Stuck in 4WD EL

[tercle]

Stuck in 4WD, stuck in Extra Low and the car wouldn't budge.

I had stopped in traffic on an uphill.
I had just made a left turn and was still slightly turned.
The road was wet, so I put the SR5 in 4WD.
When traffic started to move, I put it in Extra Low and started to let out the clutch.

The car felt like it wanted to move, but at least one axle was locked up like it was in Park.
(but it's not an automatic transmission)

If I let the clutch all the way out, the engine died.
If I pushed the clutch pedal down and released the brakes, it would not roll backwards down the hill.

I tried getting out of EL and tried getting out of 4WD (being careful not to force it too much), while pointing the front wheels in different directions.

Called triple-A and sat there for a long time.

After about 100 attempts, I got free.

I think it got out of EL first, then I switched to front wheel drive, then I put it in 1st gear.

[dlb]

you cannot shift into FWD while in EL. you must first shift out of EL before shifting into FWD.

those are some really strange symptoms. it sounds like something in the transmission was bound up tightly since the engine would stall if you tried to drive forward and the car would not roll freely backward down the hill. have you since tried shifting through all gears in both FWD and 4wd at home?

[tercle]

OK.
That's right.
I did move the 4WD-FWD lever first.


I will test 4WD this weekend.
2WD all gears are fine.

[Petros]

if you have different size tires, or different amounts of wear, even have one tire worn more than the others, or have the steering wheel slightly turned, when in 4wd on a hard surface road, this could happen. All four wheels must be on loose surface to use 4wd, and if the rolling dia is not exactly the same you will not get it out of 4wd. when on a hard surface you will put very large binding loads on the drive train, particularly when turning a corner, it will be difficult to get it out of 4wd. If you must do this on hard surface, make sure the wheels are always pointed straight ahead, and keep the tires inflated evenly.

if the rolling dia is not the same, you will be

[xirdneh]

wet pavement is not slippery enough to prevent binding of the gears

[dlb]

i don't think tercle's issue was that he couldn't shift out of 4wd, but that the car would not move at all while in EL regardless of whether engaging the clutch or even trying to roll downhill in neutral.

[xirdneh]

if the clutch is pushed and the car will not roll, still sounds like binding to me
the only other thing would be "E" brake on or front brake caliper locked up

[tercle]

i don't think tercle's issue was that he couldn't shift out of 4wd, but that the car would not move at all while in EL regardless of whether engaging the clutch or even trying to roll downhill in neutral.

That is correct.

2 or more wheels - I am guessing the rear axle - were locked.
I was on a steep hill in downtown Seattle, a few feet clear of the intersection at about 3pm. I was in the lane that feeds I-5 south, so I had lots of people pulling up behind my car, and stacking back into the intersection.
I guess they couldn't see the emergency flashers.

I couldn't move or get out of 4WD. I was just stuck to the ground.

Today I tested 4WD okay on gravel.

All four tires are the same model and pretty new, but it is time for the first rotation.

[drege]

Seattle native here, Avoid downtown like the plague!!! 4x4 or not, I never drive in SF (live in oakland now) When I was in my teens I'd drive downtown seattle for shits and giggles, now I see a major metropolitan area as a death trap for me and my older vehicles.