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Rear Differential lock

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34K views 17 replies 15 participants last post by  blackhawke88  
#1 ·
Hello,

I'm the proud owner of a brand new 2009 Toyota Tacoma double cab short bed 4x4 V6 SR5 with the TRD Off Road and Towing Packages in Speedway Blue Metallic. The truck's been great but one system I have never been able to figure out how to operate on it is the Rear Differential Lock.

By the book, the owners manual says that to operate the rear differential lock you

1) Shift the vehicle into L4 (4WD Low).
2) Depress the clutch petal
3) Push REAR DIFF LOCK switch on the panel. The indicator light in the instrument gauges should flash for a couple of seconds and then remain steadily illuminated.
4) Release the clutch.

Well I can get as far as pushing the REAR DIFF LOCK switch. The indicator light blinks but never goes steady. This seems to indicate either the instruction manual is incorrect or something is wrong with the rear differential locking system on the vehicle. The owners manual gives no other details on this matter or troubleshooting this system so I don't know what to do. Does the pickup have a defective rear diff lock system on it? What's the deal?
 
#12 ·
You may need to try it several times. Each time it doesn't engage, move the truck back and forth to try and align the gears.

Over time it should engage easier.
Hey Toku,

I wanted to ask you how you did the blue gauge lights on your Tacoma. That's the one thing I wished Toyota would have installed in their product lines this year (thought I have gotten used to the orange lights in my truck). Is this an aftermarket kit that you had installed? Is it fairly easy to install?
 
#3 ·
i'm assuming that your putting it in 4lo first. try turning the truck a little. this way the 2 rear tires are turning at different rates so that the gears can line up.
if its quiet outside you can actually hear the electronic shifter for the transfer case and the rear diff and you can hear the actual mechanical engagement.
if you think you might actual need the diff lock a lot you should look into doin the rear diff mod so you dont have to be in 4lo
 
#5 ·
I have the automatic version truck of what you have and once i click the rear diff lock button i need to put the truck in gear and let off the brake and coast while turning the steering wheel left and right slowly. You will hear a click to let you know its engaged... and at that time the indicator in the dash will stop blinking and go to a solid state. You need to repeat these steps to also un-engage the diff lock. Hope this helps.
 
#8 ·
Hey guys,

I have air locker front and rear, i know this is electronic..

i can say when the diff is cold it takes alot more for the locker to engage.

so warm up your diff first if you live in a winter climate like me.:)

cheers

P.S you have to align the gears on the arb, but it doesn't sound like its anywhere like what you guys are saying with the elocker..

also you must to the locker mod for that truck now.. if its the same as the 08 for the mod.

cheers
Warts
 
#10 ·
Same with mine. Sorta makes me wonder about using it for recovery- probably best to have it on all the time as once you get stuck it may not lock in.
You will get it to lock. When you are stuck and need the locker, it means that one wheel is turning because it lost traction, and the other is not. Because of that, the gears will eventually align and the locker will engage. It has happened to me.
The others are right, engage the locker frequently (not on a paved surface though) and it will work better over time.
 
#15 ·
I drive a 2007 Tacoma equipped with the TRD Off Road package and I most certainly want to modify the electric rear differential lock so that it can be engaged regardless of transfer case position. I am aware of the technique referred to as the "ECU grey wire ground" however I believe that this won't work on the newer models. Does anybody out there know how to perform this desired modification?
 
#16 ·
#18 ·
basically, if you are in a situation where you might need the diff lock, you should already be in 4LO, which is always my case. Thus, as you drive along a trail or whatever and you think you will need it to get through a tough patch ahead, just flip it on and keep driving. It will engage, and if it doesnt, you will lose traction until it does, and it will get you out anyways. Like they are saying, the more you use it, the faster it engages. never had a problem with mine.