Diff lock/unlock problem

[b.abe825]

I've read that using this feature even if you're not off-roading say once a month is good for it because it keeps it from just sitting there, etc...

Well the last two times I've locked it with the button on the left side of the steering wheel it doesn't want to unlock. I'll be on level ground in Neutral and the like will just blink at me and never turn off.

I'll turn it back "on" and drive around the block and try again. Last time this worked.

Tonight it did not. I drove maybe 2 miles with it on at 35mph. I had to drive it around the block, put it in reverse, neutral, drive again, neutral, etc... took about 5 minutes for it to finally decide to unlock.

What should I do?

 

[JB.]

It's good that you're exercising the lock actuator but it doesn't need to be driven that way for a length of time like the V6 4WD system. All the things that can help the lock/unlock process along, many of which you were doing, (shifting etc) are defeated if you're not going straight or nearly so. If you've driven around and made some turns then it will be a bit harder to unlock as it has a little pressure to release.

Try it in a big, empty parking lot where you can go straight for a while. If it's still reluctant after trying all the things you were doing before, play with the gas pedal a little. Give it a tap and let it off. Give it a little longer tap, etc. Hopefully, this will do the trick and then you can find out if it will go into low range. For that, your only option is stopped and in neutral.

 

[b.abe825]

Thanks for the tips. Just want to make sure that it's not going to lead to anything serious and if I should go ahead and let my warranty take care of whatever might/could be wrong.

Thanks again.

 

[Iowa4Runner]

I've noticed the ECU that controls the center diff lock is a bit finicky at times. I don't know what conditions have to be met before the center diff will lock or unlock, but sometimes it's nearly instantaneous and other times it takes an annoyingly long time. In my experience the best thing to do with a stubborn diff is to drive slowly in a relatively straight line and make slight left to right steering adjustments until the diff does what you’ve asked.

As for the warranty... Don't get your hopes up, we're talking about Toyota here. If the car can move forward under it's own power then everything's perfect, "within spec" and "normal." Toyota may be taking customer complaints more seriously these days but up to now their general attitude has been that if your vehicle made it out of the factory then by definition it doesn’t have a warranty issue. You have to pony up and buy a Lexus if you want a real warranty.