2003 Taco limited to 5mph locked?

[WES1977]

I've searched with no luck on this. I have a 2003 V-6 TRD, 4x4 Tacoma with push button locking diffs. I have a sticker that tells me to use my lockers only for emergencies and never go over 5mph and only engage when completly stoped. Ok I can understand the engaged when stoped part but why would I be limited to under 5mph locked? I want to be locked before I get stuck and I want the tires to be moving to get threw deep sand and mud. Any thoughts? Answers? comments? ?

 

[WES1977]

Oh yeah, A guy at my work has a 2002 4x4 4-runner V-6 almost identical to my tacoma with the diff lock switch and his has no warning about under 5mph only or anything. He claims his will lock in 2wheel drive. Mine only locks in 4low.

 

[Poriomania]

There is a mod you can do to make it engage in in high, you have to get in and do a little wiring. I don't remember what it is right now, but if you look on Tacoma territory or Yotatech they have it there. Don't know how your buddy's is doing it if he has a 4X4, but if he has the 2WD prerunner they have lockers that will engage at about any speed.

 

[WES1977]

I have not seen my buddy's 4x4 4-runner locked first hand he just may not know that the flashing light means you have pressed the button but not engaged. I really don't care that much about being able to lock the diffs in with out being in 4low. I've seen that mod. 1 reason is my wife has pressed it on accident getting on the interstate thinking it was the ECT button. That could't be good if it really locked with that much acceleration at that fast of speed. My real concern is that I have a sticker and in the manual to not go over 5mph in the locked position.

 

[Poriomania]

Oh, misunderstood your question and I have no good answer for it. THe 80's came with the same warning, but just by putting in a diff lock switch you can lock in high. Also on the aforementioned Taco Prerunners you can lock them and thy don't have a low range. Seems a little contradictory.

 

[miked]

i had an '01 prerunner with the locker. how fast you can go is really a matter of terrain. i took mine up to 40-45 while locked plenty of times but one thing to remember, when your locked, the handling gets worse. i found that most situations that needed the locker, kept me at 5mph anyway.
for what it's worth, i jumped that truck a couple times, but not while locked.
lol... i miss that truck.

 

[WES1977]

i had an '01 prerunner with the locker. how fast you can go is really a matter of terrain. i took mine up to 40-45 while locked plenty of times but one thing to remember, when your locked, the handling gets worse. i found that most situations that needed the locker, kept me at 5mph anyway.
for what it's worth, i jumped that truck a couple times, but not while locked.
lol... i miss that truck.

I'm sure I can go over 5mph it just tells me not to. I want to know if my truck is going to break.

at the beach in some spots you want to have a little speed built up because your going to bottom out in the ruts that you can't get out of. I would rather drive 10mph in deep sand unlocked than 5mph locked. In sand you probably won't get out if you get stuck unlocked and try locking to get out.

 

[Cube Dweller]

One of the guys that works at Marlin (Big Mike maybe?) has had his locked on the freeway.

 

[Tools R Us]

The warnings probably have more to do with the legal liabilities of selling a truck in the USA than the limitations of the system.

 

[WES1977]

One of the guys that works at Marlin (Big Mike maybe?) has had his locked on the freeway.

Do you know what year? As far as I can tell it's for 2003 only.

 

[WES1977]

The warnings probably have more to do with the legal liabilities of selling a truck in the USA than the limitations of the system.

That's what i'm hoping. I can't believe this ? has not come up before.

 

[Cube Dweller]

Do you know what year? As far as I can tell it's for 2003 only

It's a retrofit into a hilux/minitruck housing. Don't know what year locker.

 

[calamaridog]

This is a warning sticker only. You can do a simple mod and use the locker in high too. I've used mine locked at 30+ on very soft surface.

The prerunners also can be equipped with the locker and they have no LOW gear transfer.

Basically, this is a non-issue.

 

[Trapper]

Calamaridog is right. The warning sticker is there for the general american public who has no clue what a locker is or how is will affect handling at higher speeds. One thing of note, the locker will not engage above 5 mph. You have to be going pretty slow or stopped to turn it on. Once the light stops flashing (aka locker engaged) the sky is the limit as far as speed.

You can drive the vehicle as fast as you like with it engaged just be aware of the handling changes and added stress on the drivetrain. The "grey wire mod" will allow you to use the locker in 2WD, 4WD hi, and 4WD low. As someone else suggested any TTORA website should have a writeup in their tech section. It is a 5 minute mod, and its free. I did this to my old Tacoma and it really helps out in some situations.

 

[WES1977]

cool thanks for what I wanted to hear.

 

[4x4CPOSEADOG]

WES1977,

If you need help to do the gray wire mod in your taco, let me know and I will help you out. I have my 04 taco and I can lock the diff in 2 wheel drive High, 4 High, and 4 Low with no problem. I did try to drive it locked at around 25 mph on the back road with no problem at all. So let me know, I can assist you with the mod.