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Rear differential won't lock?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by bethes, Feb 6, 2012.

  1. Feb 6, 2012 at 10:13 AM
    #1
    bethes

    bethes [OP] Señorita Member

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    I'm not offroading today, but I was poking around trying to figure out what some of these buttons are for. I've only once ever tried to use the rear diff locker and my truck was top-of-the-tires deep in the mud at the bottom of a lake at the time (all's well that ends well, so don't ask :D). So it didn't seem surprising that all sorts of things wouldn't turn on, including the rear diff locker. Now here I am in a dry parking lot with the manual open and trying to figure out some of these buttons line A-Trac, VSC Off, and Rear Diff Lock.

    As far as I can tell I've followed the instructions to lock the rear diff in the manual pretty well and it says the rear diff lock light should blink for a few seconds while the computer engages the locker and then the light should stay on. The light just keeps blinking though. I've tried it in P, N, and L by itself, and in N with L4 engaged.

    Also sometimes (but not every time) when I put it in L4 the 4Lo light doesn't come on, but as soon as I shift it out of N the light blinks and a chime sounds.

    Any ideas?
     
  2. Feb 6, 2012 at 10:15 AM
    #2
    98tacoma27

    98tacoma27 is going full "SANDWICH" Moderator

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    Some stuff. Not a lot, just some.
    Easy forward then go back to neutral for the 4Lo. For the locker you wana crawl in 4Lo while turning left and right. But I would advise NOT doing it in a paved parking lot. If you have access to a dirt road or vacant dirt lot, try it there.
     
  3. Feb 6, 2012 at 10:27 AM
    #3
    Namyo

    Namyo -

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    yea the "E" stuff like locker and 4Lo are sensitive....the blinking (not engaged) just helps not break it. Took me a while of practice to get em to work.
     
  4. Feb 6, 2012 at 10:35 AM
    #4
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    This.. & I'll add that too many here that have E locker/4wd don't energize their systems until they're ass deep in mud or stuck on an impossible hill,etc; & when they need it, they can't get it.

    with eletrically controlled lockers /4x ya gotta "use it or lose it" meaning you dont have to offroad it, just initialize & energize a couple times a year that way when you really do need it , it'll be there for you...
     
    Tacoworld88 likes this.
  5. Feb 6, 2012 at 10:42 AM
    #5
    bethes

    bethes [OP] Señorita Member

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    Thanks guys! I will have all the dirt roads I want next week when I'm back to work, I'll try it then.
     
  6. Feb 6, 2012 at 12:04 PM
    #6
    RogueLeader

    RogueLeader Well-Known Member

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    Like the others have said, you need to engage the rear diff lock often to get it to work correctly. Even on dirt roads, you may have to make very gentle turns to get the locker to engage. The more you engage it, the faster it will engage.
     
  7. Feb 6, 2012 at 12:25 PM
    #7
    bethes

    bethes [OP] Señorita Member

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    Why/how? Please elaborate.
     
  8. Feb 6, 2012 at 12:25 PM
    #8
    arrrghhh

    arrrghhh Well-Known Member

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    Please don't, no one even mentioned ATRAC...

    InB4DavidKShitStorm.

    :crapstorm:

    Don't feed the trolls.
     
  9. Feb 6, 2012 at 12:30 PM
    #9
    bethes

    bethes [OP] Señorita Member

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    I see. Oops, there I go stumbling over a touchy subject...
     
  10. Feb 6, 2012 at 12:45 PM
    #10
    XXXX

    XXXX Well-Known Member

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    Ive been telling my sister that same thing for months, but she wouldn't believe me. Finally I took the manual out of her Sequoya and read her the part that said "4wd should be engaged for 10 miles per month" or some crap like that. Now she wants to hit the trails
     
  11. Feb 6, 2012 at 3:38 PM
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    98tacoma27

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    You have a sister that wants to wheel?

    *starts creeping dyoB FB*
     
  12. Feb 6, 2012 at 4:09 PM
    #12
    XXXX

    XXXX Well-Known Member

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    creep all you want. that fakebook account has no family on it :spy:
     
  13. Feb 6, 2012 at 4:11 PM
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    98tacoma27

    98tacoma27 is going full "SANDWICH" Moderator

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    Some stuff. Not a lot, just some.
    *shakes fist*
     
  14. Feb 6, 2012 at 4:13 PM
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    XXXX

    XXXX Well-Known Member

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    Gotta keep it on the up and up with the fam. Some are in sneaky work overseas :spy:
     
  15. Feb 6, 2012 at 4:13 PM
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    98tacoma27

    98tacoma27 is going full "SANDWICH" Moderator

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    OPSEC MAN!!! SSSshhhhhhhhh!!!
     
  16. Feb 6, 2012 at 4:17 PM
    #16
    XXXX

    XXXX Well-Known Member

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    It makes maps :D
     
  17. Feb 6, 2012 at 5:39 PM
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    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    It rubs the lotion on its skin
    or it gets the hose again :eek:
     
  18. Feb 7, 2012 at 6:03 AM
    #18
    bethes

    bethes [OP] Señorita Member

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    And now for my next stupid question...

    If the locker comes on best when you're crawling forward, and you're stuck... how is the locker supposed to turn on? Or is this just to get it to turn on occasionally so it will turn on if you're stuck and can't move?


    Right. Can you tell this is the only 4x4/OR vehicle I've ever owned? Thanks for answering my questions and for not telling me the problem can be easily found between the steering wheel and the driver's seat. :D
     
  19. Feb 7, 2012 at 6:30 AM
    #19
    bethes

    bethes [OP] Señorita Member

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    That would involve looking at where you are going. Where's the fun in that?

    The owner's manual sorta has this scenario set up where you've found yourself in a ditch, and now you need to get out of it. So you first try L4, and if that doesn't work, you turn on the rear diff lock. So that's why I wasn't so sure. Toyota makes it sound like once you're stuck, you turn this stuff on.

    Despite the assertions of a friend (under the influence of Mr. Pete Coors) to the contrary, you can get a Tacoma into something it can't get out of. Like top-of-the-tires deep in a muddy lake bottom.
     
  20. Feb 7, 2012 at 8:41 AM
    #20
    BlueT

    BlueT Well-Known Member

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    4wd and locker needs to be lubricated from time to time. So when you need it when you are stuck it will work. Make sure you switch things on and off monthly and it will engage in stand still
     

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