Help Needed - R Diff Lock Indicator Switch

As others answered already you have to install it from the other side. Did the same thing before. I plugged the hole and bypassed at ECU via switch, locker engages when button is pressed and with a flip of a switch it “tricks” dashboard indicator light and stays solid.

 

I'm talking about the actual solenoid plunger. He's pushing on that with the sensor engaging the clutch. Which I guess he's technically just pushing the position plate which pushes the cam ring since those are what are bolted together as a unit.

 

Ah got ya. We’re saying the same thing just using different words.

 

Exactly. And I bet the "squeak" is the sensor end grinding against the position plate as it turns and the sensor holds the diff locked.

 

That makes sense now. I wonder if the sensor was hit hard enough to move the plunger from around that ring, because it came out intact. What’s the process for removing the carrier to get the plunger in the right place? Did new gears just start to look a lot better?

 

Sure was.

 

Undo brake lines, cap brake lines, undo backing plate, pull axles as far as they will go, unbolt third member, break insane FIPG seal, pull carrier.

 

Drain diff, drive shaft off, axle shafts out just far enough, unhook wiring connectors, unbolt 3rd member from housing and pull out, unbolt carrier bearing caps (mark them), and pull out carrier. Then install the indicator and undo all you did.

 

I’ll have to think about that one... may be beyond my skill set...

Thank you guys again.

 

Where about do you live? I'm sure someone on here lives close by and could give you a hand.

 

Reading this old thread may help.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...rear-differential.466594/page-3#post-13980875

(Also this thread, where we troubleshoot locker feedback switch, which was NOT the cause if I recall
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...rear-differential.466594/page-3#post-13980875)

 

SL, UT

Now that is something I can handle! Thank you! That thread is an exact copy of my experience with this indicator switch.

 

Good luck, I never dug in enough to truely understand the 'issue' when you go to reinstall that switch... but filed that one in the memory bank as 'tricky'

 

Just be really careful with the piece of wood. The sensor ring is thin stamped metal and is REALLY easy to bend. The ring on my diff wasn’t even true from the factory and caused an intermittent indicator light when the 5.29s went in because it was already closer to the pinion by an amount that wasn’t even visible to the naked eye. Every time the “bent” part was against the sensor when I parked I would get a flashing indicator light.

Ended up having to mill down the mounting surface of the sensor to get the clearance we needed as no amount of trying to flatten out that sensor ring would fix the issue and I didn’t want to replace more parts!

 

Hopefully I’m not already in this position. This was the symptom I had before I found the plastic top had broken on the indicator switch.

 

Indicator switch is now replaced per the method in the thread linked above. However, the locker still seems to be unhappy. When the button is pushed to engage the locker, the light on the dash stays lit for a a few seconds and then flashes and continues to flash all through the 4LO > 4HI > 2WD process and until the truck is turned off. When the truck is turned back on, no flashing locker light.

Could this be a new issue that I’ve introduced? Or, does the new switch indicator require initialization of some kind?

 

Sounds weird
Describe more symptoms.
What is working, what isnt working, and how is it different than before?
Is the locker functioning (you may need to jack up the rear to easily ascertain)?

 

After you press to lock it are you moving and turning a bit so it is freed up and able to lock?

 

Given the blinking locker indicator light, I don’t think the locker is engaging, but I’ll put it stands tomorrow and verify that.

 

You've most likely introduced an issue with the indicating given all that's happened. Odds are the mechanical function of the locker is totally fine.