmission would probably explode

 

So i did some testing, looks like its happy to shift into H4L as long as your going 20KPH or above.

As a few of you said, I don't like the idea of changing whilst mid driving either. I think i'll stick to just dropping into N for the 4 times a year i do it (i never need the function, just to keep everything moving/lubricated inside).

Thanks,

 

As long as your going straight, there’s no issues shifting into high on the move. It was even called “shift on the fly” back in the day.

 

See clip from owners manual I posted.

 

He's got a LTD, so 4H is the default.

But you're correct when talking about 2hi to 4hi and vice versa.

To or from 4low though, I can't see doing that while in motion over a few mph.

 

The limited will still lock into part time 4wd which like a locker, has to line up to lock in.

 

Here is a link to the Manual for the 4Runner if you'd like to take a look for yourself starting on page #294
https://assets.sia.toyota.com/publi...Z*MTY4NjkzMDUzNi4xLjEuMTY4NjkzMDU0My41My4wLjA.

I said.
"As far as I know this is correct. 4L in N only for the manual shifter, not sure about the electronic shifter."

Direct from the manual clearly it says "THE VEHICLE MUST BE STOPPED", and in N (see #3 on page #294).

The electronic shifter shown on page 296 #1 lower is the same as the manual shifter.

WARNING: Do NOT shift into 4L while moving you will cause harm to you system (manual or electronic shifters).

 

Here’s the same information from the manual for the full-time 4WD. (Limited).

it says you can switch between 4WD high locked or unlocked at any speed.

To shift into 4WD Low, in which the center differential is always locked, you must stop, apply the brake, and put the shifter in neutral.

 

None of that applies to Limited.

 

It’s basically the same procedure with the exception of max speed for shifting into H4L aka part time 4wd aka locked center diff.

You still need to stop and select neutral for L4L aka low range aka 4wd low.

 

Back up a little. That works for me.

 

the transfer case fluid is 75W Toyota .. used the tech specs ....transfer case is the electronic components .. I was $70 1 LITER transfer case fluid