Diff lock light flashing (1 Viewer)

[roemer7]

I posted this in the Club Lexus forum and thought I'd post it here too.
While patiently waiting for my wife while she was in the grocery store, I pushed the diff lock button. The VSC light came on and the diff lock light started flashing. Now they will not go off.
Steering is now hindered as I assume the differential is either locked or stuck somewhere in between locked and unlocked.
I read up on the forum and I tried driving in reverse, which didn't help. I tried accelerating and decelerating while in reverse. I tried accelerating and decelerating while driving home. I drove circles forwards and backwards in loose gravel. Still stuck.
I wasn't far from home so I got her back to the garage. Now here I sit searching for what to do.
Does anyone have any advice? At least I didn't have anything planned for today.

 

[roemer7]

I forgot to post that my truck is a 2006 GX470.

 

[ChiTown]

Put the truck in neutral and the transfer case in neutral (parking brake on!) then push the diff lock button. The light should come on solid after a second. Then release the button and listen for the actuator and the light should go off. Put the car in park and the transfer case back in hi.

 

[GXO]

yep, and no high speed driving until you do!

 

[roemer7]

Update: Fixed
I took a rubber mallet and rapped on the actuator. I had my son push the diff lock button and the actuator moved and started beeping. The diff lock light started flashing at a slower speed in time with the beeps. I got into the drivers seat and pushed the button again and then the light went solid and the diff locked. I backed out of the garage and then pushed the button again and the light went out. Fixed.
It seems like the actuator got stuck trying to engage.

 

[GXO]

Very possible. If it is rarely used it can bind up with the grease being "dry"...exercise your center diff lock!