Disable 4WD In Low Range

[DeeFa Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close DeeFa]

Hi Everyone - Please don't yell at me if this topic has already been covered. I have searched for it and cant find the answers I was looking for.

What I want to be able to do is engage low range without engaging 4wd (for maneuvering caravan around on hard surfaces without diffs binding up)

I have an idea that I read somewhere when you engage HL or LL it locks the centre diff electronically & if you disconnect the wires of the switch on the transmission that does this, you can us low range with out the diffs locking up.

Has anyone got any info on this & if this is correct maybe it would be possible to put a switch on the dash to disable 4wd in low range ???

Thanks

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Which model do you have?

If you have to lock the diff via the little stick (ie GX/GXL) then it can't be done (not cheap/easy anyway) as it's mechanical.

If you have the Grande "Button on dash" to lock the center diff then it may be possible... time to get the workshop manual out and start investigating.

Mick

[GXL05 Member Find all posts View Profile Close GXL05]

hi
if the grande has a separate button for the centre diff lock
yes you can use low with out engaging 4wd..just put it in low
but do not push the button...
this option should be standard on all prados......

[DeeFa Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close DeeFa]

Which model do you have?

If you have to lock the diff via the little stick (ie GX/GXL) then it can't be done (not cheap/easy anyway) as it's mechanical.

If you have the Grande "Button on dash" to lock the center diff then it may be possible... time to get the workshop manual out and start investigating.

Mick

Thanks Mick

I have a 2007 D4D GXL - so looks like I am stuck with it

Thanks for you reply

Dave

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

if the grande has a separate button for the centre diff lock
yes you can use low with out engaging 4wd..just put it in low
but do not push the button...
this option should be standard on all prados......

I think you'll find it locks when you select low range (VSC also turns off) ...The button only works in high range. Most Jap 4wds are the same....


TP can you confirm?

Mick

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

In the automatics with stability/traction control etc the stubby lever only does high to low range and the centre diff lock is engaged by pushing the (centre) diff lock button. I have an automatic D4D GX with both option packs and in low range the centre diff is unlocked until you specifically engage it with the button. The 80 series which also had a centre diff lock button used to automatically lock the centre diff when low range was selected so I tested mine and confirmed that the Prado is different, mind you it is easy to modify the 80 series so the centre diff only locks with the button.

As I recall there are even some words in the manual about only locking the centre diff (presumably because that defeats stability control) if absolutely necessary.

I think all the manual gearbox models have the H - HL - N - LL arrangement with the stubby lever but the automatics with stability/traction control use the H - N - L and separate button for diff lock. Not sure about automatics without stability/traction control.

Michael

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

I have an automatic D4D GX with both option packs and in low range the centre diff is unlocked until you specifically engage it with the button.

Well there you go, that would be a handy little feature for putting the trailer away...

Can someone confirm if manuals are the same?

The 80 series which also had a centre diff lock button used to automatically lock the centre diff when low range was selected so I tested mine and confirmed that the Prado is different, mind you it is easy to modify the 80 series so the centre diff only locks with the button

Very common modification on 80's


Mick

[Whitey1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey1]

Dredging up a really old thread here, I'm really interested in whether this sort of mod is possible on a 120 series 6 speed manual GX.
I was under the impression that the center diff lock is activated electronically, so is it just a matter of putting a switch in the right place?

[Guest Close Guest]

Dredging up a really old thread here, I'm really interested in whether this sort of mod is possible on a 120 series 6 speed manual GX.
I was under the impression that the center diff lock is activated electronically, so is it just a matter of putting a switch in the right place?

For models with traction control, it is activated electronically, but then you can drive in low range without locking the center diff anyway.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

hi
if the grande has a separate button for the centre diff lock
yes you can use low with out engaging 4wd..just put it in low
but do not push the button...
this option should be standard on all prados......

But the Prado is a constant 4wd, whether in high or low.

[Whitey1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey1]

My Prado doesn't have traction control, nor does it have a separate button. I would like to be able to engage low range without locking the center diff. Mainly for reversing the camper up the driveway(hard surface) without winding up the transmission.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

In yours the centre diff is locked before engaging low range. From memory H - HL - LL. The single lever controls two rods which both changes gears and locks the centre differential. I therefore believe it cannot be done. I think the auto transfer case cannot simply be retrofitted to the manual gearbox.

[Whitey1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey1]

I'm not sure that's entirely correct. Yes it locks when you shift to HL, but I think it does it electronically. Of course I could be wrong.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...e-Guard-(TG120)

Which transfer case is yours? It doesn't have the black actuator box does it?

[Whitey1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey1]

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...e-Guard-(TG120)

Which transfer case is yours? It doesn't have the black actuator box does it?

No it doesn't.
Thinking about it last night, I realized I was confusing the way it worked. I was comparing it to how my old Hilux(without center diff), when it wound up the transmission in 4wd on hard surfaces, I was battling to even move the lever out of 4wd without moving backwards and forwards.
I thought that because it was easy to move the lever in the Prado from HL to H even when it was wound up, that the locking must have been electronic. I still need to move backwards and forwards to make the light on the dash go off. So if the lock is not electronic, it must be manual to engage and what, spring loaded to disengage? Otherwise it would disengage as soon as I moved the lever wouldn't it?
Is the center diff a part of the transfer case or a seperate unit?