E-Locker engagement after replacing the the automatic 4x4 with manual 4x4 components

Hey!

Haven't been on the forum in a while.

The last time I was on, I was in the middle of swapping out all of my automatic 4x4 components with manual ones, and it has work out very well especially in the field. Previously, I had my transfer case go out twice, once on the Dalton Highway just north of the arctic circle and the other in northern British Columbia and had my ADD malfunction in the middle of the Sonoran desert. All three events were expensive and extremely shitty...especially the dalton Highway deal, stranded for almost 10 days in bad weather waiting for a helicopter with a ton of bears.

Anyhow, this led me to remove all the automatic 4x4 and install all manual components, which has been the best and most cost effective method to resolve the issues. With that said, I had to disconnect the 4x4 ECU to get rid of all the idiot lights on the dash and wire in the two switches for the transfer case sensors and lost the functionality of the E-Locker. Is there a way to hook the E-locker back up using the existing wiring harness and get the dash light indicator of engagement to work or would an independent wiring harness with a switch be the only route.

Thank you for the help in advance.

Cheers!

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/locker-anytime-mod-for-dummies-2005.353724/

 

Thanks Dm93, I have read through this post a few times in the past. The only thing is, this is if you are retaining the 4WD ecu and I am not, which due to the removal of all the automatic 4wd components the 4wd control module is no longer needed and without the connection to the automatic transfer case and ADD it throws the idiot lights. I haven't found a solution on the forum and will probably bypass the entire oem wiring and install an independent harness with switch.

 

I was thinking that mod essentially bypasses the entire locker portion of the 4wd ECU.
I don't know anything about bypassing the system other than that, I have a thread dedicated to diagnosing it when it's broke but bypassing it is another story.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/4wd-system-operation-help-thread.742420/

@6 gearT444E may have some tips, I'm pretty sure he went to manual shift 4wd on his but I'm not sure if his had a locker.

 

I did the same thing. I recently ordered a ‘Chillkat designs’ cable conversion for the e-locker to finish off the mechanical 4wd.

 

the mod replaces the control of the locker with a DPDT switch or relay, no need to keep the 4wd ECU post conversion.

 

J-case, non add gang! Sounds like a hell of a trip up north and in the Sonora des! Cheers!

 

Thank you guys for all of the info and help!

I ended up going with the "low range off road" harness, which I just installed and everything works minus the indication light on the rocker switch itself. I bench tested the switch and when 12v is applied and grounded the the light turns on, I'm thinking it's the ground in harness that is causing the open circuit or the indication switch on the locker is toast and causing an open circuit. However, at least the locker engages and disengages.

@Ricardo13x yeah, It was an adventure for sure. I'm gearing up for another season of work in the Yukon and central Alaska, I think the 4wd will definitely hold up better than the automatic setup. All I need to figure out now, is if I'm pulling the trigger on putting a new engine in it or not before I got to go, have until June to decide, lol!

 

Sound like fun for sure dude!

 

Congrats! Is it an illumination light or just one that comes on when the switch is on?

 

Thanks @6 gearT444E. I believe it's one that turns on when the switch is turned on. I was thinking it maybe the actual indication switch at the locker itself? But I haven't had a chance to test it and I have hard time believing that the indication switch went out.

 

the locker indication switch will light up the dash light. If you had a locker from the factory it will be prewired to do this.

 

yeah it is a factory locker, when I replaced all the automatic 4wd components I got disconnected the 4wd ecu and lost function of the locker. The independent wiring harness works as intended, but the indication light on the switch isn't functioning when the locker is engaged or disengaged.

 

Ah ok. You’ll have to add an additional wiring for that to function, I’ll grab the schematic when I get home.

 

I stand corrected, the diff lock simply monitors the status of the locker, it’s paralleled over to the gauge cluster. I would check the F12 connector terminal 20 and monitor voltage with it locked and you should get 0v, unlocked you should get battery voltage.