4wd L4 H4

[teschna22 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close teschna22]

Hi all, my partner and I have just purchased a Toyota Prado 2012 GX Turbo diesel manual and we are new to 4wding! We've been down to our local beach n just basic 4wding is become a little confusing!! We like cruising in L4 whilst on the beach and that seems to be fine but as we change it back to H4 and turn 4wd off it keeps beeping, we put the vehicle into 1st we are still in 4wd!! Any advice would be greatly appreciated

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

OK so you could read the off road manual in your glove box but basically this is what happens.

1. The car is in H4 all the time
2. When you enter the beach, lower you tyres to 18psi
3. Lock the centre diff if you want (I usually don't)
4. Turn off both TC and VSC if you want (I never do unless towing or churning through soft sand)
5. Have fun

You don't need L4 on the beach, much like you don't need it on the road. L4 just reduces all the hear ratios by around 1/2 - this allows mainly for two things. More torque at the wheels, which in turn allows for slower driving speeds with access to all the engines torque. This usually reserved for climbing, descending, and gaining access to A-TRC which is the aggressive mode of traction control which is useful for crossing ruts. None of which you will find on the beach, on sand you want momentum which means H4 for higher speeds in each gear. The modern diesel has more than enough torque to get you going in all gears H4.

You need to be stopped and in N for L4 to engage/disengage.

Driving on flat sand in L4 is akin to taking photos with a iPad. Don't do it, its embarrassing.

[teschna22 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close teschna22]

Thank you Symo!! Yes we do
need to read the manual but thought it can't be too hard...😁 When we do use L4 and change it back to H4 it doesn't stop beeping even once we've turned 4x4 off put it into 1st gear etc! We've had to turn the vehicle off n turn it on for the electrics to reset! Can we be damaging the car by doing that? We just can't work out why it won't go back into normal?

[madmax1982 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close madmax1982]

Well, on this prados 4x4 cannot be turned of, all time yo are in 4x4 because it has a center differential (torsen type), you can lock it. On automatics, as mine, the only way to change H4-L4 is on P or N. On manuals could be on neutral position..

[madmax1982 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close madmax1982]

Well, on this prados 4x4 cannot be turned off, all time yo are in 4x4 because it has a center differential (torsen type), you can lock it. On automatics, as mine, the only way to change H4-L4 is on P or N. On manuals could be on neutral position..

[leethal1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close leethal1]

Do you have the clutch fully depressed and the vehicle stationary? Both conditions need to be met to change ranges. Personally i like a-trac and low range on sand (soft beaches). On harder beaches h4 is good.

[teschna22 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close teschna22]

Yes Leethal1,the issue is once we have finished 4wd and returning to the bitumen! Yes, we do nutural-clutch in and we change it from L4 (as we like that on our very soft beach) to H4 and change diff back! Hit 1st gear and went to take off but the vehicle is still in H4 4wd and beeping? We did read the manual
And it did say to put it in 1st drive a little then change to Reverse and drive a little and it should work! Haven't had a chance to try it yet but does this sound normal?

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

Yes Leethal1,the issue is once we have finished 4wd and returning to the bitumen! Yes, we do nutural-clutch in and we change it from L4 (as we like that on our very soft beach) to H4 and change diff back! Hit 1st gear and went to take off but the vehicle is still in H4 4wd and beeping? We did read the manual
And it did say to put it in 1st drive a little then change to Reverse and drive a little and it should work! Haven't had a chance to try it yet but does this sound normal?

Rolling forward and back should unwind the driveline if it's struggling to change, but I've never had that issue as I don't unlock the did right after making a turn. Also I rarely lock the diff anyway as it doesn't do much especially on flat surfaces like the beach (regardless or hardness or softness).


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[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

For the centre diff lock it is quite common to have to rock back and forth to disengage it in a manual prado. I always only ask the 4wd actuator to do one thing at a time, unlock the centre diff before swapping to H4. Like has been said, neutral with clutch all the way in when pressing the button/twisting the knob.

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

I ran into the same problem the first time that me and the missus went off road and that beeping is bloody annoying.
I always keep both the owners and offroad manuals in the vehicle just in case I require some info,all I did was stop the vehicle,apply the handbrake,place in neutral and depress the clutch ,then switch back to H4 and then disengage the centre diff I also own an 2012 GX.

cheers.

[Chris_150 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Chris_150]

Hi,
Yep I have a GX manual and sometimes this has happened to me. Best way to avoid this happening is unlock the center diff before you get back to tar or hard surface. Also wait till center diff is unlocked before going back to high range. Also the odd rock back in reverse and forward again helps if it stays stubborn. But best thing is get the center diff unlocked before getting back onto a hard surface.

[teschna22 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close teschna22]

Thank you all for the info, you've all been a great help! Def got the manual books in the top reading piles 😂! Thanx again