300 miles from home need help

[LTDSC]

I was offroading and I went to engage the locker. Well vsc off light and the center lock light flashes but never turns off. I'm stuck in the middle of an old logging road and worried I can't drive on pavement because of the locker. Its my understanding that with it blinking it never engaged. So am I safe to drive it on pavement with it blinking? What harm can be done. I have a 300 mile trip to drive home and don't want to worry the whole time. Please help.

 

[Tayzorz]

try turning as sharply as possible and if you can feel it kind of skipping that means that it is locked. if it turns normally i'd say you're safe.

 

[LTDSC]

I've turned and everything just fine on dirt and on pavement now. It just won't stop flashing. I've disconnected my battery and tried resetting everything I can.

 

[Tayzorz]

I've turned and everything just fine on dirt and on pavement now. It just won't stop flashing. I've disconnected my battery and tried resetting everything I can.

it is probably just a computer glitch or something. From what i know it's only bad to turn with it locked on pavement and if you turned and everything seemed fine than you should be good. I'd wait for someone more knowledgeable about this kind of stuff to chime in though just to be safe.

 

[Casper421]

I believe you're fine since the lights flashing, meaning it didn't engage. Also you can't feel it in the steering so that's good. Pressing the bottom doesn't make the flashing stop? That's interesting, can't help you there. I'd get it home and have someone check it out. Good luck dude!

Edit: when I saw the title I thought I was gonna have to drive to lake almanor!

 

[BlackWorksInc]

The blinking most likely indicates a failure to engage and is indicative of a failure in the 4WD system, most likely with the central differential lock actuator. If it doesn't feel like it'd engaged in CDL then I would say you're okay to drive the vehicle, but you should get it looked at when you can.

 

[LTDSC]

This trip so far has had its problems. I had a slide pin in my caliper come out and do havoc on my methods. In the middle of nowhere. I got that fixed and then this pops up while we're in the middle of nowhere again and my buddy is stuck but we got it all to work out. I have plenty of pics I'll share tomorrow.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

This trip so far has had its problems. I had a slide pin in my caliper come out and do havoc on my methods. In the middle of nowhere. I got that fixed and then this pops up while we're in the middle of nowhere again and my buddy is stuck but we got it all to work out. I have plenty of pics I'll share tomorrow.

Ouch.... how the hell did the pin slide out? Did someone forget to put the cotter key back on when they did brakes?

 

[BigSlim]

This trip so far has had its problems. I had a slide pin in my caliper come out and do havoc on my methods. In the middle of nowhere. I got that fixed and then this pops up while we're in the middle of nowhere again and my buddy is stuck but we got it all to work out. I have plenty of pics I'll share tomorrow.

I'm glad you should be able to make it home fine. I have found thru my years of 4wheeling, motorcycle adventure touring and other things, that it never was the views or things I saw that I remembered most. It was times like yours where you overcame issues and made it out in on piece. My buddies and I still talk about the "remember when..." times. I hope you get the system figured out and fixed. :cheers: Looking forward to the pics.

 

[LTDSC]

Ouch.... how the hell did the pin slide out? Did someone forget to put the cotter key back on when they did brakes?

No idea. It was in there few weeks ago. Driving and going over stuff and then click clack clack. We thought I broke a cv or something. I get out and see the pin sitting half out bent as all hell and a nice groove all around my methods. Made me realize I need a high lift.

 

[MarcusAurelius]

Not sure if it helps, but I try to engage diff lock every so often so it doesn't stick when I need it. I've had the blinking diff lock a couple times and for me it helps if you hold the button down and be sure to drive while you do it.

 

[28.]

Not sure if it helps, but I try to engage diff lock every so often so it doesn't stick when I need it. I've had the blinking diff lock a couple times and for me it helps if you hold the button down and be sure to drive while you do it.

This. I've read up alot on this and practice it myself even if its for a brief moment. If you don't engage your diff lock every so often it tends to stick when and if you do try to use it. Hope you got home safe. Let us know how it all comes out. Hopefully it was just a momentary glitch or one of those " I'm such a dumbass " moments lol :tinfoil3:... Good luck..

 

[LTDSC]

Update:

Just got back from the dealer. They are 90% sure its the actuator for the CDL that is faulty. Originally they found chewed vacuum lines which they replaced and then it still wasnt working so they did testing and narrowed it down to the actuator. So thats an $800 part, they cant get it to unlock so i can just drive it and not worry about it. I asked the service manager if they can goodwill it through toyota as ive worked there 2 years, bought two cars through them and gotten many services and parts through their store. Its a long shot, ultimately toyota's decision but im hoping for the best.

If that doesnt work im going to talk to the owner because i purchased it with an inspection on all 4wheel drive working parts and they tested it all while we did paperwork. Came back everything is 100% working order. Which obviously was a lie because in 09 on my toyota history it shows a wiring issue that was chewed through and they replaced. So at the same time the CDL vacuum lines were more than likely chewed.

Still a long shot but at this point im extremely agitated and disappointed with my purchase. I didnt even bring it home, i left it on the lot, refused to take it home.

 

[zopperman]

Update:

Just got back from the dealer. They are 90% sure its the actuator for the CDL that is faulty. Originally they found chewed vacuum lines which they replaced and then it still wasnt working so they did testing and narrowed it down to the actuator. So thats an $800 part, they cant get it to unlock so i can just drive it and not worry about it. I asked the service manager if they can goodwill it through toyota as ive worked there 2 years, bought two cars through them and gotten many services and parts through their store. Its a long shot, ultimately toyota's decision but im hoping for the best.

If that doesnt work im going to talk to the owner because i purchased it with an inspection on all 4wheel drive working parts and they tested it all while we did paperwork. Came back everything is 100% working order. Which obviously was a lie because in 09 on my toyota history it shows a wiring issue that was chewed through and they replaced. So at the same time the CDL vacuum lines were more than likely chewed.

Still a long shot but at this point im extremely agitated and disappointed with my purchase. I didnt even bring it home, i left it on the lot, refused to take it home.

This sucks. I feel for you, best of luck.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Huh? What vacuum lines are they talking about? This isn't a GM truck... The 4th Gens up (hell I think even the 3rd gens might be as well) are electronically shifted by the actuator and CDL is actuated by that if I remember right as well... there aren't any vacuum controls for the transfercase...

 

[LTDSC]

Huh? What vacuum lines are they talking about? This isn't a GM truck... The 4th Gens up (hell I think even the 3rd gens might be as well) are electronically shifted by the actuator and CDL is actuated by that if I remember right as well... there aren't any vacuum controls for the transfercase...

no idea, i didnt get underneath it. The writer told me there were lines that were chewed up and then were replaced. May have just been the breather and hes mistaken. Either way they think its my actuator and i dont have upwards of $2,000 to drop on my vehicle, which i hope goes missing at this point.

 

[JB.]

i dont have upwards of $2,000 to drop on my vehicle,

If you can't get any help on the fix, it might be good to have a little perspective on what it means to drive it that way. This thread may help. The range of opinion is wide but it's entirely possible that it could be driven that way for many months or even some years with not much more effect than increased gas consumption and tire wear. Under the circumstances, I wouldn't hesitate to drive it that way for a while and then hope that the diff will unlock at some point. Just take it easy and plan ahead to try to keep sharp, slow speed turns to a minimum. Be aware that VSC (skid control) will be off so not exceeding the highway speed limit is probably a good idea. The good news is, you'll probably love the feel of the acceleration and braking. The truck will want to turn a little wider than usual but if you take it easy at first, you'll easily get a feel for that.

Hopefully, the diff unlocks itself soon and all the above becomes irrelevant.

 

[LTDSC]

Update:

Talked to the service manager and she was able to get Toyota to goodwill the parts if i paid the labor. I felt that was very fair and i am very appreciative. Parts are ordered and will be fixed tomorrow.