Rear diff lock just blinks

As the title suggests, my rear diff lock won't engage, it just blinks. I know the actuator spins freely when pressing the button. I determined this by unbolting the actuator and watching it spin as I press the button I can manually slide the locking collar/ gear inside the rear diff. I think the angle/ position I am indexing the actuator gear with the diff worm gear thing is my problem.

Can someone explain to me like I am a 5 year old how to install the rear actuator so everything is in the right position? I have tried 3 times with no luck.

Related concerns:

-4 hi and lo are functioning flawlessly- have troubleshot that whole part of the system.
-have checked, but not replaced limit switch on rear diff
-Havent tried to engage it in action- usually just in my drive. Not sure if rear wheels slipping would allow things to align and let it slip into locked mode.

Any advice or links to threads with a walkthrough appreciated.

 

It will only engage in 4LO. Try putting the truck in 4LO, pressing the button, then ease off the brake/clutch. Once you're rolling very slowly turn "S" shape to allow everything to align in the rear end

 

I am aware of how the system works. Only trying to engage while in 4lo, having tried every variation of forward, backward, s turns, etc.

 

Well shit. You got yourself a problem, bud!

Just making sure you were aware of the process... you'd be surprised how many aren't!

 

Haha, no worries. Hope that didn't sound harsh- having fixed the rest of the actuators myself I have had a lot of practice with the procedure for use of the 4wd system.

 

took me a solid 30 minutes of driving in a circle to engage mine when I bought my truck. Its a finicky system if you dont regularly use it.

 

Need everything in matching states. FSM walks you through having it all in the locked state with the match marks.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/e-locker-actuator-motor-install.466058/

When your light just blinks jack up the truck and determine if you're actually locked or not. That'll tell you if it's the locking mechanism or the indicator switch.

 

Thanks so much for the link! I read through there and let me check my reading comprehension:

1) switch, locker, and actuator need to be in the locked position to install
2) Line up position using the center line of the actuator and slider hole in actuator
3) rotate actuator on the slider pin toward driver side while everything is in the locked position
4) bolts in, actuate to unlock, then operate as usual

*check limit switch as if it is sticking, locker may engage, but light will still show as blinking (like mine does currently).

 

When I didn't use mine for awhile it took many attempts to finally get mine to engage. I had to put my truck in and out of 4 low and and I had to to put the Rear Diff in and out and try the small S's several times. it was like it was gummed up inside there. I bet I tried for an hour or more and it finally engaged. Now I use it once a month on my dirt road.