Relay clicking when in 4WD low

Cruzer_89 · 04-20-09, 11:37 AM

When I engage the 4WD LOW I get a clicking sound from under the dash and my center diff lock light sometimes turns off. It seems to worsen depending on the amount of load the 4WD low range system is under.

Has anyone ever experienced this?

Cruzer_89 · 04-20-09, 06:15 PM

C'mon anybody out there ever see this issue?

retrofive · 04-20-09, 06:21 PM

Does the CDL actually ever engage? or engage and then dis-engage? IIRC there is the CDL switch on the tranny and the actually switch that it engages the actuator (there are 2 more but can't remember off the top of my head). There is a couple threads on testing the relay for the center diff. I thought mine was toast, but a local chapter guy helped me test it out.

All the same, my guess would be to pull the relay and run some of the tests on it.

Cruzer_89 · 04-21-09, 06:52 AM

Pull the CDL relay... I'll try that.

Thanks retrofive.

xingji · 04-21-09, 09:17 PM

Did you check the 4Lo switch at the transfer?

If you have CDL mod, do you have the same problem with CDL in 4Hi?

Cruzer_89 · 04-23-09, 07:21 PM

I have not done the CDL mod so i would not know if it would do it engaged on 4Hi. What does that switch look like the the t case?

xingji · 04-23-09, 08:35 PM

Disclaimer: I am a n00b, and I am only offering advice because only one other person has posted.

The switch is on top of the transfer case, on the passenger side.

I'm guessing this is due to some sort of a wiring problem, corroded wire, broken insulator, bad plug, etc.
It could also be a bad relay. But it is much easier to visually inspect wiring than ripping out the relay to test. So have a quick inspection of all the plugs and wires.

It sounds like you don't have FSM nor Wiring manual, so this probably won't be an easy thing to tackle.

retrofive · 04-23-09, 10:48 PM

Between searching the forum and the link below managed to find my locking issue...

Troubleshooting the Toyota FJ80 Land Cruiser Center Diff Lock (CDL) | Pacific Northwest Backroad Adventures

We did pull the relay and used a 9v battery on the according pins in +/-....-/+ back and forth pattern to eventually un-stick my actuator. All my switches tested fine.

Good luck. Read through the above and let us know.

Cruzer_89 · 04-24-09, 08:19 PM

Thanks for the opinions guys and retro thanks for the link. I plan on tearing into it tomorrow.