Center Diff Lock - Won't Engage

[shinsain]

New here...new to T4Rs as well (prior Land Cruiser guy).

Just reading this thread, trying to figure out if there's a generally agreed upon mileage or situation (other than non-use) that can cause the CDL to not work?

Mine's working, but I'd like to try and avoid having it not do so if possible.

 

[swanny]

New here...new to T4Rs as well (prior Land Cruiser guy).

Just reading this thread, trying to figure out if there's a generally agreed upon mileage or situation (other than non-use) that can cause the CDL to not work?

Mine's working, but I'd like to try and avoid having it not do so if possible.

Engage it monthly and you should be fine is the consensus. If you don't be ready to spend some money, don't ask me how I know.

 

[shinsain]

Awesome. I figured as much. IIRC the manual for my FJ said to run 4WD like 10 miles a month or something, and lock the rear diff x-amount per month or something as well.

 

[danronian]

Tried banging on the unit with a rubber mallet while engaging at least 5 or so times. No luck. Found that my breather line was decayed and had fallen off. Trimmed it and reattached it.

Going to try more of the banging on the unit and engaging with the wife's help. Then I'll move to the loosening of the bolts, banging, and engaging. I can hear something inside of it working, and that beeping, so I'm hoping it's not completely broken.

After months of trying to get it to engage, the other day it finally worked! I was going about 5 mph up a very bumpy dirt road and it engaged! I was assuming I'd have to replace the transfer case with a used unit so this was great news for me.

I'm going to be very diligent about engaging the diff lock and 4lo every time I get a wet or dirt road to drive on to keep it working properly.

 

[bunz559]

Going through this right now as well. I am not experienced and confident enough to drop the transfer case myself so I am having a shop do it for me. I ordered the actuator unit off of Ebay from a company in Washington. I believe dealership pricing is roughly $1000 bucks from what my mechanic was quoted. This company has them listed for $700. Just look up AISIN SAT-003. You'll notice not too many places have them listed for order. Even the Toyota parts websites do not list them. As of now, I'm not sure how much my mechanic is going to charge but according to him, he's done several of these working for the dealership.

In my case, I need this thing fixed cause it's stuck in 4Lo. Vehicle is practically undriveable on roads due to this.

 

[Batmango66]

A little tap and she is happy!

Yeah, mine was engaged but refused to come out of lock. Rather a pain when there was no snow the next day. I had my son sit in the drivers seat, tapped twice and BAM problem solved. The breather hose was still in place but its getting new and a bit longer tomorrow. I ran through it several times driving around and it worked flawlessly for 10 mi +/- so, I will keep checking it and also make sure it's engaged at least once a month... I'm still hesitant simply due to the cost of the fix but, why not live dangerously...


THANK YOU!

 

[ben550]

I have a V8 with the 4H-4L modes and a locking center diff. I try and activate these once a month. I have observed that when I lock the center diff or switch to 4L when the fluid/gear oil in the transfer case is cold it makes a creaking noise when it switches back and forth. If I wait and drive around in 4H for a while letting the gear oil heat up and then switch, It does not make the creaking noise and shifts faster.

If you're having an issue trying to get your center diff to engage or switching into 4L try driving around for a a few miles in 4H letting the gear oil heat up. It might make the difference of getting it to switch without getting under there with the mallet...

 

[feralcomprehension]

Drive or not?

Hi all, I'm new here so I can't start a new thread and have to post in an existing one.

I have a new-to-me V6 4wd '07 that's having actuator issues. When I bought it I knew the 4Lo didn't work, but it would successfully move from 2H-4H and lock the center diff. I tried again yesterday to exercise the actuator but now I'm stuck in some limbo mode. The 4wd light is on, 4Lo is flashing, and the center diff will not lock. There is no beeping and I can't hear the actuators working or even trying to work when I change 4wd settings with the switch.

I'd like to drive the vehicle (don't need 4Hi, but don't mind too much that it's on) but I'm concerned that Something Bad might happen.

Drive it, or tear out the t-case?

Thanks in advance!
Robert
Ferndale, MI

 

[RonJR]

It sounds like your actuator has moved slightly, but is now "in between" the two modes.

Here's what I would do.
- Transmission in neutral, foot on brake
- cycle dial from 4hi to 4 lo.
- move vehicle a few feet forward, and then a few feet back, while turning front wheels from side to side.
- tranny back to neutral, foot on brake
- cycle back to 4 hi.
- Repeat vehicle movement.
- Repeat entire cycle until it starts working or exhaustion/boredom takes over.

You must have the transmission in neutral with vehicle stopped for the transition from 4hi to 4lo (or the reverse) to work. If you try it in park or in drive it will just beep and blink at you. This is different from the center diff lock, which can be switched on the fly.

 

[feralcomprehension]

Thanks RonJR. I didn't see your post until just now but I'm sure you are right; the shift mech was stuck "between modes." I'm pleased to report that the entire thing (including 4Lo!) is working perfectly now. Once I have my 15 posts in I'll start a thread to disclose what I did, as I think it may be a new approach. No actuator dissassembly was performed, and I went from 4 Lo not working at all to working as designed.

 

[tv4184]

Do you guys just periodically engage the center diff lock just to "exercise" it?

 

[TowMeOut]

Going from 2Hi to 4Hi "exercises" diff lock. I'd have to look back at my notes but 2Hi the shift rod is all the way in, 4Hi it's all the way out (pulled into actuator). For diff lock it's about half way. There's a locking collar that engages.

4Hi to 4Lo is the other shift rod that tends to get stuck and why people have so many problems. You need to "exercise" them both once a month. I've got a reminder on my phone to nag me now. I've been through one actuator replacement and don't want to do another.

 

[SwampDiamond2RZ]

AWD engaging? Yaw code?

Hi guys.. I'm new here so I can't start a new thread and have to post in an existing one. i just got my 4R earlier this year and i'm trying to figure some things out. This is a two part question, i would really appreciate if someone could offer some advice!

03' V8 limited 4R


Throwing the infamous YAW code. From my understanding, this typically points to a wheel speed /abs sensor.. Warning lights showing are the ABS off and VSC off. i'm taking care of that this weekend.

My question is, with these light showing will my center diff engage when it senses slippage or is it not functioning at all.. ? It does not feel like it engages.

Second part.. if everything is working properly, how do i engage the center diff? I have the four black buttons the the left of my steering wheel. one reads trac off and the other indicates some sort of voltage. This all my sound naive but i'm in the learning process.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Hi guys.. I'm new here so I can't start a new thread and have to post in an existing one. i just got my 4R earlier this year and i'm trying to figure some things out. This is a two part question, i would really appreciate if someone could offer some advice!

03' V8 limited 4R


Throwing the infamous YAW code. From my understanding, this typically points to a wheel speed /abs sensor.. Warning lights showing are the ABS off and VSC off. i'm taking care of that this weekend.

My question is, with these light showing will my center diff engage when it senses slippage or is it not functioning at all.. ? It does not feel like it engages.

Second part.. if everything is working properly, how do i engage the center diff? I have the four black buttons the the left of my steering wheel. one reads trac off and the other indicates some sort of voltage. This all my sound naive but i'm in the learning process.

The lights probably won't affect the center diff locking feature.

The center diff is manually locked/unlocked and it will feel like a normal vehicle with it unlocked- you won't feel it 'engage when it sense slippage' like you mention it is either locked or unlocked. Don't lock the center diff if you are on a high-traction surface like concrete and you want to turn. But in a straight line or on dirt you should be fine. The center diff lock splits the power 50/50 to each front and rear drive axle so each set of tires will need to turn at the same rate or you'll break something.

You should look for a switch that shows a top view of both front and rear axles with an x between them, that is the center diff lock button. I usually engage it while traveling 0-10mph, you will need to drive forward for the light on the dash to go from blinking to solid (engaged).

If you don't have the switch you have a 2wd model.

 

[SwampDiamond2RZ]

Yep, i definitely have the 2WD model then. Darn.. i was hoping it would be the AWD. From what i've read, i was under the impression that all 03' V8 Limiteds were AWD.. need to read up more. Thanks for the info!

 

[Berty_K]

Yep, i definitely have the 2WD model then. Darn.. i was hoping it would be the AWD. From what i've read, i was under the impression that all 03' V8 Limiteds were AWD.. need to read up more. Thanks for the info!

Yep, you should see a switch like this if you have the 4x4 model.

If you have a v8, you wont see the H2 option- just H4 and L4

 

[hinmo24t]

Yep, i definitely have the 2WD model then. Darn.. i was hoping it would be the AWD. From what i've read, i was under the impression that all 03' V8 Limiteds were AWD.. need to read up more. Thanks for the info!

did you buy your rig with the intention of buying a 4x4 and it's 2wd? thats pretty heavy dude. i have heard good things about the 2x4 and in TX you might be okay anyway?

 

[04rnr]

Do you guys just periodically engage the center diff lock just to "exercise" it?

every single weekend.
:banana:

 

[SwampDiamond2RZ]

I knew it was 2WD when i bought it. As i've researched more and more about the truck i saw they have an AWD option.. i was trying to figure out if mine was..that isn't the case. It does very well in wet weather and mud as expected. I go to the beach most often and i wonder if installing lockers on the back or front would be possible.

 

[hinmo24t]

I knew it was 2WD when i bought it. As i've researched more and more about the truck i saw they have an AWD option.. i was trying to figure out if mine was..that isn't the case. It does very well in wet weather and mud as expected. I go to the beach most often and i wonder if installing lockers on the back or front would be possible.

niiice - some decent waves sometimes in galveston i've seen in video. bull shark game pretty strong too. i think you can install lockers on your rig but i am not positive. i wonder if itd be more efficient to sell the 2wd and scoop up a 4x4 model though. the 4th gens these days range from $5k-$15k from research ive done, for 4x4s.