Rookie needs help

Hey guys... I have a 2021 venture that I’m having an issue with. Probably something simple I’m not doing. I played with the h4 last night for the first time due to some snow fall and everything seemed fine. This morning I went to back up the 4Runner and when I put it in reverse it seemed like neutral. I put it back into park and it made a grinding noise. Can someone offer me some advice how to get it into gear?

 

Welcome to the forum!
It kinda sounds like your transfer case is in N. Does the venture have a manual t-case (I believe) or an electronic dial?
Again welcome & good luck,
Ryan

 

Thanks Ryan. It’s a manual t case. The h4 symbol lights up on the dash.

 

If you see H4 on the dash; it sounds like the T-case is between functions. With the truck off push the lever to 2H. Then start & shift gears to hear any noises.
Just my remote automotive thoughts. I can't imagine it is serious!
Ryan

 

I’ll give it shot. Fingers crossed

 

Oddly I can’t seem to get it into h2. (Symbol on dash is 4lo, neutral or h4)

 

Well now that is interesting...
I don't know the T-case on the 4Runner as ours is only 2 yrs old.
More knowledge or a tow @ dealership cost maybe needed.
How many miles are on it?
Ryan

 

Have you checked the owners manual for 4wheel drive system operations?

Might be some info in there that could help you get it sorted out.

 

Brand new Ryan. 473

 

Thirdyota... yeah I’ve got it open but doesn’t seem very helpful. Is the t case really a u shape like the diagram? Seems to just be straight up and down. 4 lo is up, neutral is middle and h4 is down.

 

Yes, it is a U! Find 4H & pull towards you slightly & go straight up. If you don't get 2H then there is something wrong.
Ryan

 

Appreciate you trying to help. Had my son look at it also and it only seems to go straight up and down (doesn’t pull towards me)

 

I feel horrible for you. I hope it works out for you!
Let us know what you find. This is very odd.
Ryan

 

2H and 4H are in a straight line from one another...on the driver's side of that "U"

Are you sure you are pushing the lever to the point of full engagement? Maybe you aren't really pushing the lever far enough forward.

Sorry to hear the new rig is giving you troubles.

 

If you look at the shifter, you pull straight down from 2H into 4H, then to the right and up for 4lo.

If it's stuck in 4lo, you must be in neutral with engine running to get back to 4hi. You might have to put it back in gear and move a little to get back into 4hi. Then, you can get back into 2hi while in gear or in neutral.

 

Thirdyota... seems I can’t get to the left side of the u. Should this be very simple or do I need to use a little finesse to find h2?

 

Appreciate this advice but when I attempted to back up (put in reverse) the engine just revved so I put it back in park and it made a grinding noise. I agree though it seems like if I could move the 4Runner maybe it would be easier to put in h2.

 

Mine has never been difficult to tell what position it's in. I agree with what @Thatbassguy has suggested.

 

I might try starting the 4runner, putting the regular shifter in neutral, and put the 4wd shifter into 4hi. If that works, put it in gear and roll forward or back a few feet. Then, try putting the 4wd shifter back to 2hi. They don't like being shifted without following the exact procedures in the manual.

Did you go into 4lo at any point??

 

You're doing something wrong.

Use deliberate shifts, think "racking a shotgun", not finessing it gently.

You are in 4L now, yes?

Put the transmission in N.

Rip that transfer lever down through the grinding into 4H.

Put the transmission in D.

Drive forward 15 feet, while moving rip that transfer lever up into 2H.

Drive forward until the green 4WD light turns off.

 

This actually sounds like you are - incredibly - mistaking the T case lever for the transmission lever.

Also, to reiterate, grinding in and out of 4L is normal, you have to shift violently to do it smoothly.

 

Thanks guys I had to go to bed and am off to work now. Will take another look tonight

 

I've only used 4 hi a couple of times on my new 2021 Venture, and for the same reason—snow. I have experienced that you do really have to deliberately move the T-case shifter, as
MeefZah has described. It's certainly not as easy as shifting the transmission from park to drive. Also, to me it seems that if the wheels aren't straight, it doesn't want to shift out of 4 hi to 2 hi very quickly or easily? A little roll or moving it a foot or so seems to help.

Pretty much noob here myself. Hope it works out for you after work.

 

For whatever reason this thread has piqued my interest, unlike the 87 other 4wd operation threads.

I took a few pics on my way in to work to maybe clarify position and operation for OP.

I continue to maintain this is operator error.

Read manual and visor card!

2H



4H



4H dash



4L



4L dash

 

I have a feeling that OP might have shifted towards the right side where it try to go to L4.

Me personally push little towards left when I shift H2 and H4. Just like selecting 1st gear and 2nd gear on old manual transmission cars. (Of cause while driving under 50mph)

Shifting to L4 obviously we come to a stop and select N on the transmission right? Then I push little extra towards right kind of opposite shifting to reverse on manual transmission cars when shifting to L4.

 

I suggest putting the truck in neutral, while it's off, then turn it on and try to get it back into H4, which will be a pull toward you and left. Use a good bit of force there and go quickly. Once you're in H4, some of the lights will leave your dash/cluster, but you'll still see the little "4WD Chassis" pic. Then, preferably while in gear and slowly moving forward (but in Neutral is fine, too), give it a good push STRAIGHT FORWARD into H2. At that point, AFTER you move the truck some by driving, hopefully straight, the light will blink blink blink then turn off completely.

EDIT: Wait, ignore that. You never even went into L2? This shouldn't be difficult haha. Just give her a good push forward, while the truck is on and in neutral, then put it in gear and drive. The 4WD light should turn off after a moment. I bet you're in-between 2WD and 4WD. Now, I'm not *SUPER* familiar with automatics and torque converters as most of my experience is with Manuals and clutches.. so it's possible you'll have to get her into gear somehow (despite a grinding noise) just so that she'll accept you back into her 2WD territory.

 

If you only went into H4, then you never went into the other side of the U. You should still be on the left/drivers side of the U, where only high range is allowed, and operation is easier. Give her a good push. How many lights are lit on your dash re. 4WD, traction control, etc?

 

Very thorough thanks. No light on dash when in h2 right?

 

Doesn’t see to go towards the left. I can’t seem to make the 4wd light on the dash go off. FYI I was able to do this on a couple occasions previously when I was just experimenting (getting used to the 4Runner)

 

Sorry if I wasn't clear. What I meant was I push little towards left when shifting to H2 or H4 the same way I select 1 gear or 2nd gear in a manual car (palm of my right hand facing driver side). The actual movement of the selector will be a straight line.