VSC OFF and Center Differential Lock Indicator Light on

[firemn74]

I have a 2004 4runner Sport, V8, 4x4. I am new to 4runners with this one being my first. My wife took the truck today and when she came back the VSC Off light and the Center Diff. Lock Indicator Light was on. She couldn't pin point when the light actually came on but as soon as I got in and started to back it up, I could tell something was not right. While backing up straight, it would seem ok, but when I would turn my wheels, it would act like it was almost locking up and not wanting to move.

Book says to take it to a dealer but I thought I would check here to see if someone could offer another solution or have had the same problem. Any info would be helpful.

 

[DC runner]

..... is the diff locked??? There is a button on the dash that does this.

The issue you reference when turning the wheels is the front binding, and it will do that with the diff locked.

Sounds like she either a. tapped that button on accident, locking the diff or b. you have an electrical issue and the diff locked up on its own.

I am hoping it is just A and not B...

go out and press that button and see what happens. It is on the left of the steering wheel... press it.. and see what happens.

 

[firemn74]

Thank you for the quick reply. Even though I'm new to the 4runners, I'm familiar with the button on the left side of the dash you are talking about. I thought my wife might have turned it on by mistake so when i pressed the button, the diff. Lock light would start flashing and the vsc off light would still be on.

 

[settytb]

You might need to be moving to have it unlock. just idle slowly down a parking lot going straight put the truck in neutral and push the button....then if it doesn't come out quickly in 10 - 15 seconds...try gently turning left and gently right...sometimes if that doesn't work try putting it in reverse again going slowly and make gentle turns back and forth. It should turn off...

 

[firemn74]

Update on my vsc and diff. lock issue. Before checking the new post about my problem this morning, I called my local Toyota dealer and the advice he gave was to put the truck in neutral and push the diff. lock button and see if that would help things get back to normal. Well, it worked, the VSC Off and the diff. lock lights went out. Also you could tell that the diff. was not in the locked position by the feel of driving it. I looked at the new post on here later on in the day and found the same advice. Thank you for the tips, your advice sounded much like the dealers. I found out that the way all of this started was that my wife, not being used to driving the truck, was fumbling for the switch to dim the dash lights and pushed the diff. lock button in the process. Thanks for all your suggestions and maybe this will help some else in the future.

 

[Huskey]

Even if your not out wheeling a whole bunch you should regularly test the function of the center diff as well as throwing it in 4Lo just to keep everything moving freely. I've read a few reports on here of actuators getting stuck after not being used for sometime.

 

[bluefalcon25]

Center Diff lock indicator remained off

This same thing happened to me last night. I just bought my new 4runner and took it for a drive up the canyon. I must have accidently pushed the Center Differential Lock button on. I was trying to rally it and it beeped at me. Thats when I noticed it was on. I check this thread and did everything prescribed. Went in reverse and made a couple turns to no avail. I started driving home and couldn't figure out how to fix. I was starting to stress out I did some damage. I finally ended up turning off after I took a left turn onto my street. Is this normal? Per the thread it seems to be buy it just took longer than normal. Please advise if you've had a similar case.

Ken

 

[Lolrax]

This same thing happened to me last night. I just bought my new 4runner and took it for a drive up the canyon. I must have accidently pushed the Center Differential Lock button on. I was trying to rally it and it beeped at me. Thats when I noticed it was on. I check this thread and did everything prescribed. Went in reverse and made a couple turns to no avail. I started driving home and couldn't figure out how to fix. I was starting to stress out I did some damage. I finally ended up turning off after I took a left turn onto my street. Is this normal? Per the thread it seems to be buy it just took longer than normal. Please advise if you've had a similar case.

Ken

I have more luck turning it on and off while driving in a straight like around 25MPH. I have even turned it on at speeds up to 55. Do this a few times and it should come back to normal and for the love of god stop taking turns on dry pavement with your diff locked!

 

[Theedge]

No center diff light on dash.

Only vaguely related but I’m new and can’t start a new post. I just bought this 2005 4WD. My question is should the center diff indicator come on with key on but not started? All the rest of the indicator lights come on so I’m assuming that the center diff should come on. Or is it like the 4Lo and it doesn’t? I can’t get it to light in 4Lo when pushing the Center Diff Lock button. No flashing, no nothing.

 

[Seasparrow]

Shifting into 4WD from 2WD can be done while driving, I think 62 mph but I NEVER do it that fast maybe 20mph because I go easy on my old truck. Switching from H4 to L4 or from L4 back to H4 is done at a complete stop with the car in nuetral.

I personally believe L4, (low 4 wheel drive gear) is harder on the transmission than H4 (high 4 wheel drive). H4 can be used around town, on the highway, wherever. It is good to use all the time. I use L4 sparingly, and I use differential locking extremely sparingly as I believe it is a lot of stress on the drivetrain. I also never change any of these modes in a turn. I personally think that if you abuse low and diff lock you will end with an expensive bill, again that is just me personally.


2004 owners manual;

"SHIFTING BETWEEN “H2” AND “H4”
(UNLOCKED)
To shift from “H2” to “H4” (unlocked),
reduce the vehicle speed to less than 100
km/h (62 mph) and turn the multi−mode
control switch knob fully clockwise.
If the four−wheel drive indicator light continues
to blink when you operate the multi−
mode control switch knob from the “H2”
to the “H4” position, this reminds you that
the transfer mode is not securely in “H4”
mode. Drive straight ahead while accelerating
or decelerating.
If the four−wheel drive indicator light continues
to blink and the buzzer sounds
when you operate the multi−mode control
switch knob from the “H2” to the “H4”
position, this reminds you that the transfer
mode is not in “H4” mode. Stop the vehicle
or reduce the vehicle speed to less
than 100 km/h (62 mph). Operate the
switch knob again.
To shift from “H4” (unlocked) to “H2”,
turn the multi−mode control switch knob
fully counterclockwise.
This can be done at any speed.
If the four−wheel drive indicator light continues
to blink when you operate the multi−
mode control switch knob from the “H4”
to the “H2” position, this reminds you that
the transfer mode is not securely in “H2”
mode. Drive straight ahead while accelerating
or decelerating, or drive forward or
backward in a short distance.
If the indicator light continues to blink
even if doing so, contact your Toyota
dealer as soon as possible. There may be
a trouble in the four−wheel drive system.
CAUTION
Never operate the multi−mode control
switch knob if the wheels are slipping.
Stop the slipping or spinning
before operating.
SHIFTING BETWEEN “H4” (UNLOCKED)
AND “H4” (LOCKED)
To shift between unlock and lock
modes in “H4”, push the center differential
lock switch.
SHIFTING BETWEEN “L4” (UNLOCKED)
AND “L4” (LOCKED)
To shift between unlock and lock
modes in “L4”, push the center differential
lock switch.
SHIFTING BETWEEN “H4” AND “L4”
To shift from “H4” to “L4”, bring the
vehicle to a complete stop with the brake
pedal held down with your foot, shift the
automatic transmission selector lever into
“N” and push and turn the multi−mode
control switch knob fully clockwise.
To shift from “L4” to “H4”, bring the
vehicle to a complete stop with the brake
pedal held down with your foot, shift the
automatic transmission selector lever into
“N” and turn the multi−mode control switch
knob counterclockwise"

 

[patkelly4370]

If conditions require 4H, should I be driving over 62 mph in the first place?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Seasparrow]

62 mph is just the manuals maximum speed at which you can move the selector from 2H to 4H. Maybe you see rain up ahead and want to go to all wheel drive. 4H can be used at highway speeds. In fact the manual says you should;

"""You should drive in four−wheel drive for at least 16 km (10 miles) each month. This will assure that the front drive components are lubricated."""

You can not move to 4LO unless you are completely stopped in nuetral.

2H just means 2 wheel drive normal, 4H means 4wheel drive normal, 4H can be used all the time like other cars that have all wheel drive, it is just personal preference. Think of H high gear as "normal driving gear". In the winter in snowy or icy conditions I imagine you would always want 4H on, but I am from florida so you would really have to ask somone in that region.

4L is 4 wheel drive low gear, a really slow hard pulling gear if you wanted to pull another vehicle out that was stuck, it is really slow and and used when you need slow hard pulling.
.
.

 

[DadWork]

You might need to be moving to have it unlock. just idle slowly down a parking lot going straight put the truck in neutral and push the button....then if it doesn't come out quickly in 10 - 15 seconds...try gently turning left and gently right...sometimes if that doesn't work try putting it in reverse again going slowly and make gentle turns back and forth. It should turn off...

An old thread but hoping someone has an answer for me. My center diff lock is flashing with VSC off just as described in the original post. I’ve tried cycling back through 4LO, 4H and 2H but no luck. I’ve tried pushing The center lock button in neutral, park, reverse, idle, at speed, etc, but cannot get the center diff to unlock. Any other ideas for next step diagnosis? Am I doing damage to do my normal 10-12 mile driving while I work out the fix?? Thx

 

[mi4Runner313]

Hey everyone, apologies in advance for the long reply, but reaching out to see if anyone has ever experienced the center differential lock light flashing when not engaged? I have a 2005 SR5 V8, and after getting off the freeway, I noticed some inconsistent flashing of just the CDL light. The CDL button was not pushed, unless I somehow accidentally pressed it. It went away for a bit and seemed to engage properly when it wasn’t flashing, but now it’s back blinking consistently and won’t turn off. I exercise the 4WD often, not as often as I probably should, but this is the first time I’m experiencing this issue. I tried tapping the actuator, driving forward/reverse, unplugging the battery, checked the 4WD fuse, but no luck. I noticed the DAC button has a click to it when it’s pressed (toggle button), where as my CDL button has no click. Could it be a faulty button that caused it to attempt to lock? Hoping it’s not a bad actuator Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!