Shifting into 4H and 4L

I recently traded in my 2012 Tundra for a 2024 Limited TRD off road. I haven't really needed 4 wheel drive yet since the traction control works so much better than the old truck, however I read recently that I need to be putting the truck in 4H and 4L once a month or so, so I tried it out. The truck will go into 4H only if I'm driving. If I try to put it in 4H when I'm parked (even if if its in Drive), the light just continues to blink. I know that I need to shift it into Neutral to get it into 4L, but because I can't get it into 4H when parked, I can't ever get it into 4L. What am I doing wrong? Do I need to be above a certain speed to get it into 4H?

 

I believe you can shift from 2wd to 4 high while driving without any issues. Don't drive too fast.. Maybe 35 ish?

 

I was able to get it into 4H while I was driving. But what if I'm stuck and need to get the truck into 4 wheel drive? My truck won't let me unless its moving.

 

Well, if you're stuck, your wheels will be slipping, so you should be able to switch to 4hi I would imagine

 

It should shift into 4H even when parked. Sometimes a little driveline movement is necessary in order to mesh the components. You should be able to shift from 2wd to 4H up to around 60mph, there's a card in your visor, or in the owners manual that describes the process. Once in 4H, you have to come to a stop and then shift into N or P and select 4L. My 2000 is silky smooth most of the time. My 2019 is a bit more clunky. I've not done this in the 2022+ to describe the behavior.

 

Owners manual instructions

 

Since the 24 Tundra does not have Auto 4H like my 21 GMC had, I constantly select between 2H and 4H while driving. I have gone back to 2H at more than 60 without thinking about it and it stays in 4H until it drops below 60 and then changes. The first few times it seems slow and then goes a bit quicker.

 

It's been really icy around here lately - I've been going back and forth between 2H and 4H quite a bit. It has been pretty seamless and works well either at stop or in motion.

A few notes:

• If you are driving in 4H and want to drop it down to 2H, pull your foot off the throttle briefly and it goes instantly. If you keep your foot on the throttle, the 4H will blink for a while as it waits for a good time to change - I assume because the constant torque makes it tricky for the mechanism to disengage.
• One time I tried to switch to 4H while I was slipping around during take-off at an intersection - both 4H and 4L lights started blinking, I got errors on the dash, and everything started beeping at me. I guess it doesn't like to engage while already dealing with significant traction loss and kept it in 2H. I wasn't able to switch to 4H until I stopped and restarted the vehicle. I am assuming I didn't damage anything because everything has been working fine since. I guess it's a preventative measure to make sure nothing does get damaged.

 

Mine doesn't seem to want to switch to 4H while I'm stopped, but switches fine while I'm moving. Watching demo videos on youtube, they seem to be able to switch while stopped. My 4H light just blinks.

 

It might just be blinking until it engages. Start moving and it will stop blinking and engage.

 

I've also noticed that 4H will not disengage if there is a load on the driveline. I routinely have to use 4H to get up the first part of my long, steep driveway in the winter. It will not shift back to 2WD until I reach the flat spot of my drive and take the load off. Mine will shift into 4H while stopped most of the time. Occasionally, it will blink until I get moving.

 

Guys, I was just checking out the manual myself for my ‘21 TRD Pro. It mentions shifting into 4wd monthly for 10 miles to keep parts lubed. I also know that 4wd should only be used when tires have some slip. How are we supposed to do this in the warm months when tire slippage isn’t happening? Thanks.

 

Just avoid low speed maneuvering in 4wd when the roads aren't slick and you'll be fine.

 

Drive in a straight line. The main thing I think is to cycle the actuators to prevent corrosion buildup.

 

The improved actuators are now inside the case instead of external where corrosion was a bigger issue.

 

As of what model year pls?

 

22 and up

 

Damn, that figures, just missed.

 

PSA as if it's even necessary. Do not shift into 4H if your stuck and spinning. Wait for the spinning to stop 1st then shift to 4H. You're gonna freak out the truck and possibly break or shorten the life of something if it were to actually engage.

 

That's the issue with my truck - it won't shift into 4H unless I'm moving. I can shift into 4H while stopped and the 4H light will keep blinking until I've been moving for a few seconds.

 

It's likely waiting for the driveline parts to mesh together. Mine does this often in the 2019. The 2000 seems to just go right in to 4H whether I'm moving or not.

 

Time to engage/disengage for me is all over. I can do either while stopped...sometimes. Sometimes it switches quick while moving, other times I'll drive several blocks. Sometimes it seems to take the change if I take my foot off the gas, other times not. If our streets weren't snow/dry/snow/dry/snow/dry/snow/dry/etc then I wouldn't have to change it as much. Or if I could drive with less turns, but that's impossible.

 

my thought process since the 90's to go from 2wd to 4wd

1. keep it under 60, preferred 50 or less (it can slam pretty hard if you get close to 60)
2. put it into neutral (this will ensure you dont get that hard clunk in the driveline)
3. if you are stuck and need 4wd
3a. put into neutral (if you try to put it into 4wd while the tires are slipping, the driveline will clunk and it will make you flinch depending on how hard it clunks)
3b. wait for the 4wd icon to stop flashing
3c. if it wont stop flashing, push brakes and put into drive
3d. if still flashing, very gingerly press the gas pedal (at most 500 rpms higher than current idle)
3e. still flashing, put back into neutral and try from step 3a
3f. if step 3e doesnt work, push brakes, put into reverse
3g. still flashing, goto step 3a

repeat, it will eventually go into 4wd

 

Lots of good helpful info for you in this post but if it truly never goes into 4H when sitting still, then I would have the dealer check it out. I know mine will go into 4H while standing still even in park. I know it's a PIA to go back to the dealer but it would totally suck to get stuck somewhere and not be able to get it into 4wd.

 

This thread is quite interesting reading… wondering if anyone that’s posted ever owned a 4wd with
non automatic locking hubs ? I seem to remember that my ‘86 Toyota with manual front hubs would take a second or two of driveline running or ten or so feet of travel before the front hubs would mesh and fully engage. Going into 4 low took very little distance if any after getting out and locking both front hubs. Just some thoughts that might help explain the automatic process…

 

In a situation where you are stuck, like I was in the Mojave sand this weekend, you engage 4hi like normal and give a little gas. You don't need lateral truck movement, just some rotation in the wheels. Just for a second or two and you'll hear the ping. Don't stress over it too much.

 

In my 4Runner and Tundra I found it will smoothly go into 4Hi if I have it in neutral at a stop, even if it doesn't need to be in neutral to make the shift. If you were stuck and in 2WD, I would put it in Neutral, shift to 4Hi, and if it doesn't make the shift, go back to drive and give it a light tap on the gas and it will finish what it needs to do.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/4-wheel-drive-jerking.135838/#post-3439969

 

The only time you should notice 4Hi is during slow speed maneuvers, like parking. That's when you should disengage it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with normal driving in 4Hi as long as the roads are slick. You don't have to disengage it when making a turn.

 

Have you gotten any solid answers? My 2024 TRD OF does the same thing. Occasionally it will activate the 4h while in park but not always