Stuck in 4WD

[Platypus]

I shifted my tercel '83 into 4wd to go up a steep gravel road and now I cant get it out of 4wd. I know the wheels have to be straight but it's not working. It still drives fine in 4wd. From what I've read it's bad to make tight turns in the tercel while in 4wd and I must say i had to make some three point turns to get into and out of parking. Can too much tough turning while in 4wd cause it to stick? One post said the "rolling dial" has to be level or even for it to shift back to 2wd but I cant find any other reference to this in this forum or the chiltons. Is there a trick to get it back to 2wd? Does anyone have more information on how the transfer case works with the transmission. I know this part was the only part designed specifically for the Tercel and allows the EL; I'd like to know more about how it works but cant find any schematics or info. Thanks
Chuck Struggler
'83 Tercel(platypus)

[xirdneh]

assuming the shift linkage for 4wd is intact
i have had real good success backing the car up fast in reverse pushing in the clutch and moving 4wd shift lever

[Petros]

all your tires should be the same size and same brand (sometimes different brands are slightly different sizes), and all must be inflated to the same pressure. often just having one tire lower than the others can make it hard to get out of 4wd.

it does not have to be level, but the ground should be even and the steering pointing straight ahead, roll the car straight back about 6 to 10 ft. that should allow it slip out.

If the tires of different brands/sizes, best bet is to jack one back wheel off the ground so the tire clears and releases the tension in the drive train.

if you know the trans has been replaced, you MUST verify that the front and rear diff have the same gear ratio. If not the only way to get it out of 4wd is to jack the back tire up. Than DO NOT DRIVE IT IN 4WD until you get one or the other diff swapped out so the ring and pinion gear matches.

Easiest way to verify is to jack both front and rear wheels off the ground on one side, have it in 4wd, trans in neutral, engine off. mark the tires with chalk at bottom, and than count ten revs of one wheel, comparted to other. hand rotate tire in front for example, ten times, and count number of times rear tire rotates, should also be 10 times. If it is exactly 9 times, or 11 times, you have mismatched front and rear diffs.

good luck