RR DIFF not engaging

03 TRD 3.4
went to play in the snow this w/e and pressed my Rear Diff lock button and it just blinked at me mockingly. Backed up about .25 mile, drove forward, backed up, drove forward, etc. Finally gave up. I checked all connections and everything seems to be in place and in working order. Any suggestions?

 

Honestly, I can't tell. I can't feel any difference. The light just blinks, and blinks and blinks and blinks..........

 

Try turning? I always come to a complete stop, hit the button, then drive forward and turn back and Forth a little bit and hear it snap into place

 

OKTHIS sounds more encouraging that PSU's response. I'll try that second. I would hate for actuator to be fried. What's up with the turning bit? Is the system hooked up to the steering?

 

Yea but hitting a button and moving back and forth for a few feet is way less work

But yea, like someone said above, the way I remember it is the wheels moving at different speeds or whatever allows it to lock into place. I used to just hit the button and drive on and just see it blinking...and it took a while before I realized it was when I was barely moving and turning that I'd hear it snap in. So my way works every time for me

 

1) Have you ever used it before and know it worked?
2) Are you in LOW RANGE? (Have you been in low range before?)
3) From a stop, press the RR button (in L4) and note light blinks until it engages and goes solid... Begin to drive slowly... if still blinking turn your wheel all the way ONE direction, not back and forth and roll that direction. The light should go solid. Remember, using the rear locker is for emergencies only to get through an area or obstacle. Turning is more difficult if the tires cannot rotate independently.

 

however, I never tried turning. AND, that .25 mile may have been a bit of an exageration; maybe it was more like 50 ft.
If the turning doesn't work I will take stuff apart. That's always fun, too.

 

Were you in 4lo?

 

Yep, used this a few times before with no issues, just clicked right in.

 

never used in 4lo. IDK, isn't that redundant? I've used when in 2hi and 4hi. each time the light flashed for a moment then went solid.

 

So you've done the locker mod?

 

Also, roll your window down, turn the music down, when you try my way, you will definitely hear it *CLACK* into place

 

Thought I broke something the first time I did it honestly my first two times offloading on my own, I probably only got it to pop in place on accident. Just hit the button, assumed it was on...and then probably stopped to take a photo or something and turned a little as I was starting again and it popped into place.

 

Stock 4WD Tacomas can only use the locker when in Low Range 4WD. Otherwise, you have done a mod (Gray Wire?)... or a previous owner did.

2WD Off Road PreRunners have a locker that works in 2WD...

 

All great input from every one.
Being rather new to the sport (still learning and getting schooled ) I am gathering that when I pushed the button in 2hi and 4hi (even though the ligh stayed on) I was not actually engaged. I was thinking about doing the grey wire mod but haven't done it..... yet. There aren't many justifiable reasons to do this in Portland.

 

Willie, if it is locked, it will be VERY easily noticed... try parallel parking (or turning sharp while moving slow). The back tires will skuff... if locked. More so than the binding you feel when trying to turn sharply while in 4WD, on hard surfaces.

 

So, thanks again for all the input. I tried again last night after work (don't tell my boss I'm doing this on company time) and ripped up the yard, and part of my neighbor's.
CLUNK! it seems that just turning the steering wheel to hard left/ right is the ticket to success.
Now, I guess it's time to do the gray wire mod.
Thanks again for all the help.

 

What it is- you need to get your rear wheels to turn at different speeds. So just turning the wheel wont do much, gotta actually get your truck turning and those rear wheels moving, ya know? Glad it worked out for ya!

 

find a dirt road to engage and disengage that sucker in 4lo about 20 times

and go back and do it the next week

eventually it should loosen up and engage faster

this procedure is what sometimes needs to be done on brand new
4runners/tacos...I don't know if it helps a really old one

my 4runner brand new in 1998 hated the locker and took
a lot of tweaking to get it to 'klang' locked

after using it a lot for a month, it became very smooth
and reliable. still sometimes it won't engage right away, but
instead of having to fight it, I only go from d-n-r-n-d
and during that maybe move an inch and it will find the sweet spot
and engage. if I pre-engage it (10 feet before i need it) 100% the time
it will lock