2021 TRD Off Road 4X4 Rear differential Lock won't engage

My rear differential lock won't engage. Light keeps flashing. Any tips?

 

Drive slowly while turning a bit. Need to move the axles at different speeds to line up the locking mechanism.

 

Following manual, rolling forward, rolling backward, still won't engage.

 

Have to be in 4Lo, I think?

 

4LO, then drive forward slowly while slowly turning left and right, so locker can mesh with gears. 5MPH Max!

 

Some times it takes a min to fully lock in turn the wheel and move a bit.

 

It took me a few tries with the owners manual opened to finally get mine to engage. Its not instant like when going into 4H. That said , Ive used it that one time just to try it out.

 

The locker engagement is the most reliable for me when driving forward at 1-5 mph. Stop, put it in 4lo, hit the locker button, and start driving forward slowly.

 

Turning the wheel from side to side while moving forward did the trick. And it definitely got easier after getting it to lock the first time. Thanks for the tips!

 

Side to side will not help if its quickly.

You need to be fully in 4low no lights flashing on the dash.

Hit the locker button, be under 5mph and make a turn IN ONE DIRECTION and be rolling so there is a consistent difference in rotational speed of the rear tires. The teeth will align and it will lock into place.

Those that claim they have a hard time getting it to lock in or that it takes a long time to lock (ESPECIALLY on the 3rd gens with the magnetic locking ring) do not know the proper procedure about the various functions of the 4x4 system and how to use them.

 

Someone also mention to engage the locker at least once a month. In 4L to lube the system. The more often it is used, the easer it will engaged.
Aloha

 

The components of the rear locker are all internal, and bathed in oil. The need to 'lube' them with a regular activation is not a requirement like the 2nd lockers. And with the 2nd gen, it was the actuator that needed to be cycled, not the locker components. Also the device that engages the rear locker is an electromagnetic coil with no moving parts. It will either work, or not work if it were to fail.

 

Keep posting those tips up! I’ll try the many circle method but I haven’t been able to get my locker to engage for a looong time