99k mile 1996 SR5 V6 4x4 Auto

What's up everybody! Restored a few cruisers in my day, but new to the 1st gen tacoma world (photo attached). Found this beauty last week, flew into Austin on Monday and drove it home to OKC. Most of the important boxes are checked for me - low miles, body and frame in great shape, motor/transmission run smooth, 4x4 works. Definitely having to do a few things to get it pristine but it is DAMN close to a fully original piece of history. Drives smoother than new trucks I've had.

A couple issues I would love guidance on:
1. I pushed in the rear diff lock to test it, and the button just stuck in. It didn't appear to actually engage the diff lock, although I'm not sure how to tell. Should I pull the dash apart or is there something electronic that could be keeping it pushed in?
2. Same issue with the cruise control button - pushed in, stays, doesn't engage cruise.
3. AC blows decently cold for a while, then warms up a little. I plan on charging it today to see if that helps. BUT the blower intermittently stops working. The owner told me to just "smack" the blower under the glove box to get it back on...yeah. Would love to fix that.

These are the main things at the moment. Everything else I think I have a handle on. Please advise!

Hope everyone is having a great week on or off road!

 

Oh, also, and pardon my major ignorance here, but I noticed that the front hubs do not have manual lockers on them. I'm not used to that in these older trucks. Any idea why? Are they auto lockers that automatically engage when going in 4 low? Thanks!

 

I smell something. the locker is not factory. What else has been altered? Why would you add freon if it is not needed?
It must be in 4 lo for the diff lock to work (See gray wire mod) I think 95 was the man hubs.
Cruise could be many things, do a search for troubleshooting.
check the blend door actuator and repair/replace the blower motor.

Nice truck, enjoy

 

Thanks, aroma. What do you mean you smell something and that the locker is not factory? Are you saying this model should not have come with a rear diff locker?

 

I don't have much advice for you, but i'm weirdly diggin that ultra 90's side decal. lol

 

You might have a very rare Tacoma. 1996 was the first year that you can get a factory locking differential as a stand alone option.

 

Op needs to keep this jacket (or something equivalently colorful) on hand in the truck.


Congrats on a great find!

 

^this, what you have there is a limited. It can have a factory locker as an option. Most likely it was never used or rarely used and the actuator needs to be cleaned or replaced. Or someone is messing with you and stuck a switch in the dash for fun. Take a look at driver side of the the rear diff to confirm.

You don't have manual hubs you have ADD hubs. They will engage when you shift the transfer case into 4 hi.

 

Not to insult your intelligence, but did you follow the locking sequence correctly when attempting to lock the diff? it's a whole dance and can be tricky at times for it to engage

 

Yes. I have been corrected that it could have been a special order but I have never seen one. Crawl under and see.

 

Have you verified the truck actually has the e-locker motor mounted on the rear diff? The locker engagement motor will be on the front, drivers side of the rear axle and should be visible looking under the truck from the drivers side of the truck. The little motor will be mounted a coupe of inches to the right of where the driver shaft enters the rear diff.

The diff lock button on the dash should be mounted to the left of the steering wheel. The dash panel right below it and the steering wheel can be easily removed for access to the switch. The diff lock button is spring loaded. Press it once to engage, it stays depressed until you press it a second time.

Verify the cruise control module is properly connected. There is a power plug running to it on the passenger side fender in the engine bay. There will also be a control cable running to it from the throttle body.

Post up some pic of the engine bay as well as the the area I described for the rear diff e-locker motor.

ADD mentioned earlier stands for Automatic Disconnect Differential and means there are no wheel hubs to engage. Does your 4x4 shift lever have a 4WD button on the side of it?

 

What a gem. Congratulations OP!