I have a 2019 Toyota 4runner SR5 Premium with 46k miles. I got my car washed yesterday including the spray under the car to get the salt off. I drove the car about 2 miles back to my house and parked it in my driveway. I let the car sit over night where the temperature dropped to about 17 degrees. The next morning, I started my car and put it into drive and it did not move. I put it into reverse and same thing. The car reved up but did not move. After about 5 mins of switching between drive and reverse, I heard a clunk like when putting my car into 4 wheel drive and it began to drive normally. 4x4 was not engaged. I had the front and rear diff fluid changed at 40k miles. Is this something to do with water freezing the rear axle or a bigger issue? Thanks.
Was your parking brake engaged? Those frequently freeze up under those conditions. The clunk you heard was probably the brake releasing.
You were lucky you got the door unlocked and open.
Puzzle me this...water sprayed with pressure, door locks, weatherstripping, brake rotors/drums, brake pads/shoes...17 degees. 😯
Of course stuff is going to freeze !
No. A thin layer of ice won't prevent an axle from turning.
It's more likely that some water got into a wire connector. Or perhaps it froze your transmission shifting cable.
Seconding others: … parking brake! You apply a wet brakes and temperature goes below freezing overnight? Frozen brakes 100% of a time, …
F.S.
Yeah, I always leave the parking brake off in those kind of conditions.