Rear E Locker Issues

Alr I have a question abt the rear diff locker. So I took it all apart, cleaned it and I tested it off the diff and the gear turns so the actuator is good. But then I put it back on the diff and I test it out and the dashboard still yells at me. But it also worked a few times to lock and unlock it before getting stuck in the locked position again. Any ideas? Pfa

 

Actuator motor going bad or it’s not clocked properly.

search my name, I had a similar issue and posted a solution as well.

 

Are you rolling forward and turning the steering wheel while trying to engage?

 

I've found you need to roll forward like bro said, but also give a slight turn for a few feet an then slowly turn the other way for a few feet. It usually unlocks when the wheel is neutral and both rear wheels are spinning the same rpm so the locker has no load if that makes sense.

 

What do you mean 'the dash yells at you'? As long as you are in 4Lo and under the speed limit there shouldn't be any buzzers with the locker I dont think. Light blinks as long as its trying to engage (see notes above about engaging) and goes solid when fully engaged. Maybe the earlier 2nd gens are different?

 

My wife drove the Tacoma for about 3 years, and I don't think the rear locker was ever engaged during that time. We bought her another vehicle to drive about 2 years ago and now I'm regularly driving the Tacoma. The 1st time (actually the 1st few times) I tried to lock the diff it simply wouldn't lock, the light would just flash. This was about the time of the Covid Lockdowns that coincided with opening of turkey season. Since I couldn't do much anything else I turkey hunted about 5 days a week for a month which required a 4-5 mile drive each way on a dirt road.

I just kept working the switch as I'd drive in and out of my hunting area and after about a week it started working again. Not consistently at 1st, but the more I used it the better it worked. It does work better, locking and unlocking, if done on the move. Don't wait until your stuck to engage. I make it a point to get into low range and lock the diff regularly now and I've had no more problems.

 

The light flashes and every time I reset it and unlock it it will lock with the button but not unlock.