Flashing Center Diff Lock Light 200 Series (4 Viewers)

[graham5david]

I saw something somewhere that mentioned it was an issue with the battery not being fully charged. Mine acted up alot before my battery finally failed. New battery and hasn't happened in a few years.

 

[linuxgod]

Mine does this if I park at an incline for too long. Letting the truck get up to operating temp, driving a few hundred yards and then rebooting seems to resolve it. Who knew that Microsoft devs worked on the 200 production team.

Mine seems to be more closely related to temperature. I'll be good all summer, but when the temps drop into the low-to-mid 40s in the morning this seems to happen. I thought maybe it was just amount of time not exercised or something but multiple years in a row I'm good for months and then multiple mornings I wake up in Ouray or Telluride CO at elevation with morning temps in the mid 40s in August the light comes on. And then I get back to summer temps and the light will be good until it get cool here in Chicago.

 

[linuxgod]

I saw something somewhere that mentioned it was an issue with the battery not being fully charged. Mine acted up alot before my battery finally failed. New battery and hasn't happened in a few years.

That might be true in some cases but a new battery made zero difference for me on the behavior

 

[Lester did that]

Interesting. I cannot use 4Lo or the CDL when this happens to me. I need to warm everything up then restart the truck first before it’ll even try to operate

I've heard both sides? It works when slow flashing for my VIN and some you need to warm it up and turn it off? Luck for me I guess? I just stopped trying to figure it out. It did drive me crazy. I chalk it up as a quirk that works it's self out and not a major issue. It's one amigo that goes away after it warms up. Not three.

 

[Aint Misbehavin]

I changed my center diff oil and was looking at the wire harness for any loose wires. Everything was good with the wires but I noticed a vacuum hose connecting to the top of the center diff, it was brittle and barley connected. I fixed that a few weeks ago and have not had any issues since.

 

[AZCRSR]

I've dealt with this for several months in AZ where it is typically warm (see hot) and dry. Like others, I took it into the dealership and was told everything was A-OK.

 

[fjcruising]

I have had the same problem recently. Diff lock flashes but I am able to drive around normally. The other instance I had all the lights on Check VSC, Check PSC, PCS light flashing, ABS light on, 4 LO flashing, traction control off. Vehicle was stuck in 4 LO. Turned off and restarted several times and got the flashing diff light again. The wife drive it around for the day with light still on. Next morning vehicle started up normally with no lights. Has happened more than once.

I also have a vibration in the steering wheel as well at 60 mph and up. Feels like it is in the front end somewhere. Hubs seem tight, ball joints are good, tires are new and balanced more than a few times, I cannot see any play in the front DS or U joints. That is another saga...

I know it has been some time (if you are still on Mud), but did you ever find out why you are getting the vibration? I have something similar, tires balanced (several times) nothing glaringly wrong, just a vibration at 60+.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Bumping this up. Coldest morning of the season so far, -18C when I started the LX up. Center diff lock started instantly flashing. Had this happen last year, too; back then it went away after a few days.

Transfer case fluid was changed in spring of 2019, so it's pretty fresh. Battery new as of this past summer. Everything else normal. Expecting this light to go away once things warm up...

 

[linuxgod]

I doubt it's fluid. All my fluids were changed again about 2000 miles ago but this morning it was 45F and my light did the same thing. After warming up and then turning the truck off and on again it works fine now. I have no doubt it will likely happen again.

 

[Chaldaean]

I have the same issue with a 2011 LX570.

Light blinks after start-up on a cold morning and goes away after a restart when the truck warms up. It only happens in the Winter (I'm in New Hampshire).

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Bumping this up. Coldest morning of the season so far, -18C when I started the LX up. Center diff lock started instantly flashing. Had this happen last year, too; back then it went away after a few days.

Transfer case fluid was changed in spring of 2019, so it's pretty fresh. Battery new as of this past summer. Everything else normal. Expecting this light to go away once things warm up...

Light went away after a 20 min drive and restart.

 

[TeCKis300]

I use to get this regularly in winter too.

In the second winter now after the below fix and the problem has not reoccurred. It's a electro-mechanical issue within the actuator.

Transfer Case Tuneup and Fix

Transfer case actuator issues are not uncommon on the 200-series. Not much documented solutions other than exercising the mechanisms regularly. Here's my attempt to provide more information on where and what the actuator is, how to service the transfer case actuator motor, and potentially...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Sinister]

Light went away after a 20 min drive and restart.

Same happened to me last week. Happens every winter.

 

[linuxgod]

I use to get this regularly in winter too.

In the second winter now after the below fix and the problem has not reoccurred. It's a electro-mechanical issue within the actuator.

Transfer Case Tuneup and Fix

Transfer case actuator issues are not uncommon on the 200-series. Not much documented solutions other than exercising the mechanisms regularly. Here's my attempt to provide more information on where and what the actuator is, how to service the transfer case actuator motor, and potentially...

forum.ih8mud.com

Wish I lived in San Diego and could wrench this with you. I want to do this but I'm not yet brave enough to attempt it. Since it's sporadic and warming up seems to resolve the issue, I'm biding my time until either (a) I get the cajones or (b) the problem sticks around and I have nothing to lose.

 

[TeCKis300]

Wish I lived in San Diego and could wrench this with you. I want to do this but I'm not yet brave enough to attempt it. Since it's sporadic and warming up seems to resolve the issue, I'm biding my time until either (a) I get the cajones or (b) the problem sticks around and I have nothing to lose.

Seeing what you have done, I know you have the chops to do it. I'm sure you have a list of things to do, as we all do, and this will get its time in priority. For me, it became a barrier to enjoying the vehicle off-road as I coudln't readily transition between the modes so I bit the bullet.

Feel free to reach out and hopefully I can support with enough detail if you ever decide to try.

 

[linuxgod]

Seeing what you have done, I know you have the chops to do it. I'm sure you have a list of things to do, as we all do, and this will get its time in priority. For me, it became a barrier to enjoying the vehicle off-road as I coudln't readily transition between the modes so I bit the bullet.

Feel free to reach out and hopefully I can support with enough detail if you ever decide to try.

Thanks. Yeah the R&R I'm not concerned about - I'm sure I can get it cleaned up and functioning once it's removed. It's getting the assembly off and back onto the housing while still keeping it properly clocked that makes me nervous. If I decide to tackle it at some point I'll PM you

 

[molonlabemike]

Our LX570 had this same issue, cold morning the CDL light would flash until the next restart. After a bunch of reading many people said it was common on rigs that never use the CDL. What I did was activate the CDL 15-20 times once it was warmed up. Best to do on a dirt road but you need to cycle it to break up the build up in the solenoid.

Hope that helps

 

[MHLC08]

Ok folks. Been battling this one for awhile. Hasn't caused many issues until this last weekend when we got snow. Son was driving LC up in NC mountains. Light came on while in 4Hi. Eventually slid into a ditch (longer story). Could not get out b/c with light on front wheels would not engage. It seems to impact the whole 4WD system. Poor car was made fun of by the Wrecker that pulled it out (said if it was a Ford it wouldn't have gotten stuck).

I will have my Mech look at Tfer Case tuneup recommended. Really want this fixed!

 

[grinchy]

Ok folks. Been battling this one for awhile. Hasn't caused many issues until this last weekend when we got snow. Son was driving LC up in NC mountains. Light came on while in 4Hi. Eventually slid into a ditch (longer story). Could not get out b/c with light on front wheels would not engage. It seems to impact the whole 4WD system. Poor car was made fun of by the Wrecker that pulled it out (said if it was a Ford it wouldn't have gotten stuck).

I will have my Mech look at Tfer Case tuneup recommended. Really want this fixed!

Yeah, I've never ever seen a Ford in a ditch. That's an observant wrecker.

 

[molonlabemike]

Ok folks. Been battling this one for awhile. Hasn't caused many issues until this last weekend when we got snow. Son was driving LC up in NC mountains. Light came on while in 4Hi. Eventually slid into a ditch (longer story). Could not get out b/c with light on front wheels would not engage. It seems to impact the whole 4WD system. Poor car was made fun of by the Wrecker that pulled it out (said if it was a Ford it wouldn't have gotten stuck).

I will have my Mech look at Tfer Case tuneup recommended. Really want this fixed!

Try constantly activating the CDL once the rig has been warmed up. If it’s not used often enough it gets build up in the solenoid causing this issue