Intermittent E-Locker issue

Played with it out in the woods all weekend. The first try it took a while to lock (maybe 50 feet). After that throughout the day when I would lock, it would take about 10 feet or less, and couple times closer to 50ft. It usually unlocked almost immediately, or within ten feet. It also helped to turn the front wheels slightly.

 

Good to hear, use it often....

 

My first gen TRD OR locker was finicky to engage and disengage too. Don't think what most folks here are describing with having to move the truck a ways before it engages/disengages is anything new. Engaging on it's own in 2wd sounds new and concerning.

 

For the record while the tech was checking voltages etc etc at the connectors and ECM for the locker located in the passenger kick panel area, he did something to engage the locker. Shorted pins, touched a hot to ground, I'm not sure exactly.

It didn't engage on its own.

 

This thread is almost a month old and no resolution? I ended up here linked from a newer thread. Are you still waiting on parts Mike?

 

As I mentioned in the other thread, dealer informed me the ETA on parts is after Xmas.
They also said they had another truck with the same issues.
"Toyota is working on a fix" is what I was told.

 

I don't know what the other thread is. Are they looking into the unit locking without the user's request to lock or just how long it takes to lock?

 

What does this mean? They are spinning or the steering wheel is turning side to side?

 

OH. I thought he meant driving with the locker locked was making his front wheels turn side to side. I was like WTF man

 

I'm having the issue. The first time I went out to ensure it worked I didn't have a problem. Now, it will "lock" as in stop flashing and go solid, then as soon as I start moving it starts flashing, and stays flashing until I shut off the engine.

 

I had a problem engaging my locker the last couple days. I eventually got it in the few times I had trouble with it, but it was concerning to me that it wasn't working as it should. Especially the fact that our trucks are so new and having these issues, I don't get it. One of the failed attempts took about five minutes to get it in, pissed me off honestly.

 

They ended up replacing the part that locks the diff together. IIRC they said it's different from 2nd gens but it's been a while since I picked it up.
Once they replaced the part they still couldn't get it to lock consistently. They finally tried turning the wheels while moving and it seemed to work. I made sure it worked before I left but have not tried it since. I will double check tomorrow.

 

I went to my dealer yesterday. Tech had it for 2 hours, said he could get it to lock fairly reliably on the lift (but not every time), but when the tires were on the ground on every surface he tried, it wouldn't consistently lock. I have a case opened with Toyota corporate over it.

 

i know this is of no importance but what brand is the e locker in toyotas? I trade a lot and have had three F150's now that I could lock the rear end up to 60mph in anything from 2wd-4low and all were eaton e locker. Neither of the tacoma i have owned had lockers but my brother and nephew both have 16 trd offroads

 

Have you tried locking it in while in a slow turn so the differential is not rotating both axle shafts at the same speed? This should help the coupler line up.

 

Yes, every known method for getting the splines to line up still didn't result in consistent locking.

 

The lockers in the 2016 are Eaton lockers. They are not a mechanically engaged locker like the previous generations but rather an electromagnetically engaged unit. The issue could be as simple as spline misalignment on the locking components that just needs movement to allow them to mesh. It could also have something to do with the slip ring electrical contacts in the differential.

http://www.eaton.com/Eaton/ProductsServices/Vehicle/Differentials/eaton-elocker/index.htm

 

Do you have an opinion on Eaton lockers? Any past experience? Just curious if they are known for quality or are garbage?

 

Like i said above 3 of my past trucks have had eaton E lockers in them and I thought they were great and two of them could be engaged in any drive mode. But after re reading about them they disengaged at 20mpg automatically. I actually used the locker more than I would of originally thought and was amazed even in 2wd how much better traction was.

I have driven 4wd's for 19 years now and have had all different types of limited slips and lockers. Even a welded rear end on a dedicated offload jeep and i liked the E-locker the most.

 

They are not a ARB but a good selectable locker. No where near as strong as a Grizzly or a Detroit but a damn fine locker for a factory unit.