Any issues accidently driving in 4WD?

My wife just came home from an errand and asked me what the green 4WD light meant. I own a 2005. I asked why and she said it came on while on her way to the store. Oh ———— I said. I went out to the truck and saw the dial was set to 4WD. I guess she accidentally hit it taking something out of the cup holder. She drove about 8 miles. Could there be any problems caused by this. Is there a way to test it out? Thank you

 

Driving it in 4whl drive mode from time to time (every 3 months or every thousand miles) is good for it. It works all the gears. I'm assuming she was in 4Hi the entire time. If so, you have nothing at all to worry about. You can safely shift into 4whl drive while driving up to 50 - 60 MPH, and once in 4whl drive, you can drive as fast as possible.

If it was in 4Lo, then you might have issues. But the wife would have complained that the truck wouldn't let her drive over a certain speed.

Here's what you do to fix it: Never........ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever.....EVER let your wife drive your 4Runner again.

 

Ha. I already hid the keys. Thank you so much. Funny story -The guy I bought it from about 10 years ago told me his wife drove it in 4WD and destroyed the transfer case so he replaced it. At the time it was funny. Now it’s not so funny. I will sleep better tonight thanks to your quick and calming response. Thanks again. Jim

 

You’re fine.

All 4WD 2003-2009 models (and a couple years before, and Limited models after) can be driven in 4WD safely on the road. Great for wet conditions on-road. Just make sure she doesn’t to hit the center locker button and everything will be just fine.

Part of the reason I went looking for an older model but ultimately didn’t see one I liked around.

 

Thank you. I found mine in California. I live in Arizona so it was just a drive of about 6 hours. It was well taken care of so I bought it. We travel throughout our state but also other places where the 4WD is needed. Thanks again- I am relieved!
Jim

 

Not on pavement, necessarily, but it's supposed to be driven in 4wd on occasion. In fact my 2024 is supposed to be driven 10 miles a month, or some such thing, in 4wd.

Your rig is fine, and if it hasn't been driven in 4wd lately, you should go thank your wife and give her a kiss on the cheek. She deserves it.

 

It’s fine.

 

Good thing it's a 2005. You can drive in 4wd all day long on pavement without center diff lock.

 

Thanks everyone. I’m really not mad at her about it. She’s been #1 in my life for many years, and always will be. Thank you for easing my mind! Appreciate it. And I will start driving it in 4WD from time to time like suggested.

 

Driving in 4wd on pavement causes some binding when turning sharply. Outter wheels are traveling a longer distance than inner wheels. You'll feel it kinda jerking and tugging. If something breaks, you'll know it (or your wife would have known it). You're fine, as others have said.

As a rule of thumb- Keep it in a straight line when exercising the 4wd system on pavement.

We've all forgotten to pop it back to 2wd when exiting an off road spot and getting back onto pavement. You feel it as soon as you turn and are reminded.

 

Thank you. She drove about 8 miles or so. I’ve driven it today and it feels fine. Thankfully.

 

Hope folks understand that OPs 4runner is a 2005 which can run on pavement if accidentally shifted from 2wd to 4wd. It's like driving 5th gen Limited on H4F.

In order to be worried OPs wife not only have to switch to 4wd but also have to press the center diff button near drivers knee on dash.

If it was the 5th gen non Limited, then one should be worried if accidentally switched to 4H and driven on pavement for errands.

 

As soon as she pulled in I went out to see what she was talking about. The dial was turned to 4HI. Thankfully the diff was not locked. She thinks she may have accidentally hit the dial when taking something out of the cup holder which is right below.
Thank you

 

I inherited my wife's 2007 4Runner when she bought her 2017 (funny how that works. eh?). She routinely drove the car in 4H if the pavement even got slightly wet. Car is now over 230k with no drive train issues, so it looks like she did no harm. The drive mode selector is quite easily moved to from 4L to 4H when cleaning the car, monkeying around under the dash, etc. It has happened to me a number of times. Another control that I have found easy to activate inadvertently is the downhill assist control (DAC).

 

I thought that was just the V8?

 

Hey lamsam,
Yes I do know how that works!
Thanks for your insight. I too have activated the DAC. I wish the 4WD dial was harder to move too. One of us must have tapped it somehow. And since I’m the one who always gets it washed and wipes down the interior it was probably me. We just had the conversation about letting me know right away when an indicator light comes in that she doesn’t recognize. But no harm no foul right? Thanks again
Jim

 

V6 have exact same thing as V8 but also have 2WD option.

V8






V6

 

You have to push the button in to turn it. Just sayin. Opps maybe not lol.

 

Omg it’s always the wives…. Sigh

 

Yes. So the V6 is part time 4wd just like our 5th gen's, correct? Only the V8 is "all wheel drive" (so to speak).

 

Sorry, just updated my post with center diff buttons between the 2.

 

Dry pavement turning is bad in 4wd...and, like the v8, awd is different then 4wd... you're good... parallel parking wouldn't be great for it but typically all other driving is fine... as stated, you need to use it or lose it as the actuators get gummed up easily...

 

First, and I say this kindly, I don't know how anyone can accidentally engage 4WD when you have to push the knob and turn it. And the truck won't go into 4LO without stopping and shifting to neutral so that's never happening without intent.

That aside, rest easy OP b/c I've occasionally driven my '07 in 4HI (unlocked) on pavement for 10 years and 162K miles with no difference in how it drives or corners and no apparent detrimental effect. This is typically for the recommended 10 monthly miles for system maintenance.

My process for the monthly ritual is:
- Engage 4HI, drive the 10 miles.
- Find a parking lot or other adequate space where I can drive straight ahead.
- Drive in 4HI for a few seconds with the locker engaged.
- Turn locker off, stop, switch to 4LO, drive a few seconds.
- Engage the locker in 4LO, drive a few seconds more.
- Disengage locker, stop, go back to 4HI.

Expounding on what others said above, here's the '07 OM page covering the part-time 4WD modes. While it does describe H2 is being for "normal driving on dry pavement," it doesn't say not to use 4HI for that or even to only use it on low-traction surfaces. In fact, what they say about 2WD giving "greater economy, quietest ride, least wear and better vehicle control" must be in comparison to using 4HI. Also, surely Toyota would specifically caution or warn against 4HI on high-traction surfaces if there was any danger of damage or even premature wear.



In any case, one thing is for sure, your truck is fine.

 

I didn't know this. Thanks for sharing! I'm always learning new things here.

I thought the same, until I read this thread. I had to look it up. Here's a snippet from Wikipedia:



"The optional 4WD systems were full-time on V8 models while "Multi-Mode" or part-time on V6 models, both systems used a lockable Torsen center differential."

 

Yep, all 4WD 4th-gens have the same center LSD with locker. (or at least the same design)

V6 models have the option to switch from 2H, 4H and 4L. V8 models are limited to either 4H, 4L like 5th gen Limited models so no 2WD option!

I haven't witnessed it myself but I heard one could put it in 4L (unlocked) and it'll be helpful on the boat ramp/pavement.

I will continue to be salty Toyota moved the full-time system to the top trims but ah well, I'll live.

 

I’m pretty sure they are continuing this theme on the 6th gen. If I recall correctly, the limiteds will get full time 4wd/AWD, but will no longer have a center diff lock. Only the platinums will get the center diff lock.

 

This is interesting. What changed with the 5th gen to make driving on dry pavement in 4WD bad for the vehicle? I'm talking about the part-time 4WD models and not the full-time 4WD Limited versions.

I just read the owners manual and it states that, concerning 4WD high: "Use this for driving only on tracks that permit the tires slide, like off-road, icy or snow-covered roads. This position provides greater traction than two-wheel drive."

So in the 5th gen, 4WD high is ONLY to be used on "tracks" that permit the tires to slide -- not on dry (or perhaps even wet) pavement. Ice- or snow-covered roads would be ok.

So the 4th gen part-time 4WD 4Runners could be driven on dry pavement but not the 5th gen part-time 4WD? What changed with the 5th gen?

 

FWIW, “tracks” are what many outside the US call trails.

 

The 5th gen part-time 4wd system (in everything but the Limited) uses a transfer case instead of a center differential.

The transfer case locks the front and rear driveshafts together, unlike the center differential that allows the two to spin at different rates (when unlocked).

This matters when you're turning, as the front wheels and back wheels rotate at different speeds, which add up to different driveshaft speeds.

And add me to the list of people who wanted the 4th gen's multi-mode 4wd in the 5th gen.

 

That's interesting, thank you for the explanation. I had a 2000 Land Cruiser which, like all Land Cruisers, uses full-time 4WD. I had a center differential lock that I engaged once a month but the owners manual stated to only engage it on dirt or slippery surfaces. So that center differential lock on my Land Cruiser is basically always engaged on the part-time 4WD system of the 5th gen 4Runners? Wow. That sucks for anyone who wants to drive in 4WD on pavement when it's only slightly snowing. Best to have the Limited with full-time 4WD.

Thanks again.