Diff Lock Indicator flashing when truck started and while driving (5 Viewers)

[LCHardriver_02]

Ok, so my wife stole away in the LX last night to take the girls to Irish dance lessons. When she went to start the truck up, the Differential Lock light (dash indication) came on and started flashing; the multi-display did not indicate VCS off (as she recalls), nor did the Warning indicator come on (once again, as she recalls).

She tried engaging the diff lock through the push button, but the indication did not change. She tried again to then dis-engage the diff lock and the indication kept on flashing. At this time she drove the truck until she got the girls to dance. After lessons, she started the truck and there was no diff lock indication.

Once we were both home, I went out to the truck, started it; engaged the diff lock. I received the diff lock flash (a couple of times) and then it went solid; multi-display stated VCS Off; and I received the Warning indication too.

I called the dealer's service department and got a moron. End of story there.

So, here are my assumptions and my questions:
Assumption 1. Flashing = not normal, but indicating a problem with the system.
Assumption 2. Fact that the flashing stopped = intermittent problem (great.)
Assumption 3. The indications I saw were normal.

Question 1: Am I correct in my assumptions?
Question 2: Has anyone else seen something similar? If so, do you have a fix or can you direct me towards a possible component problem, as I hate having to wait to see if it will crop up. This is especially true since my wife is taking the LX across the state on Saturday to take the girls over to Idaho Falls for an Idaho Dance performance.

Thanks much,

Jonathan

 

[rrclx]

Yes, I have seen it frequently. It means that it is stuck trying to go locked or unlocked. Don't worry. I have learned over owning several of these that if it is not used very often it gets "sticky" but will work itself free after a little time. The same with the hi lo, which can have flashy indicators on the dash. It seems the actuator parts are all internal and yes, sorry, but the dealers have a lot of morons.

 

[LCHardriver_02]

Thank you rrclx. You have, at the very least, belayed my worries. I was worried that it was actuating on its own, since my wife did not hit the button. I will make sure to get it out and actuate the diff lock a bit. Funny. I never had this problem on my 100, but it almost sounds like having to exercise the lockers on my 80, which I tended to do at least twice a year.

As for morons - I truly wish that they employed people that would sit and listen before opening their mouth and then actually respond in a manner where I did not feel like I had to re-explain the indications we had witnessed. (side bar = I am a control nut, being a control system engineer and I'm extremely detail oriented, so that may be part of the issue with communicating with some of the service staff. Funny how I never have an issue talking with the techs.)

 

[mtnracer]

Happened on our 2010 LX a few times as well. Maybe once every other month - nothing too serious. It always goes away after shutting off the engine and back on.

 

[LCHardriver_02]

I am still wondering why the indication, when the button has not been depressed. Seems very strange... almost like an intermittent short of the switch or something.

 

[Desert Nomad]

If you can, check if it threw any fault codes

 

[Willy beamin]

Mine did the same thing few months ago. I ended up have the codes checked by my tech buddy. My dash lit up like a Christmas tree. I disconnected the battery to see if it would throw the same code. It did. The center diff light and another (can't remember) came back on.
My issue was an bent / pinched vacuum hose attached to the air / exhaust recirculation system. Once I relieved that kinked line it was all good. Scary though nonetheless.
I'll take a photo of the hose and post it for you to check. Worth a look.

 

[Willy beamin]

this guy

 

[Willy beamin]

 

[Willy beamin]

Still had the print out. This may or may not be what is going on. I had similar lights and that was the culprit.

 

[pdxlc200]

Had the same problem numerous times. One time it happened at the dealer and they hooked up a machine. It threw no codes so they don't know what to do.

 

[MScruiser]

Your first mistake was letting your wife drive your LX.

 

[iwashmycar]

It was its way of telling you it wants to get offroad. Like a puppy who pats at the back door wanting to go out.

 

[LCHardriver_02]

Your first mistake was letting your wife drive your LX.

Agreed. I need to hide the extra key. She let my teenage daughter drive it too... she ran into the small camping grill parking it in the garage. Let's just say that we had a discussion later that evening...

Ok, so it happened to me this morning when I started the truck. These were the indications:

Flashing Center Diff Lock indication
Multi-display did NOT indicate VSC Off, like it would normally.
Warning light (triangle) did not light, like normal.
Center Diff push button would not do anything. (I pushed it several times to see if the flashing would stop).
The vehicle would not shift into 4Lo, since I tried to see if it would engage or not. Definitely NOT.

Diff was NOT locked, as I drove it forward, reverse, and figure 8. Drove it into work, shut off engine, and restarted = indication gone. I tried to video it on my iPhone... now I need to see if I can get the video off of the phone so I can share it with the mechanic = still under warranty. I'll be calling the dealer again this morning and possibly dropping it off next week when I get the indication again. I am planning to be a royal PIA (calling or going in every time it happens) to the dealer until they address it.

I will take a look at the hoses once I get home, but please elaborate as to why this would having anything to do with the center diff lock mechanism, as I though it was purely electrically driven.

Thanks guys,
Jonathan

 

[Willy beamin]

I have no idea why that hose tripped the system but that's what happened. The codes indicated my air pumps. Sorry I'm not more technical. It also went into limp mode. If you're not experiencing limp mode then you may have something different going on. Stay on the dealer. I didn't have that option. Good luck buddy

 

[LCHardriver_02]

Just curious, but what is "limp" mode? The truck was definitely acting funny, in that I could not get the transfer case to switch (love my manual one on the 100...), but other than the indication, the truck drove fine. How do you know you have entered "limp land"?

Oh, and everything helps. Sometimes, the most off the wall stuff happens and only when you look at all of it does the culprit actually show itself. I am a control system engineer by trade, so I try to keep an open mind and I question everything. Thanks much!

Jonathan

 

[LCHardriver_02]

So, I called Lexus and told the service manager of the issue and asked for it to be noted on my truck's account for warranty purposes. I also asked whether or not the center diff lock was purely electrical/mechanical or is the locking mechanism used vacuum control. He stated that it is purely electrical/mechanical. So that makes me believe that it could be an ECU problem, wiring problem, switch problem (not probable), or sensor problem. Plan is to take it in when it happens again and have them troubleshoot the problem, then and there. I will update the thread when I get further news, to help anyone in the future with this problem.

Jonathan

 

[Willy beamin]

Limp mode will not exceed 25 mph and feels like a Honda spree

 

[LCHardriver_02]

LOL! Nope, not in Limp mode. I was able to hit 70 with the diff light blinking away!

 

[steenh]

I've had it happen 3 times in the last 2 years. Freaked me out the first time. I don't worry about it now since it appears to be a special gremlin that is just having fun with us.