Blinking Center diff lock indicator

[jtownse6]

I just got a 2013 LC which has probably never been off road. 4L is working fine but the Center Diff Lock won’t engage and only blinks.. I chalk it up to probably never being used but how do I coax it to lock and get it to start working properly? Ive tried a few forward and reverse, s turns, you name it.
any help would be appreciated!!

 

[04UZJ100]

You’re trying to engage while rolling, correct?

 

[jtownse6]

You’re trying to engage while rolling, correct?

Nope. Trying while parked. Do I need to be rolling to engage CDL?

 

[kcjaz]

Yes, rolling will help. I theory, I think it could go in in park or neutral. Sometimes I have to reverse. Sometimes I have to shut the truck off and restart.

 

[hankinid]

A search here should find you a lot more info on slow or no engagement of low range and/or CDL. Lots of theories...most agree that the you should engage the CDL periodically (once every month or 2). You'll also see posts of a very slightly heavier lube for the TC...75W-90 synthetic instead of 'yota recommended synthetic 75W.

As to the TC lube, buy if from Toyota and drop north of ~ $75/lt. The two dealers in SW Idaho both use 75W-90 instead of what's in the owners manual.

The only substitute I've found is from Ravenol oil. It's labeled to meet all Toyota specs. As a bonus, it comes with a built in filling tube, so spillage goes away. I found you need 2 lt. as you cannot lift the jug high enough to get all the oil out of the bottle.

I've had off and on issues with 75W-90 synthetic...no issues with Ravenol but we do off road around half the time. 2 lt. direct from Ravenol US are ~ $40 shipped. I've not checked amazon or eBay yet. You'll find almost as much "discussion" here about CDL engagement as you will about regular gas v. premium.

Link>>

hth.

 

[slipkid13]

I had this issue yesterday, first time in 18 months of ownership. I exercise the CDL at least one a week so I chalked it up to extreme cold, it was -12F yesterday. Restarting the engine at the next stop light fixed the issue.

When I use it I am almost always rolling (I think the manual says you can lock/unlock up to 60 MPH)

 

[afgman786]

Yes, rolling will help. I theory, I think it could go in in park or neutral. Sometimes I have to reverse. Sometimes I have to shut the truck off and restart.

I've always engaged mine when stopped. Rolling I've never been able to get it to work, but stopped in Neutral or park have done the trick in my case. If I'm coming to a stop I pop it into Neutral and slowly stop to make sure there is no bind then try and engage CDL

 

[stonepa]

I had this issue yesterday, first time in 18 months of ownership. I exercise the CDL at least one a week so I chalked it up to extreme cold, it was -12F yesterday. Restarting the engine at the next stop light fixed the issue.

When I use it I am almost always rolling (I think the manual says you can lock/unlock up to 60 MPH)

May also have something to do with the oil temp. I have had challenges engaging first thing on a cold morning. It was -50F this morning when i took a quick drive. Waited for oil and coolant temp to come up before i engaged CDL at about 40 mph.

i sure wish Toyota would release the updated cartridge block heater for the 5.7. -50F is 10F below the vapor point of unleaded. Had to heat the engine with an electric blanket, oil and battery heaters to start it. On my 100 i have 2 freeze plug heaters that keep it nice and warm.

 

[04UZJ100]

May also have something to do with the oil temp. I have had challenges engaging first thing on a cold morning. It was -50F this morning when i took a quick drive. Waited for oil and coolant temp to come up before i engaged CDL at about 40 mph.

i sure wish Toyota would release the updated cartridge block heater for the 5.7. -50F is 10F below the vapor point of unleaded. Had to heat the engine with an electric blanket, oil and battery heaters to start it. On my 100 i have 2 freeze plug heaters that keep it nice and warm.

What part of AK was that cold? How’d the truck run?

 

[stonepa]

What part of AK was that cold? How’d the truck run?

My 100 is sitting at home in Homer. But i have my 200 in northern Minnesota where i am heading out for a 2 week backcountry ski/camping/fishing trip. Drove out from Seattle on Friday am.

truck did great once i got the engine warm enough to burn fuel. Toyota really needs to figure out the solution for the block heater. Installed one when i bought the 200 but toyota recalled them due to fire hazard. No replacement yet. Not sure what all the tundra owners up here in minnesota do because it is the same cartridge heater.

 

[Cruisin911]

When I lived in AK with my 5.7 tundra, I ran a the block heater mentioned above as well as a stick on oil pan heater and a stick on transmission pan heater, as well as a battery heater. 4 in total. Truck started every time in -40F. It would complain and be pretty loud for the first few minutes but she ran and drove just fine. Maybe that is a option?

 

[slipkid13]

May also have something to do with the oil temp. I have had challenges engaging first thing on a cold morning. It was -50F this morning when i took a quick drive. Waited for oil and coolant temp to come up before i engaged CDL at about 40 mph.

i sure wish Toyota would release the updated cartridge block heater for the 5.7. -50F is 10F below the vapor point of unleaded. Had to heat the engine with an electric blanket, oil and battery heaters to start it. On my 100 i have 2 freeze plug heaters that keep it nice and warm.

I had driven for about 3 miles so it might not have been up to full temp.