No power to wheels after getting stuck on the beach

[Dane Fehlberg Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Dane Fehlberg]

Hi community
I got our 120 series Grande (Auto) bogged on the beach today. Trying to climb out, I heard a grinding noise behind the front wheels.
now, in high or low range, when I engage it in drive or reverse, the car won’t move, but a grinding sound is behind the front right wheel.
if I engage the centre diff lock, I can drive it, but not without the diff locker engages.

what does it sound like is broken?

[Dane Fehlberg Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Dane Fehlberg]

If I have a broken front diff, is there anything I should do to prevent that? Anyone point me in the right direction for good upgrades?

[adrian5800 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close adrian5800]

It would be unlikely to bust a crown wheel and pinion on sand but not impossible I guess. Have someone in the car trying to drive while you carefully look at what tailshafts or the CVs are doing..

[Guest Close Guest]

Driving on beach still its making this noise, or on road? Grande has traction control, will make the noises you state on beach, momentum here is your friend in sand and drop tyre pressures. If its doing it on road, may have busted a CV..

[Dane Fehlberg Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Dane Fehlberg]

Thanks guys, a crown wheel and pinion in the diff makes sense, I have been reading up on them today. There is movement on one side of the diff - and nothing the other side.

Piggy, she won’t go - at all. If I put it in drive or reverse the front wheel crunches but it won’t go anywhere. Unless I engage the centre diff, in which case I can drive - but will still crunch, just less.

off to the off road centre tomorrow to hand over some cash

[RPP Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RPP]

Possible front right CV broken somewhere and right hand drive shaft is just spinning.
Thats maybe why no drive until centre diff engaged. Then you'll get drive on the rear wheels.

[Guest Close Guest]

If its crunching on one side of the front wheel its a CV if in centre its Diff. Pull the front shaft out, Lock centre diff and drive it out.

[Dane Fehlberg Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Dane Fehlberg]

Update. We have had it in the 4x4 shop. The front right CV was completely snapped, the front left had a heavy crack in it. I had both replaced.

we drove 400km this weekend, and the brand new front right CV joint has completely failed again, with the wheel arch full of of brand new clean grease from when it pulled apart.

its not user error. The lockers weren’t on, it was in high range and in drive. The car is getting transported back to the 4x4 shop on a truck for diagnosing and possibly warranty repairs.

wish I knew what was going on.

[Guest Close Guest]

If it isnt just a CV boot failure (Was there any crunching noise the second time?) Ask them to put it onto a computer 4 wheel aligner and make sure for starters that the car is actually straight! All 4 wheels where they should be. It shouldn't destroy driveshafts that quick! When you say Diff Locker. Do you have just the centre diff lock (standard) button on the centre console. which locks front to rear. Or do you have extra diff locks added on each front and rear diff? Air lockers or the like? Sounds like it may have done some heavy 4wding if its busting front shafts like that?! Have you owned since new?>

[Guest Close Guest]

Possible front right CV broken somewhere and right hand drive shaft is just spinning.
Thats maybe why no drive until centre diff engaged. Then you'll get drive on the rear wheels.

It should still drive thru the rear.. Otherwise every time you get a wheel in the air the car becomes a 1 wheel drive.. Not how it works.

[Dane Fehlberg Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Dane Fehlberg]

I’m confused too, piggy. I don’t know why one busted cv leaves me with no power to the wheels. As you say, if that wheel goes in the air, I can’t go anywhere?

no, it’s second hand, but it has a clean history. No write offs or accidents. The red book assessment and mechanical inspections were fine. All the panels are straight, nothing creaks or squeaks, everything looks straight as a die underneath.

ill get them to check the wheels of course. Still very confused though. I’ll let you know.

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

I don't know about the 120 but later 150's can drive in low range and still have the 3rd diff working.
You have to push the centre diff lock button to lock all four.
Sounds like your car has this system and with the busted CV, it was sending all power to the broken joint.
Can't see any other explanation.
Was much easier in the 90 with a separate transfer case lever.

[Guest Close Guest]

I think you may need to get the driveline tested right out. Something is not right... Even with front driveshaft out it should drive from the rear.

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

As the Prado is constant 4wd and has a third diff then you will lose drive when one wheel/axle fails or is in the air unless the centre is locked.
Piggy I think your having a bad day

[Guest Close Guest]

As the Prado is constant 4wd and has a third diff then you will lose drive when one wheel/axle fails or is in the air unless the centre is locked.
Piggy I think your having a bad day

:P
Yeah, likely right.. Should have added with centre diff locked.. I know we did this once to get a vehicle out of a jam after smashing the front shafts.