Center Diff Lock Issue

Yes, as a general rule of thumb, an X over an axle, in this case, the center axle, or drive shaft, indicates a locking feature. Give that button a push in either 4HI or 4LO (offroad or slippery surface for the health of your drivetrain) and you are now in a 4x4, off road only mode.
 
Thanks Synister, looking over the components I see my mistake. I thought of the planetary gearset they use as you would find in an automatic. From what you posted and looking over the diagrams they actually combine the planetary gearset and mini Torsen gears into one unit. Nifty!
 
Synister said:
Yes, as a general rule of thumb, an X over an axle, in this case, the center axle, or drive shaft, indicates a locking feature. Give that button a push in either 4HI or 4LO (offroad or slippery surface for the health of your drivetrain) and you are now in a 4x4, off road only mode.
Click to expand...

Thanks! First 4x4 I've ever owned so still learning everything.
 
Just an update. Had a chance tonight to get underneath the 4R and changed the TC fluid. Took a stab at the actuator and trying to make sense of things.

1. It's beeping at me. I'm assuming this is just the computer sending the error message to the dash.

2. I banged on it a bit with a rubber mallet. Do I need to keep hitting the button as I'm doing this? Or can I just leave it "on" and hope that one of the whacks will knock something loose?

3. I removed the plug and took the cover off of the actuator itself. If I were to work some of the gears manually, would this damage anything?

I'm becoming more and more worried that this will not resolve itself.... :dammit:
 
Somebody else can chime in too, but my '04 V6 only beeps at me when I'm attempting to select 4lo. I cannot recall it ever beeping whilst engaging/disengaging the center lock. It only flashes the symbol without any audible beeps.
 
Jeff S. said:
Somebody else can chime in too, but my '04 V6 only beeps at me when I'm attempting to select 4lo. I cannot recall it ever beeping whilst engaging/disengaging the center lock. It only flashes the symbol without any audible beeps.
Click to expand...

Yes, I get the in-cabin beep for 4Lo. The one I'm referring to is actually coming from the actuator assembly. I only heard it because I was in the garage with engine off and no other noise.
 
Here is how I got mine unstuck. Place the vehicle on a flat surface running in neutral and set the e brake. Select the 4L and dif lock. Tap on it with a regular hammer. (Love taps.) I could here it engage from the bottom side. Use it at least once a month. No problems yet. After 60k
 
Update:

****'s all outta whack. Was out in the driveway, tapping the actuator with a hammer. Had it in 4Lo. Decided that I wasn't gonna fuss with it anymore and be done for the day.

Jump into the cab, hit the Diff Lock button. Still blinking. :eek:

So I turn the knob for 4Lo. No shift.

Calling the people who I have my service plan through tomorrow and figuring out if they'll cover the repair. I'm about ready to puke.

Thanks for the help. Not sure what happened, but now it's to the point that I need more than a forum and a keyboard.

:crybaby:
 
Brutal.

Since that makes it nearly undrivable, don't stop now. Let it roll just a little (1-3mph) in neutral. Forward, backword. Keep trying.
 
Appointment at the dealer tomorrow.

Called my service plan company and they said it should be covered. I have a $200 deductible, so that should be my only out of pocket expense. I hope.

:thumb3:
 
That is weird... only thing I can think of is perhaps a bent shift rod or something? Not sure how it would have occured though... unless someone tried to cheat replacing the o-ring at one point in the vehicle's history?
 
Yep, not sure what happened. All I know is that it's now above my pay grade, and someone who knows what they're doing should continue the job.

Should have done that from the beginning! :)
 
Got a call last night from the dealer. It was the shift actuator, and it's being covered by my service plan.

$200 and all good in the hood. :frog:
 
Picked my 4Runner up at the dealership on Monday afternoon and was very pleased with the work they did. (Other than not checking the air pressure in the spare and claiming they did...)

Was shocked to see that the actual actuator was an $1100 part. A few hundred more than I had realized.

With $1000 in labor, total bill was $2230, but the service plan I purchased when I bought it covered the cost. Total cost out of pocket for me was my $200 deductible.

Happy to have it back. Plans are to be diligent with locking and shifting and making sure that this doesn't happen again!!

Thanks for all the help and insight.
 
Keep trying

i bought my 2003 toyo 4runner sr5 v8, from a 1 owner and he never used 4lo, and every time i tried to put it into 4lo it never stopped blinking. and this is an expensive fix but read some forums to just keep trying it everyday a couple times a day. 2 days ago it finally went in, so don't go banging on it with a hammer or loosen any bolts because you may start a leak. just keep trying it everyday till it goes in, the actuator gets stuck from not being used. after it goes in, put it in 4lo once or twice a month also, lock center diff once a month to keep everything lubricated.
 
I bought my 2005 a few weeks ago and the center diff was pretty stubborn at first. The dash light would flash and flash. I kept trying it in 4H and finally it started to work sporadically. Now it only flashes once or twice before it kicks in. 4L is another story. I'm still working with(exercising) it. If I have the truck in neutral and then put it in drive, it kicks in right away. It's getting there. It must have never been used by the PO.
 
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