Rear diff lock button missing???

The 2000 prerunner i just got has an open spot where the rear diff lock switch should be, just a hole straight through in to the dash. cant see the button in there but i see an empty connector. Im wondering if the switch is plain old missing or it was never equipped with one in the first place. is there any other way that i can tell if i have a locker in the back before i buy a button, like the vin or something or a physical difference ? thanks guys

 

u can just look at the rear diff and look for the locker, front side of diff. c if I can pull up a pic...

 

Look at the rear axle. There should be actuator bolted to it. Its boled to the side of third member. if its not there you dotn have elocker.

 

x2

 

The actuator will be on the drivers side of the diff if it has one.

 

theres a pic in this thread: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/148453-do-i-have-rr-diff-lock-my-96-a.html

 

a pic would be awesome since i dont know exactly what im looking for, also i did hit the gas hard and both of my rear wheels spun

 

also if i have a switch and its gone and im locked in the rear, would that be a bad thing. i do get some weird noises and some wheel hop going around tight corners?

 

if you have a locked or live axle at road and highway speeds....

it would be hard to steer on dry pavement, wear the crap out of your tires,
and cause enough steering issues on corners that there is a real risk of flipping the vehicle in a ditch

so hopefully it is not locked 24x7 or that would be sort of bad

 

thanks for the pic ill go look on my lunch

 

ok i d better figure it out then, is it noisier with the rear locked is it something you can hear

 

No, the tires will chirp in tight corners though.

 

alright thanks man really helpfull

 

both of my rear wheels spin when i hit the gas but according to the forum posts here, it doesn't appear that i have a LSD

 

jack up the truck in the rear and hit the gas (in drive and not 4wd obv.). if both tires spin u r locked

 

If your tires chirp or you can feel them grab as you turn then your diff is locked in

 

I am adding more words here, to help Acermcgraw:


The locker is a small motor on the top, front, driver's side of the differential... and a wire goes to it (what the switch does)... as it is an E (electronic) -locker.

When locked, both rear tires are 'locked' together... for extra traction off road. When you turn/ steer and drive, all tires must rotate at different speeds (the outside tires in a turn, rotate more). A differential allows the tires on the drive (rear) axle to turn at different speeds and power is biased to the tire that turns the easiest.

Off road, or on slippery roads, one tire may spin, and you go nowhere. Locking the differential shares the power equally... both spin the same... less chance you will be stuck.

On road, or dry pavement, if locked, steering will be hard and sharp turns, parking, etc, will be near impossible without 'chirping' the tires as they slide free in order to rotate more than the other tire... this is called 'binding' and could damage your truck!

 

My '98 has a connecter behind where the button would be, but I don't have a locker. I'm sure they just have the extra wires in the harness because its easier to have the wiring all the same.

 

power will be evenly distributed with both tires off the ground.....................................................................

 

*Flashback to Marisa Tomei on trial in My Cousin Vinny*