Advice on engaging rear diff lock?

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P

ppressle

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After quite a few years of ownership, I finally had an opportunity to take my 99 Cruiser off road. Overall she did beautifully and I was very impressed with the capability.

One problem that did surface was that the rear diff lock would not engage. The indicator light just kept blinking at me. I tried the slight rev of the engine in neutral, no dice. I had the off road instructor (a Toyota owner) try it as well without success.

Any common problems? And tricks to engage it? Any idea where I should start debugging? Read up in the service manual?

Thanks,
Pete

Any to you others that have been waiting to go off road, do it! It was a blast.
 
I'd put the rear on jack stands, tires off the ground, and rotate the locker dial to the locked position, with the key on of course but no need for engine to be running, and rotate the rear wheels by hand and feel/see/hear if it engages.

If no worky then I'd first check the wires at the rear e-locker solenoid. Mine have snapped and/or chafed through a couple times...on the way to the mall :D.

That darn sage.
 
Rear locker will only engage when the splines line up correctly. turning slightly make the wheels turn at different speeds and the splines can then find the right place to engage. Get on some dirt. Engage the rear locker switch and drive slowly in a circle. The light will go solid when it engages.
 
I have had mine take a little while to lock up but when I put a little pressure or up hill travel, it seems to lock up faster. You also must be in 4 LO to engage the locker.
 
Thanks all. yes, 4 low with the center engaged. We did a couple of trails and it never did engage.

I'll try putting it up on jack stands and enabling it to see what it up.

Pete
 
With the vehicle in low range you should be able to hear the locker relay (behind the kick panel) engage (click) when the dial is turned. If you can hear the relay and you have done the driving in circles and the wires are all in good condition see below.

If the rear locker has never been engage the whale grease that is used from the factory can and will get hard permitting the actuator from turning, requiring disassembly and reassembly. Plenty of threads on this procedure in the 80 section.

After reading the procedure if you are not 100% comfortable take it somewhere to have it done. The cost of a replacement actuator will ruin your day.
 
I had the same problem, previous owner must not of used. I read that if you engage in 4 low etc. and try doing soft figure 8's, worked for me. Basically lining up the splines as discussed by Fairinvail, previously.
 
ARB it.
 
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