Locking rear diff. Want to make sure it’s off

so I’ve owned the car since purchased brand new in 2002. I’ve never actually tried to lock the rear diff until last night for no reason in the parking lot at work. I know you aren’t suppose to lock it on pavement but I did. The light stopped blinking and I heard a click(I assumed it was locked) after that I stopped turned off the button and drove a couple feet/turned and heard a click and the light turned off.

Does this mean I am in the clear?
I went as far to lift up the rear end and spin the tires to see if they’re locked but they spun different directions. I am assuming the diff isn’t locked anymore. (The truck was in park the whole time and I spun the wheels with it on and off)

 

If it is locked you will know right away on pavement. Truck won't turn for shit and the tires will squeal.

 

The click and the light going off means it turned off, then the wheels spinning opposite ways confirms its off. Like said above you will be able to tell if it did not unlock when you turn on pavement

 

They will still squeal even if it was wet out? Sounds good though. Truck seems to be driving normal

 

I'm flabbergasted that it took you 16 years to try the diff lock....

 

yeah. it would be unrecognizable. I mean, try turning it on again and drive around and see what happens. the back end will hop as you try to turn. then, for shits and giggles, go find a patch of dirt and give her a nice power slide.

 

Light flashing = diff unlocked, trying to lock

Light on solid = diff locked

Light off = diff unlocked

Sounds like it's working exactly as it should. BTW, its okay to test it on pavement just as long as you drive in a straight line. If your diff is locked and you try turning, the rear end will hop/skip/chirp around...not great for the diff and especially not good for the tires. If you have to turn with the diff locked (I do frequently when offroading) take turns nice and slow, or your tires will eventually look like someone took a cheese grater to them.

 

Guy I bought an 03 from this summer had never used it, didn’t know what it did, and didn’t know how to turn it on.

Wheras I did not know it did not turn on in 4hi and spent frantic 30 minutes trying to confirm replacement costs of a rear locker (absurdly high) before discovering it needs to be in 4lo.

 

Maybe not squeal but you will definitely hear them scrubbing

 

If you want to use it anytime (2wd or 4hi) do the grey wire mod, easy to do on 1st gens

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/minutemods/greywire_mod/

 

A little bit of locked driving on pavement isn't going to do any real harm. Like ericd said, it won't turn for shit and the tires will protest, but you won't break anything if you go slow. For that matter you probably wouldn't break anything if you went fast, other than the squirrely handling. What will break things is locking the axle with one wheel spinning and the other stationary, like when you're stuck.

The 4wd systems in our trucks is damn tough. I've seen people beat the literal shit out of a stock Tacoma off-road and the truck acted like it was no big deal. After seeing that I wanted one for myself.

 

Awesome. My 2wd is plenty for me . Although I’ve always wanted to buy a 4wd truck just don’t have the need.

 

Same here. Someday I’ll need it haha. Prettt funny all the times I probably could have used it driving up the mountains back in th day.