We took the GX on a trip and played with the H/N/L shifter. The owners manual is miserable at any explaination on this topic. It feels like the shifter is in the middle position but the engine feels like it's pulling and it is devouring the gas. How do I know if it's back in "N"? There isn't an indicator light. Any ideas?

 

It's supposed to be in "H" for street driving, and "L" when low range is needed.

Dan

 

Like Purple said, for normal driving you want it pulled back all the way to "H". For off roading / hill climbing you would push it all the way forward into "L". Since the transfer case is roughly a 2.5:1, your RPMs would greatly increase and result in horrible gas consumption if you left it in "L" for normal driving. Based on your description it sounds like maybe it's still in low range.

 

Can someone please explain the proper uses for the H N L positions on the 4-wheel drive lever? I understand when to use L, but the manual is virtually useless for explaining the difference between N and H. Even more sad, no one at the dealer could answer the question.

 

Gx is full time 4 wheel drive its normal driving.its saposed to be H position

 

I realize that it is full-time 4WD...but why is there an N setting, and what is it for?

 

Oh! my god every transmission has to have N position I never see the transmisson dont have N ... N is mean nature went the mechanic thay check your car or repair transmission some time thay have to put N position .

 

"N" stands for Neutral. If the transfer-case is in Neutral, it is neither in "H"-High-range nor "L"-Low Range; the same as your transmission being in neither Reverse nor Drive.

If you were in low-range, the engine would be at extremely high-RPMs on the highway (i.e., screaming at you). The owner's manual is actually pretty good for its detail. The driver's side sun visor also has a "Cliff's Notes" version for operating off-road.

Mods, please delete this thread before someone from discoweb sees it.

 

I am not referring to the gear shift lever, which obviously has an N.

There is a second adjacent lever in the vehicle for the 4 WD. It has a H N L setting. I know what L means because the manual explains it. However, the manual says virtually nothing about the difference between N and H. Noone has been able to explain this...including two Lexus dealers. So, someone give me an intelligent answer.

Hey, I didn't start this thread. I came here for help...not insults.

 

Neutral in the transfer case is for dragging the GX behind a motorhome or something like that.

 

Both the transmission and t-case have neutral settings. N in the t-case means the transfer case isn't engaged. In other words, the input (from the transmission) can be turning but it won't drive either of the front/rear driveshafts. If you left the t-case in N, the engine would rev, but the car wouldn't move. Since it sounds like you were moving, you are either in L or H. The top speed for L is around 35mph or so, and you'd probably be near red line on the tach at that speed!

When you shift from H to L or L to H, you should have the vehicle either stopped or definitely < 5mph (I always stop it), at least on the LX/LC since the t-case is gear driven. If the shifting speed in the owner's manual is much higher, it's likely a chain driven t-case like on the 2nd-3rd 4runners. The reason for the slow speed while shifting is so you don't shock the gears (the low t-case gears need to mesh/match up, so the rotational speed difference between the turning gears needs to be small).

 

Thank you Jim, for your usual detailed explanation.

It has been a long time since I had to remind everybody to play nice here, but I guess it is time to bring up our rules again. The short version is that we treat each other with respect. The more detailed version is available via link at the top of the page.

Good rule of thumb- If you wouldn't want your child or your mother either reading what you wrote or what was written about you or to you, it shouldn't be here.