Diff Lock Indicator flashing when truck started and while driving (1 Viewer)

[Markuson]

My 2008 did that frequently after I first bought it used two years ago & I suspect it was because the original owner never used 4LO.

The more I used 4LO & back...the less it happened.

In Ouray...I noticed that it never happened...and I also noticed that 4LO and 4HI engaged **immediately** ...as in much more quickly than earlier months of more infrequent use.

It seems that you really need to "exercise" that actuator in sort of a muscle-like, "use it or lose it" kind of thing...

 

[linuxgod]

It seems that you really need to "exercise" that actuator in sort of a muscle-like, "use it or lose it" kind of thing...

IIRC my 3rd gen 4Runner manual recommended using 4Hi and 4Lo for at least 5 miles per month or something like that, presumably to properly lubricate the actuator and/or gears.

 

[SWUtah]

Never used for low never had a problem

 

[Markuson]

Never used for low never had a problem

If you've really NEVER used for low...I would suggest you try it BEFORE you're in a place where you need it.

Just me 2 cents...

 

[TJsTACOMA]

My 08 did this last night. Cold start after sitting 10+ hours. Turned off then on no light. first time this has happened to me. 122k

 

[Markuson]

My 08 did this last night. Cold start after sitting 10+ hours. Turned off then on no light. first time this has happened to me. 122k

Ya... This pops up all the time on Mud. Consensus is...it's just a gremlin.

I did have an issue early on...where my 08 would not shift back into 4HI...but that really was (in my opinion) because the original oner likely NEVER even shifted into 4LO. -Which is also why I got a perrrrfect 08, 7 years in!

 

[TJsTACOMA]

Ya... This pops up all the time on Mud. Consensus is...it's just a gremlin.

I did have an issue early on...where my 08 would not shift back into 4HI...but that really was (in my opinion) because the original oner likely NEVER even shifted into 4LO. -Which is also why I got a perrrrfect 08, 7 years in!

Funny thing is I was seeing this thread, but not reading till it happened to me. I ran through 4L and with the diff lock. No issues at all. everything worked. As much as I have been offroad this year I never needed 4L or the diff lock. I do remember hearing the clicking from the passenger foot well when the diff light was flashing the other night.

 

[linuxgod]

My issue may be a gremlin, but it's something that needs to be fixed. Only happens when the vehicle is cold, but about half the time now the light comes on at cold start. Once it does, 4Lo will not engage (doesn't even try). Turning the vehicle off and on does not help. Pressing the center diff lock button does nothing. After it warms up if I turn the vehicle off and back on it will go away. I can then shift to 4Lo fine. However if I try to lock the diff the light just flashes and won't go off or actually lock the diff. At that point I cannot shift back to 4Hi until I turn the vehicle off and restart it.

Pretty sure my issue is either a bad transfer switch or a bad actuator. I'll post once I get it fixed and confirm.

 

[Markuson]

My issue may be a gremlin, but it's something that needs to be fixed. Only happens when the vehicle is cold, but about half the time now the light comes on at cold start. Once it does, 4Lo will not engage (doesn't even try). Turning the vehicle off and on does not help. Pressing the center diff lock button does nothing. After it warms up if I turn the vehicle off and back on it will go away. I can then shift to 4Lo fine. However if I try to lock the diff the light just flashes and won't go off or actually lock the diff. At that point I cannot shift back to 4Hi until I turn the vehicle off and restart it.

Pretty sure my issue is either a bad transfer switch or a bad actuator. I'll post once I get it fixed and confirm.

Sounds like your gremlin grew into a troll... Gremlins just annoy ya...but TROLLS break stuff.

 

[linuxgod]

Sounds like your gremlin grew into a troll... Gremlins just annoy ya...but TROLLS break stuff.

Yeah it worked fine when we were off-road in Grand Teton over the summer, so I must have feed it after midnight

 

[EODTam]

Mine started like yours @EODTam , but has progressively become more complicated. Now, I need to drive for a bit before it will reset. Also, now I'm getting other weird electronic indications:

horn honks when scanning on the radio

radio keeps changing sources - both driving and sitting at a stop light

AC will not turn on when diff lock is flashing

drive train will not shift between 4Lo an 4 Hi when diff lock is flashing

an alarm goes off after locking the doors (while walking away from truck... not sitting in it)

I'm getting annoyed by this truck...

Actually I remember that my alarm would go off for no reason before. I thought someone was messing with it at first but no one was around. It hasn't done that in a year or two. Any idea what the flashing center diff light is from? Mine hasn't progressed any further yet.

 

[LCHardriver_02]

I am now wondering if the flashing light indication is a generic indication when one of the ECUs (not sure which) determines that there is a problem. Most of the time that it has occurred for me is on first start of the morning, when the weather is cooler, or when we were in the mountains... again... cooler temps.

Some of the other weird electronic indications may very well be separate issues that I have not had a chance to troubleshoot.

 

[linuxgod]

I am now wondering if the flashing light indication is a generic indication when one of the ECUs (not sure which) determines that there is a problem. Most of the time that it has occurred for me is on first start of the morning, when the weather is cooler, or when we were in the mountains... again... cooler temps.

Some of the other weird electronic indications may very well be separate issues that I have not had a chance to troubleshoot.

Once it clears, if you restart your engine and engage 4Lo, can you lock the diff or does it just flash? Mine did the latter (I actually ended up having to restart the vehicle to be able to DIS-engage 4Lo). Based on that behavior I suspect I have a bad actuator like @EODTam. If yours locks and unlocks fine I would suspect a bad transfer position switch (sensor).

 

[LCHardriver_02]

With mine, after I drive the vehicle and it warms up a bit and I re-start, all if normal. I can then shift between 4Hi and 4Lo and lock the center diff. This tells me that it is a) the sensor b) the ECU (My bet), c) connections at either the sensor or the ECU, or d) a bad ground somewhere.

Intermittent problems like this can be extremely hard to troubleshoot; especially when they are not consistent in their timing or re-occurrence.

 

[purdytj]

Subscribed. We're in this club now too. Keeping an eye on it and going to use 4lo and center diff lock more often.
2009 LX570 with about 127000 miles.

 

[FFJax1]

I’m a new owner of a 2008 LC Series 200 VX with 148000 miles. My CDL started blinking this morning. I live in Florida and the weather just cooled off, about 60 degrees this morning. I drove with the light blinking and after shutting the engine off and restarting the light disappeared. I made multiple attempts to get in 4LO and had zero success. I’m new to Land Cruiser world so I don’t know much. Can anyone offer some assistance? Thanks

 

[linuxgod]

I’m a new owner of a 2008 LC Series 200 VX with 148000 miles. My CDL started blinking this morning. I live in Florida and the weather just cooled off, about 60 degrees this morning. I drove with the light blinking and after shutting the engine off and restarting the light disappeared. I made multiple attempts to get in 4LO and had zero success. I’m new to Land Cruiser world so I don’t know much. Can anyone offer some assistance? Thanks

Did you make your 4Lo attempts after the light went off and the transfer case warmed up? Once the CDL light goes off, normally I've been able to engaged 4Lo fine. Engaging the CDL is iffy - sometimes I have to drive a few hundred feet before I engage it, or else it'll flash again.

To use 4Lo: put in N, change to 4L, shift to D... that's pretty much it. If the CDL light is flashing it won't work though.

 

[stiffarm]

Mine does it on occasion when it is cold. The diff wasnt actually locked. After turning the engine off for a few minutes and restarting it cleared. Toyota did not find any codes so I dont really worry about it.

My 2015 at 63,000 does the same thing cold. Goes away after restart when warm...

 

[hamad974]

Just put the gear in Neutral .
Turn off vehicle while pressing down on the switch for 15sec
Then turn on the vehicle, that should reset the dif lock indicator .
Worked for me

 

[JeffH]

Mine started like yours @EODTam , but has progressively become more complicated. Now, I need to drive for a bit before it will reset. Also, now I'm getting other weird electronic indications:

horn honks when scanning on the radio

radio keeps changing sources - both driving and sitting at a stop light

AC will not turn on when diff lock is flashing

drive train will not shift between 4Lo an 4 Hi when diff lock is flashing

an alarm goes off after locking the doors (while walking away from truck... not sitting in it)

I'm getting annoyed by this truck...

On other vehicles I've had in the past I would sometimes get weird stuff like this when I had a bad ground. Check your battery & starter terminals for corrosion. My$.02