2LO with (manually) locking hubs?

Hi all!
Is there such a thing as manual hubs for our Tacomas?
I want 2LO bad enough that I would go this route. Has anybody done this?
Why, just why would Toyota not allow this to happen electronically?

 

I know there is a mod around here somewhere for 2lo. Go to ttora and look at their cheap tricks section, I think they might have a little write up on it

 

this is one way you can have 2 lo.....

 

As much as I am trying - I can only find a mod for the previous gen Tacomas, here or TTora.
JLink: not what I was looking for, but pretty cool.

 

If I was Toyota, I'd have that mod ready and charge people $300 for it, LOL.

 

Hmmm, I was looking for something that costs me say under $500 to do. Bummer ...

 

It's a 6 speed ...

 

I agree - get an FJ case with twin sticks - i love mine.

That being said you could manually wire your ADD control. That way you can go into 4 lo with out the front ADD engaging and in effect giving you 2lo since the front is not engaged.

I have not tried this - but I thought I did read about someone doing it.

My ADD is manually engaged through a switch now with my FJ case.

 

I would guess this could be done. Haven't tried yet, but will soon enough. I'm sure your dash will light up like a Christmas tree because you'll be in 4wd and the ADD isn't activated, but this SHOULD work... Swapping transfer cases for 2lo seems a little too extreme unless you wheel your truck.

 

Possibly, but you could trick the ECU into thinking it's engaged with some fancy wiring. Haven't tried it yet, but I will soon. I want 2lo but do not wheel my truck so I'll be looking for something cheaper and less involved than swapping the t-case.

 

That's good to know before I start tearing into things. I haven't really started researching this yet and I'd need to get my hands on a wiring diagram (I believe they're posted here somewhere). Good to know there's some sort of lock-out I'd have to find a work around for. I'm guessing a jumper wire to trick the ECU into thinking the ADD is locked would do the trick? Just throwing out the theory, it'd have to be tested out to be sure...

My thought is jumpers to get around whatever locks out the t-case from going into low unless the ADD is connected and some re-wiring to the ADD actuator so it doesn't lock when put in 4wd unless a separate switch is flipped. Again, just an oversimplified theory at this point.

 

From KEvin when I put my FJ Case in (pic of my ADD switch below):

Originally Posted by fire931
Ok so now that you've got your dash lights working properly you need to be able to engage the ADD for the front differential. Here we will outline the simplest way to achieve this however I'm sure there are quite a few different options as far as switches go.

This writeup will describe how to wire it using a Carling DPDT Momentary switch (Double Pole Double Throw Momentary switch).

Here's a link where you can purchase such a thing. Also note that these switches will fit in the blanks in the dash.

Carling DPDT Momentary switch note: this is the switch body only, you would need to purchase a cover in the color of your choice which they also have.

All the wires you will need to tap into are located in the same two plugs you disconnected from the 4wd ECU in the previous post.

If you purchase the switch from the link above they will send a diagram that illustrates whats what for the switch connections, and will label each connection with a number. This writeup will use those numbers to correspond with each wire it connects to.



Diagram of the two plugs removed from the 4wd ECU



You will need to take the solid red wire and the black w/ white stripe wire and branch each of them into a Y, each wire will need to terminate in two separate spots on the switch.


All Tacomas 05-11

# on plug diagram - wire color - location in factory plug

1 -red - B 3
2 - purple (IGN +) - A 5
3 - black w/ white stripe - B 4
4 - black w/ white stripe - B 4
5 - white w/ black stripe (GRND -) - A 6
6 - red - B 3


The next step will be an indicator light to tell you when the ADD is "locked" or "unlocked". You can either use the indicator light that's built into the switch or wire up your own light for this.

To use the light that is built into the switch these are the terminations you'll need to make.

7 - purple (IGN +) - A 5
8 - light green w/ black - B 26

If you choose to use your own indicator light you will need to power the light with an IGN hot wire, then run the ground wire to the light green w/ black stripe wire.


Now turn on the ignition and test it out. You should be able to rock the switch one way, hold it for a few seconds until the indicator light comes on then release. The ADD is now "locked" for 4wd. Then rock the switch back the other direction and hold for a few seconds and the indicator light should go off. The ADD is now "unlocked" for 2wd. kewl



LEAVE BOTH CONNECTORS UNPLUGGED FROM THE 4WD ECU!

 

Found this also:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2109419/2005-toyota-tacoma-xtra-cab/page-3

2LO MOD
So here's the plan, using a DPDT switch set one switch position for normal flow through operations, and use the other postion to trick the ECU into believing the front ADD actuator is engaged, without letting juice flow to the motor. All of these wires can be found on connector F-13, at the 4wd ECU behind the glovebox.
so for bank "A"
pin 1a RED WIRE, ECU Side (DM1)
pin 2a RED WIRE, Motor side
pin 3a OPEN
bank "B"
pin 4b LG-B(ADD)+P-L(DL2), DIFF SIDE
pin 5b LG-B(ADD)+P-L(DL2), ECU SIDE
pin 6b GROUND

 

I hope somebody will, and will do a writeup as well! I could even live with beeping, because I'd be in this mode only for short times.

 

2Lo has been done with a DPST switch - there is a guy on tacoma territory dot com that's done it, if you can find the thread. I haven't got to doing it myself yet, just passing it along.

Oh hey, just re-read the last few posts and it's the same guy as on cardomain.

 

A link would be awesome. I've been searching and searching with no success.

 

You're right, MY bad!

You have to weed through the thread to find it, like I said in my other post, it's the same instructions as on the cardomain link. Hope this helps some, unfortunatly it's not a step-by-step how-to write-up.

 

Just out of curiosity why do you want 2lo so badly?

 

It's nice for backing a trailer, our reverse gear is high in my opinion and has a tough time backing a heavy load up a hill. Plus, it's nice in those areas where you have plenty of traction so you don't need 4wd but want that low end torque and slow speed control.

At least that's my reason for wanting it...

 

For backing up a ~ 4,500 lbs trailer. At my house, I need to back up our trailer, up a steep hill while turning with not much room, and parking it in a space not much wider than the trailer. It is tricky, to say the least, and 2LO would save my clutch from burning.
It would help at many campsites as well. Engine idling while in 2LO with the foot off the clutch and crawling the trailer into place.