how to engage 4*4 in prado

[inronager]

Hi i have recently purchased a 90 series 1997 model prado with auto transmisssion.....the previous owner lost the owners manual so i was wondering if you guys could help me out

AS i have never used a 4x4 vehicle before so im a bit confused about how to engage 4 wheel drive.....do i engage it in park mode or neutral mode or can i engage it in drive mode as well?
I have heard that if done wrongly it can damage the transmission so il wait for your replys then try.......cheers

[FloridaFJ80]

Does your Prado, have the 4x4 shift lever next to do the Automatic shift lever? If so then you would always want to engage your 4wd in neutral. I think this is the best way in any car to shift into 4wd, always in neutral. hope this helps

[inronager]

thanks man.......tried it.... works perfectly

[FloridaFJ80]

no prob..!!!!!!!!!!!!

[beast2h]

my prado is a manual i lock and unlock the center diff on the fly. i do stop to go to low range but

[inronager]

Originally Posted by inronager

Hi i have recently purchased a 90 series 1997 model prado with auto transmisssion.....the previous owner lost the owners manual so i was wondering if you guys could help me out

AS i have never used a 4x4 vehicle before so im a bit confused about how to engage 4 wheel drive.....do i engage it in park mode or neutral mode or can i engage it in drive mode as well?
I have heard that if done wrongly it can damage the transmission so il wait for your replys then try.......cheers

One more question.....can 4wd be engaged while the car is in motion or do i have to stop the car put it in neutral and then engage 4wd

This is how iv been doing it......i switch the car on....not the engine......then i take it into neutral.....engage 4wheel drive and a light comes on to say that it has been engaged...then i put the car back into park mode and start the engine......
iv attached a photo of the 4wd gears in my car

[TEPUI]

Originally Posted by inronager

One more question.....can 4wd be engaged while the car is in motion or do i have to stop the car put it in neutral and then engage 4wd

This is how iv been doing it......i switch the car on....not the engine......then i take it into neutral.....engage 4wheel drive and a light comes on to say that it has been engaged...then i put the car back into park mode and start the engine......
iv attached a photo of the 4wd gears in my car

Hi ironager, there's no need to have the engine off while you switch to 4WD. In any case, the user's manual describes the correct procedure.













RTFM

[sandcruiser]

tepui: maybe you could scan your manual and send it to him, since he mentioned in the first post that he doesn't have one from the PO....

Actually, that's a really great idea. Maybe scan your manual into pdf format and then send it to MattF (username) who is hosting a bunch of manuals online. Then everyone could rtfm and the world would be just that much better.

inronager: you can turn the motor on before switching to 4.
Everyone: can't you engage 4wd in Park? or just neutral?

[TFS55]

is your prado a full time 4wd? can you post the numbers/letters on the 4wd shift knob.

[TEPUI]

Originally Posted by sandcruiser

tepui: maybe you could scan your manual and send it to him, since he mentioned in the first post that he doesn't have one from the PO....

Actually, that's a really great idea. Maybe scan your manual into pdf format and then send it to MattF (username) who is hosting a bunch of manuals online. Then everyone could rtfm and the world would be just that much better.

inronager: you can turn the motor on before switching to 4.
Everyone: can't you engage 4wd in Park? or just neutral?

My bad, I should have RTF post. LOL

Unfortunately my manual is in Spanish.

[inronager]

Hi guys thanks for all the help..really appreciate it
I was wondering if someone could post the manual or the instructions for using 4*4....i checked all over the internet but coudnt find anything :-(
I went to the local toyota dealer here in India but they could not help as land cruisers are not sold here as yet.
The person i bought this car from imported it from Japan was of no help as he had never engaged 4wd (car was mainly used in the city).

[inronager]

i found this website www.car-handbooks.com its got manuals for all landcruisers.....

[TFS55]

if its JDM its probably a fulltime 4wd. The letters on the transfercase shift knob is H-N-L? if yes there is a button to lock the centerdiff in the dash while in 4H. Also some models have 4H-4HLc-N-4LLc. what does your have?

[inronager]

Hi TFS55 On the 4 wheel drive gear knob the following is written 2H 4H N 4L.........i have noticed that when i apply the N and 4L then a light comes in the instrument panel saying that 4 wheel has been engaged but when i apply 4H the light does not come on.

[FloridaFJ80]

Looking at the picture, you can drive the car in 2H, which is two wheel drive, your rig is part time 4wheel drive. The light on the dash will only come on in 4LO, this tells you that you have engaged a center differential lock in your transfer case which helps out for better traction when you need it the most. In 4H, the center differential lock is not engaged and you can drive it normally just as you would if you were in 2H, only difference is that you will have traction on all 4 tires except of two. Hope this helps!