Hello,  I have what is probably a no brainer question, but I want to be safe instead of sorry.  I recently inherited 2 Corolla all-tracs.  One is a 1990 5 speed Corolla All-trac, and the other is a 1991 automatic Corolla all-trac.

My questions is/are - For both the 5 speed and the automatic, should I drive the cars in 2 wheel drive till I need 4wd?  Or can I drive in 4wd all the time?  I've been trying to do research and I could be wrong, but I got outta the reading that with automatic I can have it in 4wd all the time because of anti-slip mechanism, but with the 5 speed only use 4wd when needed.  Is that correct?  

Thanks so much for your time, and I know these are silly questions, but like I said, I want to be safe then sorry.  Any advice would be really appreciated.  Thank you.

~19 year old male from Minnesota

Welcome to the forum!

AFAIK, you can drive either in FWD anytime because they both allow switching out of AWD using the dashboard button. I've never owned an automatic, but have driven five All-Trac wagons with stick. I generally left the transmission in FWD because it reduces wear & also promotes better gas mileage. When the weather started getting hairy, then I'd switch to AWD.

Hope this helps...

i apologize - something happened & your replies got deleted. Please repost if you feel like it.

Oh I just replied with a thank you.  I appreciate all the answers.  I know they are kinda elementary questions but I dont ruin anything.  Any help will be very helpful.  Thanks again!

FWD or AWD ?

In fact, it was 2 cars are AWD ... always!

The dash button is to lock the center diff.

In normal driving, the tranfer case is probably give much more power to the front wheels, but it is an AWD.


This is indicated in the owner's manual and I have owned both. Is the transmission is manual, it is indicated on the button "LOCK" because centir diff gives 50% -50%. With the automatic transmission is "AUTO" because the t-case does the job automatically and chose how much power it has moved forward or backward.

That is why you must remove the "LOCK" (manual trans) as soon as you exit the "trouble" when you can leave the "AUTO" as long as you want with an automatic transmission. The bast way to fell the LOCK is when you make a very close turn (not to good to do)

Then, I get problem with the drive-shaft with both. So I have to remove it to fix it. So I discoverd that the manual trans CAN drive in FWD if the "LOCK" is engage and the auto trans CAN'T dirve in FWD with the "AUTO". The car drive very slow w/hight RPM and you fill liket the trans slip a lot.

SO then, let me see if I understand....I have an automatic.  If I turn off the "auto" button, it is still in 4-wheel drive, just not deciding how much power to give to which wheel?  Then, basically with an Automatic there is no way to get  better gas mileage?  Am I right here or confused?

This is right.

Quoted from Scottydub

SO then, let me see if I understand....I have an automatic.  If I turn off the "auto" button, it is still in 4-wheel drive, just not deciding how much power to give to which wheel?  Then, basically with an Automatic there is no way to get  better gas mileage?  Am I right here or confused?

Correct. There is a great misunderstanding about these cars. They are AWD all the time.
Want proof: just put the car up on jackstands (4 of them) so all 4 wheels are off the ground.  Then get in and turn on the engine and put the car into drive.  All 4 wheels will rotate.  So what is the difference between locking the center differential and not locking the center differential?  When the center differential is unlocked, each wheel is allowed to rotate as needed for proper traction.  But when the center differential is locked, the front and rear wheels rotate in unision for added traction in very tricky situations, such as snow or sand.

Thus there is no way to get the car into 2WD or FWD.  

If you want a car that can switch between FWD and AWD/4WD, check out older late 1980s Toyota Tercel 4WD, or 1980s and early 1990s Subarus.  They had the option to switch between FWD and AWD.

Do I wish the All-Tracs could do this? yes, but oh well.

So is it just the automatics that all wheel drive all the time?  Or is it both automatics and 5 speeds?  The automatics have the button that says "AUTO" and the 5 speeds have the button that says "LOCK."  If thats true, all wheel drive all the time, that would be awesome.  

They are full time AWD.

Quoted from datsa

Thus there is no way to get the car into 2WD or FWD.  

Yes, you can... only with the manual trans... but running a 4wd corolla on 2wd is a shame !

Quoted from David All Trac

Then, I get problem with the drive-shaft with both. So I have to remove it to fix it. So I discoverd that the manual trans CAN drive in FWD if the "LOCK" is engage and the auto trans CAN'T dirve in FWD with the "AUTO". The car drive very slow w/hight RPM and you fill liket the trans slip a lot.

The only time it would be a shame not to run the AWD is during inclement weather. Otherwise, why not keep it in FWD? That way you save gas & wear on the steering/AWD systems.

Makes sense to me.  

Quoted from David All Trac

Yes, you can... only with the manual trans... but running a 4wd corolla on 2wd is a shame !

So, you are saying that when I drive my All-Trac with the lock disengaged (center differential NOT locked), the car is FWD?  And that if I engage the center differential lock, the car is 4WD?
And I don't have to remove the propeller shaft?

Interesting.  I had a different experience when I raised my car on jackstands (4 of them), got in the car, and turned on the engine and put it into drive.  I saw all 4 wheels rotate and looking under the car, I saw the propeller shaft rotate, too.  But I don't recall if the center differential was "locked" or not.  

My project is to attempt this demonstration again this weekend, and I'll remember whether or not the center differential was "locked."   I need to bleed my brakes anyway.

NO.

You say it is impossible to drive a 4WD Corolla in Fwd mode. I say yes, BUT MUST REMOVE THE DRIVE-SHAFT. Read my previous posts...

I do not teach you by saying that without drive-shaft, there is no power on the back wheels. Then, if you remove the drive shaft, there still power go to the front wheels.... so, this way, you can drive the car in Fwd mode… ONLY IF YOU HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION… because you can lock the center diff.

All you say is right. And I already write these cars are FULL TIME 4WD… if it has is drive-shaft.

Man, I know exactly what I write because I have myself experienced it. Before, I had a manual trans and I now have an auto trans.

Don’t forget that:

The manual Trans have a LOCK button and the autos Trans have an AUTO button. Both make almost the same job but the LOCK button literally locks the t-case will the AUTO button lock the t-case when it needs it. It writes something like this in the owner's manual.

If you have time to lose, try it yourself.

If you have a manual Trans and you remove the drive-shaft, the car will not move if you do not engaged the LOCK button. Then, if you have an auto Trans, even with the AUTO button engaged, the car will have great difficulty moving. It will move but as if the transmission slips.

I'm at work and today, I use my Landcruiser. I'm going to check this evening on my corolla owner's manual and I'll refer to the page that talks about the LOCK and AUTO function.