When driving

Shifting between H4 and L4

~2min read
Shifting from H4 to L4

Stop the vehicle completely and
continue to depress the brake pedal.

Shift the shift lever to N.


Type A

Shift the front-wheel drive
control lever to L4.

Type B

Push the “UNLOCK” button and
then push and turn the frontwheel drive control switch to L4.

The low speed four-wheel drive indicator will turn on.

Shifting from L4 to H4

Stop the vehicle completely and
continue to depress the brake pedal.

Shift the shift lever to N.


Type A

Shift the front-wheel drive
control lever to H4.

Type B

Push the “UNLOCK” button and
turn the front-wheel drive control switch to H4.

The low speed four-wheel drive indicator will go off.

When the front-wheel drive control lever or switch is shifted to L4 VSC and TRAC are automatically turned off. If the four-wheel drive indicator flashes The transfer mode may not successfully change. Drive straight ahead while accelerating or decelerating, or drive in reverse. If the low speed four-wheel drive indicator continues to flash The transfer mode may not successfully change. Operate the four-wheel drive control switch again. If the low speed four-wheel drive indicator continues to flash and a buzzer sounds The shift lever is not in N and/or the vehicle is moving. Stop the vehicle completely, shift the shift lever to N and make sure that the indicator stops flashing. If the four-wheel drive or low speed four-wheel drive indicator flashes rapidly There may be a malfunction in the four-wheel drive system. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately. Four-wheel drive usage frequency You should drive in four-wheel drive for at least 10 miles (16 km) each month.

This will assure that the front drive components are lubricated.

CAUTION Shifting the front-wheel drive control lever or switch from H2 to H4 while driving

Never operate the front-wheel drive control lever or switch if the wheels are slipping.

Stop the slipping or spinning before shifting.

Test yourself

A quick Toyota 4Runner quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.