Transfer Case Shift Knob differences

My 2003 sr5 has the shift knob with the 4wd button on the side of it and I really don't see too many other first gens that have that. Most I see just have the L shape pattern for the transfer case and I was wondering why? Was that just something that was exclusive to 2003 tacos or maybe just a certain trim package? Not really important it just caught my attention and has me wondering

 

There's a few threads on this but I think the consensus was that it was an option for all 4WD trucks. Not related to special trims or cab variations or transmission type.

There's pros and cons to each.

Some will argue that the push button actuator could give out, and the manual lever tcase doesn't have an actuator, so it's more reliable. But in many cases, they're just as reliable. Mines, along with most others, never failed me.

Then there's the pro of the push button, in which you can activate 4lo gearing without pushing the button and actually going into 4WD. Useful for when starting to tow or at a boat ramp, etc. I think it'd accomplished by disconnecting a wire under the tcase but I'm not 100% sure.

 

Thank you. It was bothering the shit out of me because I see most without the button and didn't understand why some had it. Why would you want to go into 4lo without pressing the button? Whenever I've pulled my boat out of the water with my dad's nissan frontier (haven't had to use my tacoma yet) I usually just have it in 4 low when I back down and then just drag it out. Why couldn't you press the button and just go to 4 low in that situation?

 

You know, I completely agree with you on the boat ramp situation. I've just heard of someone using that way. The only realistic situation I would enjoy being in 4lo gearing without actually being in 4WD, is slow California traffic on the freeway or reversing a trailer. Both situations would save my clutch from having to engage and disengage and riding it.

 

I was under the impression they got rid of the j shift after 1997 and every truck after that had push button. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

Did a quick Google and I was wrong.

 

Oh I see what you're saying now. The button is what would make it all 4 wheels and the lever selects the gears....yeah that makes sense. I don't think I'd really need to use it like that but good to know

 

Lmao yeah now you see why I was confused. I thought it had something to do with the year but I've seen some older than mine with it and newer ones without it and it was driving me crazy

 

Way back when the top trim was an SR5 (95-97), A.D.D with the push button came with that trim.

After that idk what happened.

 

I find that from 95-00 (right before the '01 redesign) most of the 4x4's were the standard J-Shift manual hub versions. A.D.D. was around back then, but most of them weren't the push button 4WD.

The SR5 trim confuses me. Sometimes when a truck has the SR5 trim it's loaded like a Limited with power doors, RS3000, alloy wheels, bucket seats etc. and sometimes the SR5 trim is completely minimal (bench seats, manual doors, 5-lugs, etc.)

My '98 that used to have manual doors, the 3RZ, buckets, 2x4 and no rear locking diff is technically a PreRunner -- but when you look up the VIN it tells me it's an SR5?

Weird.

 

Yeah some of the minor differences confuse me. I guess everything was just an option from the factory and when people bought these trucks from a dealership they pick and choose the combinations that they want.

 

When you look up the VIN on mine it says DLX. Even though mine is a TRD Prerunner SR5

 

packages were all over the place. A lot of them were also "dealer options" in which the dealer could specify which ones they wanted on the vehicles.

the "push button" 4wd was a dealer option more readily found on 01+ but available in earlier years.

here's my window sticker showing the options. FYI there are a lot of push button out there but most of the "base" models had the J-shift even up to '04

 

Push Button was option 'FB' - 'High 4 Selector Switch'