4x4 lock up

[ywork Member Find all posts View Profile Close ywork]

Hi there
We spent a week on Fraser Island and did allot of sand driving in my 120 4l Prado Grande, we did not have any issues with the car until 5 days into the trip when one morning we got in the car to drive to the beach and the car would not move, I tried reverse but nothing then in drive nothing. The 4x4 diff lock was still engaged as I left it like this from the day before. Eventually I put the car in drive and it made a loud clunk noise from under the car then moved forward normally. There was no problem after this. But this was concerning that when left in 4 wheel drive over night this would happen this is an Auto gearbox so was wondering if anyone has had something like this happen to them. This is a Grande so you just engage the 4x4 by pressing a button on the consol.
Any ideas?
Cheers

[Seththecursed Member Find all posts View Profile Close Seththecursed]

Re: 4x4 lock up

Possible diff. wind up? Was you parked on a high grip surface? Did you have to swing your car into the spot you parked or drive straight in? Just throwing some ideas in. Just thinking if you had a bit of diff. wind up it might have needed a bit more effort to get you moving (slip the wheels a bit to unwind). Have you ever tried to push a 4wd that is stuck in 4wd on bitumen. Not a chance. Diff. winds up and no go. This could be what your describing or I may be way off.

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

Re: 4x4 lock up

My best guess would be the handbrake locked up. Did you go through water at all? If you did and it splashed up into the handbrake drums, then I would lay money on it, that this is your problem.

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

Re: 4x4 lock up

There is another thread of this topic already.

In gear, car won't go !

The consenses is that it is the result of the handbrake getting wet.

[ywork Member Find all posts View Profile Close ywork]

Re: 4x4 lock up

Thanks guys for your thoughts.
Yes did go through water and also washed the sand off the underside of the car the night before so you may be right about the water. The parking was not uphill or in any tight corner just a straight parking in the middle of the yard.
Just a question you say handbrake drum are you referring to brake drums at the rear as my Prado had disks no drums?

Cheers

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

Re: 4x4 lock up

Thanks guys for your thoughts.
Yes did go through water and also washed the sand off the underside of the car the night before so you may be right about the water. The parking was not uphill or in any tight corner just a straight parking in the middle of the yard.
Just a question you say handbrake drum are you referring to brake drums at the rear as my Prado had disks no drums?

Cheers

You will have a little drum in the centre of the rear disk rotars, therein is your hand brake shoes like the good old drum brake days - have a close look. I will try and find a photo.

Edit: have a look at Chippy's build up, page 6. viewtopic.php?f=38&t=2818&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=100

[johna Member Find all posts View Profile Close johna]

Re: 4x4 lock up

Had mine (2003) do the same thing. It was the handbrake drum brakes causing the problem. Big bang, thump, and let go and all ok thereafter.
Washed underneath with a gurney the day before and put straight in shed prior day or so. Always, now after using gurney, I go for a short drive to blow water out of hidden holes etc and apply handbrake on/off a few times to warm drums and dry shoes.

[ywork Member Find all posts View Profile Close ywork]

Re: 4x4 lock up

Thanks Prado BB you learn something every day I did not know this and this was 4 sure the culprit as I washed the car yesterday and they were stuck this morning. So seems as soon as I have done the cleaning out of the sand need to go for a drive to dry out the drums.
Cheers
Wayne

[SteveA Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close SteveA]

Re: 4x4 lock up

Great thread, and am hoping this was the problem with my car this week. My 08 D4D Auto had been washed and left parked on (level) street for about 3 days. When engaging "D" or "R" wouldn't move more than 1/4 inch and could feel transmission winding up and straining. Handbrake was "released" and even in "N" for both auto and transfer box wouldn't move or roll at all. I wasn't brave enough to give it more revs until it moved - too afraid of breaking something in the transmission, as it was really straining! (We've just had to replace Transfer case, but that's another story!).

Poor Prado was dragged onto back of NRMA tilt-tray truck by his winch, but of course when it arrived at the dealers.... no problem. Dealer kept it overnight and apparently checked all of transmission but couldn't find any problems, nor replicate what I was describing.

So - have driven it home and hopefully problem won't re-occur. But, will also try the heat/dry brakes after washing just to be sure.
Cheers,

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

Re: 4x4 lock up

I had this after parking my car overnight during a trip up north in the rainy season. One way to brake the rust lock is to engage low range and select drive or reverse. There should be enough torque multiplication to brake the rust/sand/mud lock.

[Thegriffin Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Thegriffin]

Re: 4x4 lock up

Had this problem recently after multiple river crossings, now if I park on the flat after dipping the wheels I don't use the handbrake and just leave the car in gear overnight. No more problems.

[Toy Pradopetty Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Toy Pradopetty]

Re: 4x4 lock up

Its funny how when u read things, you think how could that happen? 2 days later i wash my car in the afternoon, polish, and park where it normally parks, thinking nothing of this thread.
Next morning, start car, select reverse, and vrooom, nothing. I thought, ohh crap. Then i remembered what i did and thought, give a little more juice and "BANG" Moving no worries. Thank God for reading and this Forum. Great Thread guys and girls

Cheers

Frank