E-locker indicator light

I'm only a little familiar with the rear locking diff system. Had it in my 07 FJ but rarely used it and still not certain of correct use/testing of it. I've read my manual and understand how you're supposed to engage it: from a stop in neutral in 4LO etc. Here's where I'm confused....

P.s I have a M/T

Drove out to a place in my area commonly used to play around off-road. Nothing crazy but some tight trails and it is covered in snow slush and ice right now. Didn't need the locker but wanted to test out the system in my new 16. To make a long story short I put it in 4LO drove about 20ft stopped,depressed clutch popped into neutral and pushed locker button. The indicator blinked and I slowly let out the clutch, I believe the indicator went solid briefly but then continued to blink shortly after moving. I couldn't get the indicator to go solid or turn off after that until turning of the engine and restarting. The indicator was off after that. So my question...

Do I have to have tires slipping to be able to engage? Did it ever engage? Does it disengage quickly if you begin to move or go over a certain speed?

I know there are probably tons of threads on this but I'm new to the site and wanted to get input from people using the system in newer trucks. Thanks for any response and sorry for the long post!!

 

I've tried using my locker 3 times. The first two the locker indicator went solid after moving the truck about 10-20' forward after clicking the locker button. Then it started flashing again and wouldn't stop until I shut off the engine, even back in 2H. I never felt it engage.

The 3rd time I tried I had to roll forward a bit to engage, but it finally worked. It engaged until I turned it off again. I checked function by starting from a stop on dry pavement and initiating a turn until I heard/felt the inside wheel slip. Locked and in 4L I imagine any more aggressive turn on dry pavement you risk snapping front/rear axle shafts.

I haven't tried it on a low friction surface yet

 

Yea so you had a similar experience with it. Didn't stop blinking until you turned off the engine the first time. It was weird because even coming to a stop again after trying to lock it, going into N and pushing the button, nothing happened. It just kept blinking until I shut it off which seems to reset the system. I am afraid to engage it on dry pavement CB of possible wear and tear. I'm gonna keep playing with it and hopefully get more insight later. Thanks for the response and hope you're enjoying your OR M/T as much as I am!!

 

Ok I will try this next time. Has the blinking indicator light not turning off and never going solid ever happened to you? What do you think was happening to the system in my case? Why wouldn't it lock? I'm definitely going to try your method bc in a case where your stuck and need it you wouldn't be able to move forward to engage it. So you shouldn't have to move forward at all to engage. Thanks for the insight!

 

I've had issue with mine. Solenoid has been on order for 3-4 weeks. ETA after Xmas

Dealer recently informed me they had anther do the same thing and 'Toyota is working on a fix', whatever that means.

My issue details here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/intermittent-e-locker-issue.399218/

 

I appreciate your response and link to the other thread. After being greatly concerned after reading your thread I had to go try again. Went to abandoned gravel p lot with some snow and tried it. Went right into 4HI and 4LO then pushed the locker button. It turned solid immediately and I drove a little and could feel it was locked. Stopped neutral hit the locker button again and it started blinking immediately, drove a few feet and it turned of. Quickly out of 4LO and 4HI into 2HI and off I went! I'm a happy camper as of now. I again want to thank you for the insight and link and hope your problem gets resolved sooner than later. I will continue to follow your thread to see results.