Rear Diff was enganged accidentally at car wash

2014 4x4 OFFROAD

Yesterday my girlfriend took my truck to get detailed at the car wash and I guess one of the detailers hit the A-TRAC button because today when I started my truck up the rear diff light was flashing.

I asked my girlfriend if she saw the light blinking yesterday and she said she didn't remember. From what I have read the rear differintial won't engage unless you're in 4-lo and neutral. However, I've also read some people say that it will engage if pressed when going 5mph or below.

Assuming that the A-TRAC button was pressed when it was being cleaned (turned off, in park), does that mean it didn't engage? I live pretty far from the car wash, and if it was drivin with the ATRAC engaged then I'm sure it's FUD.

The only light that was on was the red one and it was blinking (from this picture which isn't mine - I got it online as a reference)

 

ATRAC has nothing to do with the locker.... The locker has a separate button. So unless in 4 lo, which your dash does show in the picture and the locker button was pushed as well, which it appears to be from your pic.

 

Thanks for your help!

Actually, that picture was pulled off the internet as a reference. The only light that was on was the red one and it was flashing. So, I would have to have it in 4-low and have the locker on for it to engage? Okay, phew.

 

Yep, they make it almost fool proof, almost... I'm sure someone has broke one still. But yeah, 4 low, then engage locker as needed.

 

Sounds like the 4WD dial has been switched to 4LO , no ?

 

Did your rear tires squeal like a tortured cat at every sharp turn? Or bad hopping in turns? Since you didn't mention it, its safe to say that the locker wasn't engaged. Even is it was, tire wear is your only real concern unless you were loaded up heavily on dry pavement, which could cause breakage that you could not be oblivious to.

 

The dial was set to 2 lo when I started my truck and saw the light flashing.

 

No, I just started up the truck and was backing out from my parking space when I saw the light blinking.

My girlfriends the one who took it yesterday and parked it last night (which I'm assuming is when it was pressed at the car wash). I wasn't hauling anything thankfully.

 

Doesn't hitting ATRAC illuminate an ATRAC light though rather than flashing the 4LO icon ?

 

When you hit ATRAC, it kicks on a couple lights. But it only does it if you're in 4wd

 

I see

Thanks

 

Okay, sorry. My termonology was off.

So, the button that was pressed was called "REAR DIFF" (parallell to the steering wheel). Just went downstairs to double check.

And the dial was set to H2 (like it normally is)

 

No worries , that was my fault .

Yep , I went nose blind

 

ATRAC will not come on unless your going super slow, it has a mph limit on it sort of speak. Along with the Rear Dif lock, it will continue to flash until you get down around crawling speed and then will engage when in 4wd. Don't worry I have done the exact same thing. From my understanding in 2h the rear dif cant engage at all.

 

Hmm, maybe someone would should fab a flip up cover to cover these switches that says "Don't Touch!" would be really handy when wifes or GFs drive truck around, or anyone else for that matter.

 

Yeah, that was my first thought. I wondered why these buttons were so easilly accessable (kids playing around, accidently hitting something when your leg)

 

That makes me feel a lot better. I didn't think that they would have something so easily able to destroy your truck so easily accessable. But, I still wasn't sure.

 

You'll be just fine then.

Welcome to the site.

 

Thank you for all of your help!

 

My wife drove mine to work the other day. That night on interstate called and asked what that flashing light was.

She was looking for foglights and pressed dif lock button. Good thing they have safeguards least on 4wd ones.