Locking Rear Diff.

mws4ua · 10-20-2008, 06:41 AM

I spent 12 minutes in my driveway this morning trying to get the locking rear differential to unlock. I'm not sure why it was on in the first place, but I don't doubt that I accidentally hit the button.

I tried cycling the button on and off. I tried with the engine on and in Drive, I tried in Park, I tried with the engine off. Nothing worked for 12 minutes! Then I tried while slowly rolling forward and turning the steering wheel back and forth and it worked. (I read the owner's manual, which suggested something similar, though it didn't speak to it getting stuck in lock.)

Is there something wrong with my truck, or is the "turn off while rolling forward and turning the wheel back and forth" the way to do it?

mws4ua · 10-20-2008, 09:07 AM

Bump... Just to see if anybody's had this experience.

Thanks.

TacoNut · 10-20-2008, 09:20 AM

Perfectally normal. The gears in the diff have to be turning the right way to engage/disengage.

Janster · 10-20-2008, 10:11 AM

It's pretty normal to have to roll/rock the vehicle to get the locker to disengage. You're helping relieve the torque on the drivetrain so it can disengage.

Since you have a Prerunner - the act of turning the wheel probably makes the vehicle roll a small bit to allow the locker to disengage. BUt otherwise - turning the wheel wouldn't do much in the actual 'disengagement' process.

When you have a 4WD with a front locker - steering the wheel helps disengage the locker because it's more directly connected to the axle shafts than your situation.

mws4ua · 10-20-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TacoNut

Perfectally normal. The gears in the diff have to be turning the right way to engage/disengage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janster

It's pretty normal to have to roll/rock the vehicle to get the locker to disengage. You're helping relieve the torque on the drivetrain so it can disengage.

Since you have a Prerunner - the act of turning the wheel probably makes the vehicle roll a small bit to allow the locker to disengage. BUt otherwise - turning the wheel wouldn't do much in the actual 'disengagement' process.

When you have a 4WD with a front locker - steering the wheel helps disengage the locker because it's more directly connected to the axle shafts than your situation.

Thank you both. I couldn't figure out why turning the wheel mattered. I guess it was just ancillary to the rolling I was doing anyway.

Thanks again!

RCBS · 10-30-2008, 11:48 AM

the more you use it, the easier it will lock/unlock. mine used to be a PITA but has gotten better with more usage.

jftaco · 11-29-2008, 05:09 PM

I think I've figured out DISengaging the locker (by rolling forward about 20-30 feet). What I can't figure out is consistently ENgaging it.

I can turn on/off the Auto LSD function all day long with just the push of the button.

But the manual is clearly full of poop where the locker is concerned. It basically says to 'stop the wheels', then push the button, light blinks, then turns solid. Done. Then, to turn off, just push button; voila! Uh huh. Yeah, right.

Now I'm reading in the forums about plenty of folks like me who have difficulty turning it on/off. Pretty bad job on the manual given there's obviously so much more to it than pushing buttons.

(Oh, mine's a new 09 PreRunner Off Road pkg --- so any advice for ENgaging the locker more consistently; particular order/steps? Thank you.)

chris4x4 · 11-29-2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jftaco

I think I've figured out DISengaging the locker (by rolling forward about 20-30 feet). What I can't figure out is consistently ENgaging it.

I can turn on/off the Auto LSD function all day long with just the push of the button.

But the manual is clearly full of poop where the locker is concerned. It basically says to 'stop the wheels', then push the button, light blinks, then turns solid. Done. Then, to turn off, just push button; voila! Uh huh. Yeah, right.

Now I'm reading in the forums about plenty of folks like me who have difficulty turning it on/off. Pretty bad job on the manual given there's obviously so much more to it than pushing buttons.

(Oh, mine's a new 09 PreRunner Off Road pkg --- so any advice for ENgaging the locker more consistently; particular order/steps? Thank you.)

Engauge locker button while moveing about 5 mph while turning the wheel back and forth. Same process to dis engauge.

10-20-2008, 06:41 AM	#1
mws4ua Southern by the Grace of God Joined: May 2008, #6624 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 26 Gender: Male Posts: 575 '06 Prerunner TRD Off Road 2006 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 V6	Locking Rear Diff. I spent 12 minutes in my driveway this morning trying to get the locking rear differential to unlock. I'm not sure why it was on in the first place, but I don't doubt that I accidentally hit the button. I tried cycling the button on and off. I tried with the engine on and in Drive, I tried in Park, I tried with the engine off. Nothing worked for 12 minutes! Then I tried while slowly rolling forward and turning the steering wheel back and forth and it worked. (I read the owner's manual, which suggested something similar, though it didn't speak to it getting stuck in lock.) Is there something wrong with my truck, or is the "turn off while rolling forward and turning the wheel back and forth" the way to do it? __________________ There are no stupid questions... only inquisitive idiots!

10-20-2008, 09:07 AM	#2
mws4ua Southern by the Grace of God Joined: May 2008, #6624 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 26 Gender: Male Posts: 575 '06 Prerunner TRD Off Road 2006 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 V6	Bump... Just to see if anybody's had this experience. Thanks. __________________ There are no stupid questions... only inquisitive idiots!

10-20-2008, 09:20 AM	#3
TacoNut Wanna see me FLEX-O? Joined: Mar 2008, #5597 Location: Snobsdale, Arizona Gender: Male Posts: 832 08 Prerunner SR5 TRD OR Acess Cab 2008 Access Cab Automatic 4.0L 1GR-FE V6 Aux. Reverse Lights, Bed Tool/Survival Box, Locking Bed Storage Compartments, Extra D-Rings, Trimmed Mudflaps, Hose Clamp Mod,Mag Light Seat Mount, Door open buzzer removed =], Fully Debadged, BHLM, Tw sticker, Husky floor liners, Fog light mod	Perfectally normal. The gears in the diff have to be turning the right way to engage/disengage. __________________ I am Adam, And I approve this message. Sig by Robrjohnson

10-20-2008, 10:11 AM	#4
Janster Pre Senior Citizen Joined: Mar 2007, #1138 Location: Lancaster, PA Age: 41 Gender: Female Posts: 2,920 2007 4.0L 4x4 TRD Sport Access Cab A 2007 Access Cab Automatic 4.0L Advantage Torza top (tri-fold), Husky floor mats, RuffTuff seat covers, C2C hood struts, Homelink mirror, Ipod2car (80gig Classic/4gig nano), Garmin Nuvi 660, Protecta Bed mat, Pop-n-lock, TSB Springs, Scangauge II, Heated drivers seat, Fumoto drain valve, Aries pushbar, PIAA 540 fog lights, Hood scoop grahics, Flowmaster 50 series dual catback exhaust.	It's pretty normal to have to roll/rock the vehicle to get the locker to disengage. You're helping relieve the torque on the drivetrain so it can disengage. Since you have a Prerunner - the act of turning the wheel probably makes the vehicle roll a small bit to allow the locker to disengage. BUt otherwise - turning the wheel wouldn't do much in the actual 'disengagement' process. When you have a 4WD with a front locker - steering the wheel helps disengage the locker because it's more directly connected to the axle shafts than your situation. __________________ Our Homepage http://www.lieblweb.com/ My truck photo gallery http://www.lieblweb.com/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=16

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10-30-2008, 11:48 AM	#6
RCBS Senior Member Joined: Apr 2008, #5845 Location: Ohio Posts: 134	the more you use it, the easier it will lock/unlock. mine used to be a PITA but has gotten better with more usage.

11-29-2008, 05:09 PM	#7
jftaco Junior Member Joined: Nov 2008, #11120 Location: Northern California Gender: Male Posts: 9 09 PreRunner Off Road Pkg 2009 Access Cab Automatic	I think I've figured out DISengaging the locker (by rolling forward about 20-30 feet). What I can't figure out is consistently ENgaging it. I can turn on/off the Auto LSD function all day long with just the push of the button. But the manual is clearly full of poop where the locker is concerned. It basically says to 'stop the wheels', then push the button, light blinks, then turns solid. Done. Then, to turn off, just push button; voila! Uh huh. Yeah, right. Now I'm reading in the forums about plenty of folks like me who have difficulty turning it on/off. Pretty bad job on the manual given there's obviously so much more to it than pushing buttons. (Oh, mine's a new 09 PreRunner Off Road pkg --- so any advice for ENgaging the locker more consistently; particular order/steps? Thank you.)

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