Does your right knee hit the diff lock button?

[1loudLX]

while waiting in my truck for an hour between classes watching a movie, i decided ied try to hit the CDL. I have to pick up my right leg, swing my ass around and hit it. It takes me effort to do it, but i can do it. Ive never hit it while squirming around or driving, but i have purposely hit it in the past while waiting at a light....so when it turned green i could spin the tires in teh snow.

 

[lancaster]

Monkey or not, how do you manage to hit the button with your knee, while still reaching the pedal with your foot? Do you use your left foot for gas?

Wow - I never thought my post would get this much attention.

So let's settle a few things...

1) I'm 6'2" so, I think that makes a difference.

2) It is a 2003, after looking at some ebay pictures of of earlier models, it looks like the CDL switch was moved.

3) No I do not use my left foot for gas... I've noticed that my knee comes close when I'm waiting parked for some reason and I bring my right foot back towards the seat. Or, as others have mentioned, turning around for some reason.

So I guess I have a few more questions:

1) Is something wrong with the car that pushing the botton again did not unlock to diff (save all the "this is a real 4x4" stuff for someone else - I'm not a novice )

2) Can the dealer do something to help?

3) Do other 6' + people with '03 or newer LX's have the same issue?





That being

 

[LX470Pilot]

Caltech is known for the pranks students play on one another.
When my uncle went there, a buddy locked him out of his room without touching the lock.

The guy pushed on the bottom free corner of the door, and slid pennies into a stack between the door and the jamb - putting alot of pressure on the lock's bolt and strike-plate. So much, that the bolt could not be retracted by turning the knob.

The CDL works kinda the same way, especially when on firm ground (pavement/concrete) - running along, CDL motor engages and the 'bolt' slides in when the holes line up. Disengaging, as 100TD said, the bolt has alot of pressure in opposite directions and cannot retract until the pressure is alleviated. In the case of a firm surface, it can take a few feet of driving to let this pressure off.

Personally, I've had to move forward and back a couple times before it disengaged.

Here's a Notice from the '00 LX OM -
For normal driving on dry and hard surface roads, unlock the center differential. To prevent damage to thee center differential lock system, do not push the center differential lock button when the vehicle is cornering or the wheels are spinning freely off the ground. If the indicator light does not go off when unlocking the center differential, drive straight ahead while accelerating or decelerating, or drive in reverse.


Also, as 100TD said, driving in a circle would definately change the pressure levels, as the wheel on the inside of the turn would be traveling less distance than the outside wheel but they are rotating the same amount (which is why you get more tire squeal on concrete with a 4wd) - but as the owner's manual specifically says not to, I wouldn't.


-LX Pilot


Note to lancaster - please don't take this as me speaking to you as a novice (I'm still a novice) - I'm just trying to get the concept across to as many as possible.

 

[CrusrDug]

I have hit it with my knee! There I said it so we know it happens, but gawd I think I was jumping around in there one day when I had my rain jacket on over my suit and I was trying to get the ball of material out from under my ass. Definitely not a normal get in and just drive kinda day. I have hit this with my hand or arm by accident and it doesn't take much at all. I've actually caught myself hitting the button like dclee states. The button does not have a lot of resistance and a feather touch will engage it on the later models. Unlocking is as LX470Pilot says- A little movement back and forth should solve your problem.

 

[1loudLX]

Well, i used my CDL last night in a light dusting of snow so i could drift out of my driveway. When i pulled onto the street i turned it off and rolled out about 45ft and then it disengaged.

 

[macneill]

I'm 6' 1" and I've never hit mine.

Then again I've got the seat almost horizontal so that I can barely see over the dash. "Brooklyn Style."