Shifting into 4WD tips, tricks and procedures requested

[NickDanger]

I'm been hunting around on the forum looking to see if anybody has good info on the procedure to put a tercel in and out of 4wd. I did read the post about not doing it on dry pavement. that was helpful. But what I am really looking for is instructions on the proper way, and such. Can anybody point me to a post if this has been listed or willing to share your 2 cents? Any info would be handy.

I just got the motor mount on my '84 Tercel fixed, she's running like champ, and I'm ready to head to the mountains!

Thank you in advance,

Nick from Kansas.

[BrownBadger]

Step 1: put 4wd lever into 4wd.
Step 2: have fun
Step 3: put 4wd lever into fwd.

As you mentioned it helps not to do it on dry pavement, but it is pretty much that simple.

[Gottolovem]

I shift mine into 4wd at around 5 mph with wheels straight same to get it out. (with the clutch engaged)
Is it the first time you have ever tried to engage the 4wd?
It should be easy some have a little trouble and need to play with it a little like reverse or on and off the gas a bit.
Don't forget that you have another gear when in 4wd extra low is amazing when climbing an intimidating hill.

[NickDanger]

Wow, that sounds easy!

Yes, I haven't yet put it in 4wd. I'm afraid I was going to mess something up.

How fast can I go in 4wd? Can I go through all of the gears?

Thanks,

Nick

[dlb]

nick, i think this is covered in the owner's manual, if your car came with one. anyway, i personally shift into 4wd when the front wheels are straight, both when still and when moving. for taking it out of 4wd, i find it easiest to disengage the clutch (pedal down) to release tension from the driveshafts and then shift into FWD. sometimes i need to come to a complete stop of move back and forward a bit but that's normal and nothing to be alarmed about.

[Gottolovem]

Yes all gears stay off dry pavement and drive it like you stole it.

[ARCHINSTL]

The OM for '85-8 recommends the following speeds in 4WD not be exceeded; first figure is MPH and second is KM/H:
EL - 19 / 30
.1 - 25 / 41
.2 - 43 / 69
.3 - 65 / 104
.4 - Not mentioned - why ? ? ?
.5 - Not mentioned - why ? ? ?

I'd guess your '84 would be a tiny tad higher.
Tom M.

[irowiki]

Tom, I wonder if that is because they didn't want you using 4WD in 4th or 5th?

[dlb]

that's really weird. i used 4wd at highway speeds in 4th and 5th gear lots.

[irowiki]

Could be a CYA sort of thing.

[NickDanger]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I found a gravel road, and shifted her into 4wd no prob!

How do you know for sure that you're in 4wd? I was able to shift into the EL gear, that was cool. Nothing changed on the inclimometer, so I'm hoping that's broken. Or maybe I wasn't really in 4wd?

[dlb]

there should be a green '4wd' indicator light in the dash cluster that comes on when you shift into 4wd. since you have the inclinometer, you should also see the '4wd' light come on there too.

for real life testing though, just try accelerating from a stop really quickly. if in FWD, you will likely spin the fronts and spit a bunch of gravel everywhere. in 4wd, there should be very little tire spinning and rock spitting.

if you do the real life test and find 4wd is working fine, check the bulbs for those lights. if the bulbs are good, the plug on the trans that turns those lights on is probably suspect.

if you find 4wd is not actually engaging, climb under the car and take a look. make sure the 4wd shifter linkage is attached to the shifter and trans, and that it is straight. if it's unattached or badly bent, it might not push the arm on the trans enough to engage 4wd.

btw, one of the knobs on the inclinometer locks the angles at 0*. you can unlock it by twisting the knob. not sure if that's what you mean by "nothing is changing on the inclinometer."

[Gottolovem]

If the car allows you to select extra low you are in 4wd.
As dlb pointed out you may have the inclinometer locked the little cars in the inclinometer should tip back and forth all the time when unlocked 2wd or 4wd

[NickDanger]

Thanks again! Yes, I figured out the "locked" position on the inclomometer. That only applies to the tilt of the vehicle and not 4wd picture of the wheels, correct?

[dlb]

Thanks again! Yes, I figured out the "locked" position on the inclomometer. That only applies to the tilt of the vehicle and not 4wd picture of the wheels, correct?

yes, that's correct.