Did i damage my rear locking differential?

I have never used this option on my truck, but this morning i accidently pushed in the button before i pulled out of the garage because i was trying to turn on the fog lights, well, i started up the street and noticed a few minutes later the "locking differential" button started flashing, then the ABS, etc. the other related lights. I must have drove 4-5 mil;es before i relaized what had happened, and i turned it off and it went away. Truck seems to be driving fine but i am concerned i might have damaged something, its a 2015 Tacoma TRD off road. Sorry, dont mean to sound like a moron, just not familiar with this. I looked in the owners manuel when i got to work and i says not to drive more than 5mph with it on, well, i was easily going 45-50 for at least 4 miles before realizing what happened.

 

Your fine. My actuator shit the bed 2 years ago. I moved the gear into the locked position and have been driving with a locked rear differential ever since. 120kmh highway, around parking lots, everything.

The 5 Mph deal is more for the driver than the components of the truck.

 

Was this on your 03 model? mine is a '15

 

Yes. It's the same setup.

If you want to be certain the locker is still working, try it. Shift into 4lo, press locker button, wait until the diff lock button stops flashing (you may have to move forward a bit, turn side to side slightly).

 

You should be ok. It was flashing because it was not engaged yet. Is your truck a 4WD? The locker will only engage in 4 low. Or if it's a pre runner it has to be in the 2 low.

 

This is a PreRunner, i just had it in regular "D" drive

 

Well after i drove for a mile or so, it quit flashing, and all the lights stayed om, they stayed on for 3-4 miles, before i realized what happened and turned the button off. The button was turned ON while the vehicle was in park, but switched OFF while going 45 MPH, thats why i was afraid maybe i damaged something.

 

wondering if that makes differences

 

Is the D just regular, or is that high or low (sorry if i seem a little dumb asking these questions)

 

There's no 2low on a Prerunner

 

D is drive. There's no such thing as 2low on a Prerunner. Don't know what he was talking about.

 

I don't know how the pre runners work but I would assume you have to shift into low "L" in order to engage the diff lock. Unless you have done the grey wire mod but it doesn't sound like you would have.

Again, your fine. No harm was done even if by chance your diff was locked and you disengaged it at speed.

 

ok, thx

 

Prerunner should lock in drive, but only under 5mph. If it was flashing it was trying to engage. If it was locked while driving, you didn't hurt it. Only difference would be that your tires won't spin at different speeds and one will chirp in a turn. The rear end will want to oversteer bad too around slick corners

 

But after i started up the road, i think it engaged ( although the driving felt totally normal). The lights quit flashing and were all staying on, thats when i finally noticed what was going on and hit the button to disengage. I guess my question is since the lights stayed on and were not flashing did this create any damage?

 

My bad. Wasnt sure and typed before I double checked. I'm used to 4wd and the 4 low process. Glad someone corrected me. Thanks.

 

anyone else ever do this too?

 

PreeRunner problems, takes a lot more to get it to engage in a 4x4

 

But isnt it different with a 4 WD?