Ice Patch

EP6:11 · 01-16-2007, 04:37 PM

Saturday I took the wife and kid to the snow. There was a large patch of ice in the road that everyone was getting stuck on. Tires were just spinning and guys were having to have someone stand behind their car or truck and push them. When it was my turn, I also got stuck. The slip light came on and I tried to go easy on the gas, but could not get traction. I put it in 4X4 and crawled through. I was the only one that got through without help. A guy in a 4X2 Tacoma couldn't get through and finally had to back down the hill. I was surprised how helpless I was in 4X2 mode.After all of this, I couldn't get the truck to go back into 4X2 mode. I switched it to 4X2, but the two front wheels on the indicator kept flashing and the truck was still in 4X4. I had to pull of the road and turn the truck off. When I re-started, I was in 4X2. Sorry for the long story, but was that a computer glitch or is that common?

V8 TITAN · 01-16-2007, 04:41 PM

that happens to mine alot. i use it in 4x4 then switch it back and the light indicator just keeps flashing. i dont know why it does this, it turns off everytime i restart the car.

bestatchess · 01-16-2007, 04:44 PM

Mine used to shift easily in and out of 4x4 HI on the fly w/o any problem. Since I had my front diff replaced, it shifts easily into 4x4 HI on the fly, but I have to stop & shift to R, then back to D to get it out of 4x4.

Eers2u · 01-16-2007, 04:51 PM

There isn't a more helpless vehicle in the snow/ice than a 2WD truck. I suppose due to all the weight being in the front.

EP6:11 · 01-16-2007, 05:24 PM

Thanks. I can live with it. I just wanted to know if it was a problem with MY truck. 4X4 did its job though. Can't complain.

BRACEYOSELF777 · 01-16-2007, 06:19 PM

I feel helpless now! Thanks alot!

**konigfritz** · 01-16-2007, 06:22 PM

you really need to take the tension off the transmission when shifting out of 4WD it will change back to 2WD much quicker.

Jfree · 01-17-2007, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRACEYOSELF777

I feel helpless now! Thanks alot!

Ditto, Im glad I live in Georgia.

Quad T · 01-17-2007, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by konigfritz

you really need to take the tension off the transmission when shifting out of 4WD it will change back to 2WD much quicker.

Agreed, in addition to allowing the vehicle to go straight.

I too have experienced a rather long delay, but I just make sure I slow down, stay very easy on the gas and go straight and the light pops off. There is no way I'm stopping or going to go into reverse, I have had to do that with both my Hardbodies for like 300,000 miles and I'm not doing it anymore, I have a Titan.

Quad T · 01-17-2007, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EP6:11

I couldn't get the truck to go back into 4X2 mode. I switched it to 4X2, but the two front wheels on the indicator kept flashing and the truck was still in 4X4. I had to pull of the road and turn the truck off. When I re-started, I was in 4X2.

May I suggest you play with getting in and out of 4WD LOW now before you need it and can't get into it.

For 4WD LOW you must come to a stop. I shift into N with my foot on the brake making sure the wheels are pointed straight and then dial up 4WD LOW. It takes a second but it goes in. If the 4WD LOW light is blinking you are not in, when the light goes solid you are in. Coming out is the same, stop, shift to neutral, keep the wheels straight and dial back 2W HI or 4W HI.

PatrickL · 01-17-2007, 08:56 AM

This problem is common to most shift on the fly 4x4s. I have had jeeps, tacomas, chevys and dodges that did this. In most cases simply driving straight and letting off the gas will get the truck to shift out of 4-wheel drive. As said before if you are on the gas there is too much tension on the drive line and if/when it does shift out you will hear a "thunk". Also, when turning the outside wheels are spinning faster than the inside and therefore the 4-wheel drive is still functioning and putting tension on the drive line. The idea of backing up is that it takes this tension out of the drive line. In most cases just get off the gas will work.

**gadget74** · 01-17-2007, 10:34 AM

^^did exactly that today....
some roads around here still icy, so been goin in and out and had no probs as long as i let off accelerator while switching out!

Hope that does it for ya!

And yeah 4x4 rocks and i won't own another 4x2 if i can help it!!!!!

BigA · 01-17-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eers2u

There isn't a more helpless vehicle in the snow/ice than a 2WD truck. I suppose due to all the weight being in the front.

Two wheels drive trucks suck on ice, but with 300 or 400 pounds of wieght in the back they do decent in snow, in fact two years ago we got 16" of snow and I had a 2wd Ram, I had no trouble getting around, now the front wheel drive cars and even some awd cars were getting stuck because it was to deep for them.

kvoman · 01-17-2007, 11:38 AM

Let go of the gas pedal when you switch back to 4x2. If there's a load on the transmission, it won't disengage.

EP6:11 · 01-18-2007, 07:55 AM

Thanks for the help. I guess since I was on an uphill mountain road and had my foot on the gas, that was what was causing it.I'll let off of the gas when switching into 4X2 next time.