Engaging Diff Lock

New here: Per the Manual, you must be in 4 Lo to engage diff lock. I don't think you need to be in Neutral. I have tried it a few times and it always engages .Sometimes the red flashing icon on the display will flash for a short time then become solid. Sometimes it seems to go solid quicker. Does the drivetrain need to turn? Is it normal to have a delay? The instructions are not super detailed. Like what does "flashing rapidly" mean? Seems it either flashed or solid.
Thanks

 

Things in the diff have to line up for it to lock. Sometimes they are lined up when you engage it and it will lock immediately. If things are not lined up, you may have to turn one way or the other to get the wheels turning at different speeds, then it will lock.

In a situation where you need it, typically one wheel is spinning, so it will not have a problem locking.

 

Thanks, I was thinking so but never had diff lock before. This TRD OR is something else. I saw a U-tube where it was racing a Hummer in a desert to the top of a large sand hill. No contest. Tacoma to the top waiting, Hummer bogged down, never made it. Impressive. Hummer prob too heavy for some situations. Hummer impressive however

 

Sometimes it's tricky getting it to go into 4L as well as diff lock. Just keep playing with it until it clicks in. Turn steering a couple of times or move truck back or forward a bit (spin tires), put it reverse or drive then back to neutral etc

 

Thanks for advice

 

Oh man. You wont belive what a difficult time I've had with the 4lo. I wish they had simply added a lever for it. Much easier. But what I've learned is if the 4lo doesn't engage, putting it in neutral then in gear gets it going.

 

According to manual you must put in N before switching to 4 Lo. And I agree, if it still won't go , back to N then try again. Already done that. Good advice. My '99 had lever actuated transfer case and Manual hubs. I never minded it.

 

yeah manual hubs rock, because you can do 2lo. In my manual it says you can engage 4 lo while going below 2MPH. but trying to go below 2mph and getting 4lo to engage is a challange of it's own, so I normally stay stationary engage 4lo and switch between neutral and drive. If it doesn't engage in neutral the first time, putting it in drive, then neutral again does the trick.