Rear differential lock...

I have an 04 Tacoma and when I try to lock the rear differential and the light just blinks. I'm not sure if its locking but I can hit the button and it will blink and hit it again and the light will go off. Is this a major issue? Any insight into this is greatly appreciated

 

Probably just needs to be taken off and cleaned, when I lock mine you can here the gear engage and of course feel it when you turn on the road. Have you tried driving in an S pattern to engage it ?

 

Dear god don't drive in a s pattern.

If the light is blinking it means it is not engaged.

First of all, you are in 4low right?

Second, if it won't engage try turning the steering wheel to the left and right while not moving. You can also try driving forward and reverse in a straight line. Sometimes it needs a little help aligning

 

This. The e-locker won't engage unless you're in 4-low or have done the gray wire mod.

If you aren't in 4-low or haven't done the gray wire mod, the light on the dash will blink at you like an angry Hulk.

As mentioned, if you are in 4-lo or have the gray wire mod, drive forward or backward in a straight line for 20-30 feet and see if it engages. If it doesn't something deeper is going wrong.

 

Wow so I feel like an idiot but putting it into 4lo and engaging diff lock worked just fine. Thanks for all the help fellas. I'm pretty happy that there are resources out there to help with this kind of thing. ( I almost had a melt down thinking something was wrong) once again thank you!

 

that is completely retarded! how is turning the steering wheel to the left and right while NOT moving going to get it to lock? Are you afraid that turning to the left or right with it locked for a short time is going to explode it? Guess what, it isnt.

glad to hear it works fine! If it is having problems disengaging i found the best way was to disengage it was to be stopped, hit the button, turn the wheel sharply and reverse with a little tap on the pedal until you hear it click or the light turn off.

you can also complete the grey wire mod so you can turn it on and off whenever, not needing it to be in 4lo. this making it a true select-able locker

 

I would like to do the gray wire mod. Do you have the info on doing this?

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/4405-grey-wire-mod.html

 

just don't accidentally hit that little button while driving on the highway...

 

You are a fool. Driving in an s pattern in 4lo with the diff locked, especially on hard terrain, is asking for damage. Go ahead and try it. In fact make a video and report back here.

As far as turning the wheels without moving, it shimmy the rear end and twists it just enough to engage the locker. Once again go try it.

 

I agree, but to an extent. I doubt it would hurt anything if you're just wiggling your steering wheel just a little while moving to get it to engage. It doesn't make sense that you can lock when you are not moving. I think what the guy was trying to state is you should not drive in S patterns ...you will most likely damage your diff in the long run.

OP: As you use the locker more often, you may notice that the system will engage quicker. That's been my experience. Reiterating what IDtruck has already stated, It helps to do the gray wire mod so you don't have to go to 4low in order to lock the rear diff, I highly recommend this mod as it still retains the safety of not allowing the locking at high speeds.

Overall, in regards to our 1st gen factory lockers, the rule everyone should follow is "use it or lose it".

 

Actually you can hit the button and nothing will happen, the safety feature is still there, that's one of the beauties of the mod, it's idiot proof.

 

Wow, calm down folks... lol, I believe you are both correct...I just think there was just a little bit of misunderstanding between the both of you.

 

LOL! If the front tires turn while standing still it will shimmy the rear enough to some how engage and disengage? Still a stupid idea. I will say it again, you have to be moving for it to disengage and engage. Simple as that. If you have not done the grey wire mod and you have to be in 4lo to do this you are probably right, driving in tight s turns is going to bind like a bitch. Hence why the grey wire mod is a good idea.

true. like i said earlier, best way to get to lock or unlock is to turn the wheels sharply, while stopped hit the button, and give it a quick little step on the gas. click.

oh haha, my bad. mine is on a standalone circuit, so no ecu for me. If i hit that button the bitch locks. I have to make sure to tell anyone who drives my truck not to touch that button ever, but then they will want to, so i seriously consider pulling the power to the switch to keep idiots from hitting it, never know.

 

I can lock mine in in 4H so sorry about the S turn comment haha

 

Sheesh. Dudes need to chill. If it won't engage and you are in 4 low, it means the pin isn't lined up with the diff, and the rear wheels need to move at very slightly different rates to get it to line up and lock in. This is normal. And by S turns, no one is suggesting huge sweeping S turns. Just a tiny bit of steering wheel input at a crawl is enough to move the diff so that the locker can engage. This is normal.

This is not like have 4WD on and turning that binds up the front diff on pavement.

OP, just go find a flat dirt patch or parking lot and do it several times to get the feel of it. You'll feel/hear the clunk.

You also need to use it or lose it with these things. They are sort of notorious for corroding or seizing if not operated.

 

The "use it or lose it" comments made me go out and engage and disengage the diff lock. The fist time it was deffinately harder to get engaged but i the more i locked and unlocked the easier it went in. This is gonna be part of my weekly routine now (the only time i used it was to check after i did the grey wire mod)

 

All you have to do is try it friend, I just did it at lunch and it worked perfectly, once again

 

Yup. Mine was a bitch when i brought the truck last year. Few trips to BLM and Hollister Hills and it works great now.

 

The grey wire mod is one of the greatest things I've done to my truck and it makes it even better that it doesn't cost anything.

I always lock and sometimes unlock my by driving in an s pattern. It won't hurt anything. Hell I drive on the highway with mine locked sometimes just because I was using it and forgot to turn it off. Of course, I turn it off as soon as I come to a stop just because it will make the rear tires wear more. I know countless people who either run spool lockers or welded diffs on their daily and never have a problem. They just don't act stupid, like mashing the gas while turning.