Front and Rear Diff lock not working? (1 Viewer)

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IB14A69

IB14A69

Joined
Aug 21, 2006
Threads
81
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Location
Olympia Wa
I just bought a 93 fj80 yesterday and I was cant get the diff locks to work. The lights flash but I cant get them to stay solid. I checked the 30a fuse and it wasnt blown. I also tried several differnt ways to try to get them to engauge but they would never turn solid. And yes it does have the lockers, not just the switch mounted on the dash.
any suggestions?
 
The method above is a little extreme to start off with, there are several threads (including mine) on this subject and it is a common occurence to 80's that have never had their diff locks engaged.

Do a search on lockers in the 80 section, you'll turn up more threads than you care to read, but they are all there.

Here is my thread on my unresponsive lockers.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=76310&highlight=lockers+CDL

Another good one - https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=101002&highlight=lockers+CDL
 
FIrst off.. it should be asked if you have put the Transfer case into LOW gear? In stock form, that is the only way they will be enabled, ABS will also turn off and your Center Differential light will turn on, when shifted into LOW.

Then you can turn the dial and try to enagage the front /rear diff locks.
 
If you find that the actuators need to be rebuilt there is info in that same thread about how to go about doing it.

I am thinking of offering a rebuild service as side income as well, just no idea what to charge to R&R an actuator.
 
should the abs light come on?

so i went back outside for a little bit and drove it out in our property. I have had a chance to do a little reading on here about what others have done. Since it was late and dark already. I went out to confirm the easy stuff.
My cruiser does not have the center diff lock switch. And the manual says that the abs will be disabled when in four low. Like stated on here by you folks, On a working vehicle when you switch to four low not having the center diff lock button is or isnt the abs light susposed to come on?
I took mine out back and when from high to low a bunch of times but that didnt help. I tried the lockers again just flashing. I tried going forward/reverse straight line, some turns some hard turns and nothing. It didnt sound like anything was clicking when I had the door open either.
I was just hoping for something. I do however already plan on taking it in to work and getting a bunch of stuff done to it tomorrow since I just got it. But you know how it is you have lockers front and rear so you want to play with it now!
It was just messing around and driving it up on some stumps, it seems to go up them a lot easier that my fj40 does. but oh well. at least they are land cruisers. I havent tried my 69 bronco yet.
 
when you put it in low there should be two yellow lights at the bottom of the cluster, one ABS and the other for the CDL (driveline picture with a bubble in the middle), without a CDL switch you must be in low and the CDL must lock for the front and rear lockers to work.

If you are not getting those two lights then here are some likely problems,

1, 4 low switch on the transfer not working and therefore not telling the CDL relay to close the CDL
2, CDl actuator not functioning
3, Center Diff Lock switch not working therefore not reporting that the CDL has locked

Several people have had problems with the switches, usually you can remove the switches and clean them out and get them working again,

How good are you with electrical diagnosis?
 
First thing I'd do and have said in some of the locker threads you've likely found and read by now - DO the paper clip test on the center diff lock sensor first. If dash lights up then you know the electronics are ok and you can either try to refurb the sensor (see Slee's site for this) or just buy a new one from cruiserdan. You may have similar issues with the rear or front, but make sure the center locks first. You can't lock the front or rear if the truck 'does not know' that the center is locked.

Do you feel any difference in the truck when you shift to 4low?
 
You would NOT have the CDL switch unless the truck has been modified. The CD should lock when you shift into LO Range. Dash indicator light should come on.

Sometimes the lockers just need a little encourageent to lock. When I first got my truck it would not lock the diffs. Driving at low speed and turning sharply right and left for about 1/8 mile, and they finally locked. They are more co-operative now.

M
 
Mike S said:
You would NOT have the CDL switch unless the truck has been modified. The CD should lock when you shift into LO Range. Dash indicator light should come on.

Sometimes the lockers just need a little encourageent to lock. When I first got my truck it would not lock the diffs. Driving at low speed and turning sharply right and left for about 1/8 mile, and they finally locked. They are more co-operative now.

M
Click to expand...


just to clarify the CDl switch I am talkign about above is the one on the tranfer case, not the add on switch in the dash.
 
rear locker works but light still flashes.

I finaly had the center diff lock light come on today. Took it out and the rear locker light would just flash...Turned it to the front locker and it stayed solid almost instantly. I didnt think the front locker would work if the rear wasnt... Anyways, it turns out that even with the rear locker light flashing it realy was engauged.. So where do I go from here to fix my flashing light on the dash to a solid light. Is the unit on the rear bad? anyone else experience this?
 
IB14A69 said:
I finaly had the center diff lock light come on today. Took it out and the rear locker light would just flash...Turned it to the front locker and it stayed solid almost instantly. I didnt think the front locker would work if the rear wasnt... Anyways, it turns out that even with the rear locker light flashing it realy was engauged.. So where do I go from here to fix my flashing light on the dash to a solid light. Is the unit on the rear bad? anyone else experience this?
Click to expand...

Ok - if I understand where you are now at - the center diff light is on constant as is the ABS light (meaning ABS is disengaged). You then turn the diff lock to rear, it locks up (you are getting chirping from the rear tires turning on asphalt or concrete) but the light just flashes. You then turn to lock the fronts and they lock up and indicator is solid indicating such.

I had the same issue where rears were locking but indicator was flashing. Repair or replace the rear diff locker sensor. About $40 or so for a smart shopper with Dan. It's hidden behind a very weak protector plate you need to remove in order to remove the sensor. 10 minute job.
 
Gents, my rear locker is doing the same thing. The light blinks but the locker is definitely engaging. Anyone know where to purchase the rear diff locker sensor.

Tks
 
Swannie said:
Gents, my rear locker is doing the same thing. The light blinks but the locker is definitely engaging. Anyone know where to purchase the rear diff locker sensor.

Tks
Click to expand...

Your local stealership. There's a thread here somewhere when I replaced mine. Lower cost alternative sources discussed iirc.
 
If you're testing it on pavement, you could easily confuse the center diff lock characteristics with the rear locker being engaged. Are either of you jacking the rear axle up to confirm?

Hahaha, jacking.
 
No, but I was driving it in circles on pavement. You can clearly tell when I engage the rear locker as it starts "biting" much harder and I can hear it unlock when I disengage it and start to go straight again.
 
GREAT!!!!! Thanks a ton for the help. Just pulled the trigger on her!
 
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