Hilux 4x4 Forum

Hello Members

I Recently took my 2018 Hilux double cab on a 4x4 course which was great . the issue was that it took a bit long to engage into L4 mode.
we had to keep moving front and back until it engaged. after the course it did not disengage easily. the instructor said it might be a bit sticky and told me I must keep trying once a week to engage it. it is still not doing so. looks like I will have to take it on a longer distance of 500 meters to see if it engage. have any of you guys had a similar problem. I am thinking to send my vehicle back to the dealership for checking. the vehicle is only 3 months old and doing 5000 km.


thank you

Brand new and it do this. Take back to the dealership. This is the problem now that these Hilux is not any more 100% South African manufactured.

Welcome Vicky!

I agree with Hennie - take it back to the dealership.

Just in case you don't know, you should never engage 4WD on any surface that won't allow some slippage of the tyres Like tar roads, hard packed earth etc - you could do some serious damage to the diffs if you try turning.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Mmmm, Andy, are you not thinking abouit difflock maybe?

That is definitely not right. Take it to the dealership.

dax021 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 12, 2018 9:22 pm Mmmm, Andy, are you not thinking abouit difflock maybe?

Nope, but that'll be just as bad if not worse. Try it yourself ...... engage 4x4 on the tar somewhere where you won't be a hazard to other traffic like an empty parking lot an try make a turn (without forcing it). Unless you have a centre diff you're going to experience axle wind-up and the vehicle will want to go in a straight line.

I have to admit that I have done this on the odd occasion but in wet conditions on the open road where turns are gentle. Done not so much for the sake of traction under power but more for the sake of better braking in the wet - SFA's don't have ABS. (It's more difficult for 2 or 3 wheels to lock up than 1 or 2).

Is your van manual or auto.
manual, try release the clutch as your engage 4L, but make sure your main gear lever is in neutral.
if it is an auto, select neutral and then try and engage. you would only need to move your van forward and backwards in a straight line to release any gearbox wind up if you are trying to disengage the 4x4 system or diff lock.