Snow & 7 Pin Center Diff Lock Mod (1 Viewer)

[SanDiegoCruiser]

I took a trip up to our local San Diego Mountains today with my brother and two dogs for some fun in the snow. We ended up going up by Noble Canyon in Alpine, San Diego. It's narrow and steep. About 8'' to a foot of snow was on the trail, so I changed into 4-Low so I could have better control. Well, when I did this, my center diff automatically locked which was not what I wanted.

The reason this was not good was the road was narrow and had a bunch of tight turns, which made it hard to navigate with the center diff locked. I tried this for a few minutes and noticed that lack of control turning, so went back intl 4-High.

On the way home, the road was completely covered in snow and I wanted to use 4-Low to go down some of the steep hills instead of using my brakes.... I did this a few times, but could feel the center diff binding...

When I got home, I research the 7 pin mod that allows complete control of when the center diff is activated via the switch on the dash (it doesn't automaically lock the diff when you swith into 4-Low). After looking at the sticky thread, I grabbed my wire cutters and went and found the blue/black wire to cut. It took about 10 minutes to do...

I just got back from a test drive and it works very well. I can now switch into 4-Low and not have the center diff lock. I assume this will be very useful when driving in Moab or on any other rock surface. I have no clue why Toyota did this.

Thanks MUD for the help

Here is are a couple of photos from today:



One lane bridge at the bottom of Noble Canyon

 

[spressomon]

Toyota apparently changed this on 2000 model year LCs so CDL operates independent of hi/low range. I guess it took 'em a couple years to figure it out

 

[5Cruiser]

Coming from a 4runner, with 4Hi and 4Lo, someone help me compare.

When the 3rd gen 4runner is in 4Lo is it equivalent to the 100 in "lo" with or without the center diff lock?

Is the center diff lock supposed to be an "extra" feature from a typical 4wheel drive vehicle, or is it a "reduced" feature?

 

[AimCOtaco]

Coming from a 4runner, with 4Hi and 4Lo, someone help me compare.

When the 3rd gen 4runner is in 4Lo is it equivalent to the 100 in "lo" with or without the center diff lock?

Is the center diff lock supposed to be an "extra" feature from a typical 4wheel drive vehicle, or is it a "reduced" feature?

The LC Locked is like a 4runner in 4HI or 4LOW.

The LC has a center diff where a conventional transfer case does not. That's what allows for all wheel drive without any bind in the t-case. Having the center diff open allows the front and rear axles to roll independently just like an open diff lets one wheel spin. Having the center locked requires that the axles turn together.
So it's and additional feature allowing the advantages of all wheel drive when un-locked and the advantages of part time 4-wheel drive when locked.

 

[spressomon]

I'm not familiar with 4rs...I suspect, assuming you don't have a dedicated/separate CDL switch, it is locking the center diff automatically when in 4wd (and/or 4lo depending how its set up). The CDL locks the front and rear driveshafts.

 

[petrotk40]

I'm not familiar with 4rs...I suspect, assuming you don't have a dedicated/separate CDL switch, it is locking the center diff automatically when in 4wd (and/or 4lo depending how its set up). The CDL locks the front and rear driveshafts.

Since the 4runner is part time 4wd, would it have a CDL? There should only be a locked option when put in 4wd

 

[AimCOtaco]

Since the 4runner is part time 4wd, would it have a CDL? There should only be a locked option when put in 4wd

Correct, a part time 4WD runner has no center diff to lock.

 

[LTrain0800]

I like those driving/fog lights!

 

[SmoothLC]

^^ Me 2 - what's the scoop?

 

[no-pistons]

Nice pictures. Is the first picture taken on Pine Creek Rd.? Did you go all the way up from the bridge to Sunrise Hwy?

 

[SanDiegoCruiser]

Nice pictures. Is the first picture taken on Pine Creek Rd.? Did you go all the way up from the bridge to Sunrise Hwy?

Yep, we couldn't make it all the way up to Sunrise Hwy since the road became iced over and there was no traction going up some of the step hills. We made it about 1/2 way up.

 

[SanDiegoCruiser]

I like those driving/fog lights!

Thanks. The prior owner had these already installed. I have no clue who makes them. I guess I can climb under my truck and take a look. The main lights are 35W cheap chineese HIDs.

 

[LTrain0800]

A closer picture of the fogs would be great!

 

[Mxndrnks]

here you go guys...

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

 

[LTrain0800]

Thanks for the link, I wonder if these just plug in or removing the factory plug is necessary.

 

[SanDiegoCruiser]

Yep, that's them. Thanks Jonathon! As far as factory plug, I believe you had to remove it...

 

[SmoothLC]

Thanks for the link Mixn - interesting option...

 

[OregonLC]

Toyota apparently changed this on 2000 model year LCs so CDL operates independent of hi/low range. I guess it took 'em a couple years to figure it out

Atrac requires it to be open. Locked disables vsc also.

Sent from my TRS80 using IH8MUD

 

[1loudLX]

ATRAC still works with CDL engaged on mine, just kills VSC.

 

[OregonLC]

ATRAC still works with CDL engaged on mine, just kills VSC.

Ya, I was thinking they both turned off, but now that I think about it ATRAC compares wheel speeds on the same axle, not F/R so locked center wouldn't affect it. VSC, however, requires control of all 4 independently which a locked center would inhibit. Since ATRAC/VSC are really the same system just applied in different ways it's the same replay to Dan's statement: the MY 2000 electronics necessitated the open CDL 'feature'.