Intermittent E-Locker issue

Please can we keep this thread for discussion only?

Long story short the E-locker in my Offroad does not engage all the time. I have noticed this over a span of a few days. First time I noticed it, I was in a bad spot on a steep hill. Was able to finally get out of the situation without the rear end locked.

I'm in Neutral, 4LO, then hit the rear locker button and the dash indicator flashes continuously.
The dash indicator should be solid once it's locked. It has locked in the past.
I tried rocking the truck back and forth and it doesn't help. Dealer was able to verify the issue today.

Dealer spent 4 hours checking what I was told was the 'DIFFERENTIAL ECU' which is located in the passenger side kick panel. With help from Toyota Corporate he checked various voltages in the harness and said they 'may' have found an 'anomaly' on one wire/pin. However at this point they are unsure. They want me to come back when some tech rep is scheduled to be there next week.

To top this off when I get home and turn into the driveway the rear end feels locked. I tested it 2 separate ways and sure enough it locked while in 2HI and no dash indicators.
At least we know there's a way to have it locked in 2 or 4 HI
I took the passenger kick panel off where the dealer tech was poking around to make sure all the harnesses' were plugged in, which they were.

So I ask is anyone with a selectable E-locker having engagement issues?
Also could you please go out and put your truck in 4HI, then make sure you're in Neutral and select 4LO, then press the rear differential lock button and see if it engages.

Edited 2/7/16 to add: Dealer replaced Differential Position Switch. Also states one rear wheel must slip for it to engage. However I have found that it does sometimes engage without any wheel movement.

 

Shitty dude.. let us know how you make out.

 

isn't the e locker only supposed to work in 4lo?

good luck with it dude. hopefully they can sort it out quick

 

I'd ask the dealer to keep the truck and hook you up with a rental until the issue is resolved. Having the e-locker randomly engage is dangerous for the truck and you

 

Must have misunderstood. It does not randomly engage.

 

Not a good outcome. Did this ever happen to the exterior locker on the 2nd gen?

 

If I read your post right it says that it is engaged while you are in two wheel drive. I'd say that's random engagement as it's only supposed to engage in 4x4 low

 

It is currently engaged in 2HI. It's stuck there as far as I know.
I define 'randomly engaging' as it's engaging/disengaging without me hitting any switches.
Semantics I guess

 

thats still something to worry about since its not supposed to engage in 2hi

 

I think we are all aware of that, but thanks

 

Yeah. I'm just saying I wouldn't take the chance of harming my truck more because of the issue. If I were you, I'd park it in the dealer's lot and take one of their complementary rentals for warranty work until the problem is resolved. Driving around with a locked rear is a pain, can harm your diff, and will chew up your tires like crazy. You're truck though...

 

So why do you all think the rear locker is only supposed to engage in 4lo? Pre runners have the rear locker if they are TRD Off-road. Those don't even have 4hi. You guys are missing out! Lock your rear in 2hi on dirt and steer with the throttle. Funniest shit ever!

 

Because it's not supposed to engage in 2 hi

 

The truck is designed so that the rear locker, crawl control, and multi-terrain select are only operable in 4LO. If it engages in 2Hi or 4Hi something is wrong. Your locker works in 2Hi because you don't have an option because you don't have a transfer case.

 

Because it is a Prerunner NOT a 4x4. When I went from a Prerunner to 4x4 I did not understand why the locker did not work in 2wd but soon found out.

 

Definitely a computer issue. It may have been acting up from the beginning. But it sounds to me like the tech fried it or shorted something out.

Lots of those tech are just parts replacement guys. Give them a test light and multimeter and pray.

Hopefully you will have a decent rep. Mostly he will just start by replacing the computer then wire harness.

 

Because they don't want people braking axles and planetary gears and them having to warranty it.

 

When I had my 2011 TRDOR when I pushed my e-locker button it would set there and flash and not go in. I took it to the dealer and told him about it. He told me to push the button and pull forward turning my wheels back and forth as I moved forward. After i Moved approx. 20 ft or so it locked in. Had to do the same thing to get it to unlock. He stated that that was normal. I never had to use my e locker while I owned the truck so it wasnt an issue for me. The only reason I discovered mine worked that way was I was playing with it when the truck was new making sure everthing worked.

 

Wow! That totally sucks! There must be a mod to allow the locker whenever you want it...

 

So on prerunners they want people breaking axles and gears? I don't get it