Help ASAP! I may be buying an 05 LC but the Diff light is stuck on! (1 Viewer)

[beerock]

I'm looking at a 2005 LC that i may be purchasing but the diff lock light is on..

I am not able to go and check out the vehicle before I purchase it so here I am asking all of you before i make this purchase.

I am trying to figure out the scenarios and possible solutions for this diff lock light staying lit on the dash.I searched and read a couple different possible problems...

1: Bad diff lock switch
2: Bad diff lock relay
3: bad diff lock actuator(broken actuator arm?)

I was told by the owner that the diff lock light is the only light on and it drives fine. Thats great and all but right now I'm hoping everyone here can give me the possible reasons, scenarios and solutions ranging from minor to major. IE: what can be the worst possible problem and reason this light is staying on and cost to fix it?As well as the minor issues and how much/ what needs to be fixed.

I'm under a deadline of 2 days MAX to make the decision, the LC is a 2005 with 221k It's very clean and 2005 is the last year before they had the air system, vvti and acis which i don't want. I really hope you guys come through and I can decide whether or not to purchase this truck its pretty much going to be based off of worse case scenario with this diff lock light on.

Thanks in advanced!

 

[Sandroad]

Others can chime in about the possible problems, but if it was me, I would want to know how long the light has been on. One person's "It drives fine" still might mean the lock is actually on and if it's been driven for a long time like that, the driveline would have suffered a lot of stress. When I lock the center diff in my '04, more than the diff lock light comes on in the dash. What has the owner said happens when the switch is operated?

 

[beerock]

Others can chime in about the possible problems, but if it was me, I would want to know how long the light has been on. One person's "It drives fine" still might mean the lock is actually on and if it's been driven for a long time like that, the driveline would have suffered a lot of stress. When I lock the center diff in my '04, more than the diff lock light comes on in the dash. What has the owner said happens when the switch is operated?

he says the switch does nothing

When I lock the center diff in my '04, more than the diff lock light comes on in the dash.

what did you mean by this?

if that light is on and i have to drive it from md to nj is there a way i can take it out if the switch is the culrpit? and if it isnt I read i can bypass the relay, but i don tknow where the relay is. anyone know?

 

[DFXR]

what did you mean by this?

On my 2000, when the CDL is engaged and working properly, you get the diff lock light plus two VSC-related lights: VSC OFF and VSC TRAC. Never just the CDL light. Ask the seller if that is the only light that's on.

 

[beerock]

On my 2000, when the CDL is engaged and working properly, you get the diff lock light plus two VSC-related lights: VSC OFF and VSC TRAC. Never just the CDL light. Ask the seller if that is the only light that's on.

YEs as stated in original thread the only light on is the diff light

 

[Sandroad]

Only the diff light means the plot thickens a bit. I still wonder if the other dash lights ever come on (per what @DFXR posted). If it's really only ever the diff light, maybe that would help someone else on MUD to troubleshoot it. I don't know what's going on.

I guess my bottom line is that before you drive it from MD to NJ you need to make sure the CDL is not on.

 

[elk]

Where in NJ and where in MD? I am located in Elkton off I-95. As other have stated, there should be more lights on if the CDL is actuated. Is it solid or flashing?

 

[beerock]

Where in NJ and where in MD? I am located in Elkton off I-95. As other have stated, there should be more lights on if the CDL is actuated. Is it solid or flashing?

its solid and ITS ONLY the diff lock light

 

[100 TD]

General info for others.......I have already discussed this in PM from Beerock
Lets just hope it's been bumped by someones knee in the last month and once it is locked on pavement, it takes a bit to unlock on gravel or grass. The other thing they may have tried to unlock, but not knowing they need to release the wind up (tension) in the drive train on grass or gravel to unlock, they may have pushed the switch a few times and left it in the lock position again, not knowing the difference. As I said before, very hard to see the difference between lock and unlock at the switch. Perhaps you can ask them to look clearly at the switch, get them to push it in and out a couple of times, and make sure they can see the difference between in and out. (only 3/64" approx guess)
Then get them to go for a drive on the bitumen and see if it comes out, if not get them to go to a dirt or gravel roadside stop and do lots of turns left and right and while in reverse as well.
With the key on, in a quiet location, when you push the switch you will hear a relay click and the motor actuate, same when you push the switch again. I believe you guys over there have a few more probs then us with them, with water/salt getting into the motor workings and corroding up. The indicator switch rarely fails with the light on, normally fails and won't work. Also I think the ECU should flash the lamp if it is still on, after selecting OFF, after predetermined time, so the fact that it's on may mean the switch is selected ON, however I haven't read up on the logic of this circuit for many years. Also being the later dash, some electronics may be faulty, or simply a drop of water in the switch or a wiring harness connector. Use the hearing test for relay and motor actuation. Make sure they aren't in low range!

 

[elk]

 

[elk]

All three lights should be on when engaged. The steering will noticeably scrub at low speeds.

Disengaging will turn all three lights off starting with the CDL. Sometimes VSC and TRAC stay on for a few moments afterwards then disengage.

The CDL alone should not be on as the CDL triggers the other systems.