Is my rear locker engaging?

[Muddy Bean]

When I engage my rear locker in (L) the red rear locker indicator blinks. But my abs light doesn't light up and I am pretty sure it used to to indicate that it's disabled. So two silly questions that I couldn't find answers to in my iPhone app search:

1. Should the red indicator light for the rear locker blink or be steady?

2. Should the ABS light indicate when rear locker is engaged

3. Ok I lied, one more question, am I correct when I say that since I haven't done and pin mods, the rear locker will only engage when transfer case is in (L) correct?

4. Last one, promise, what is the actual order of operations to get everything locked...put into Neutral, lock center diff, lock rear diff back into Drive and I'm good?

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD while navigating gnarly trail. Typos are inherent.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Locker light goes steady when it's locked. You don't have to be in neutral to engage the locker, only the t-case (or park).

 

[mcgaskins]

You have been in low unless you've done the mod and you turn the switch all the way over and drive forward slowly a few feet and it will click in and light up solid.

 

[Muddy Bean]

Excellent. Thanks. Ok, so blinking light means no dice. I haven't been able to get it engaged since my trip to windrock in November. ABS light should light up indicating it's disabled too right? My locker isn't engaging. I'll play with it today. Bummer.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD while navigating gnarly trail. Typos are inherent.

 

[duggy]

The ABS light should come on when you switch it into low range. Flip the switch on the locker to engage it. Just to recap what's been said above:

1) Switch to neutral gear
2) Engage low range by pulling the transfer case stick to low
3) Notice that the ABS light comes on?
4) Stick in drive and make sure that it is in low range by driving
5) Turn the dial to engage the rear locker. You may have to drive in figure 8's (on a dirt road) if it's sticky and keeps blinking. A solid indicator means that your rear is locked.

 

[cboyd]

The ABS light should come on when you switch it into low range. Flip the switch on the locker to engage it. Just to recap what's been said above: 1) Switch to neutral gear 2) Engage low range by pulling the transfer case stick to low 3) Notice that the ABS light comes on? 4) Stick in drive and make sure that it is in low range by driving 5) Turn the dial to engage the rear locker. You may have to drive in figure 8's (on a dirt road) if it's sticky and keeps blinking. A solid indicator means that your rear is locked.

Just followed this to activate and test mine. Exactly this. Wasn't till this thread that I realized I hadn't used mine since I test drove It at pre-purchase.

 

[SmoothLC]

I haven't been able to get it engaged since my trip to windrock in November.

Same problem - noticed the other day that it's not engaging following the FYTO trip before Christmas.

So what's the easiest way to troubleshoot (yes, tried multiple times to engage it)?

 

[Muddy Bean]

So after following advice on this thread, I got my locker to engage. It's lethargic to engage until I make a turn. So my advice, engage the rear locker and do some turns or figure 8's as was suggested on loose snow dirt etc and the locker will most definitely engage

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD while navigating gnarly trail. Typos are inherent.

 

[Scottb4857]

Glad I found this thread - thought the rear locker on mine was broken also and was getting ready to start tearing apart. Didn't know the low range only functionality of the system. Worked perfectly after following the directions . Really need to find the 99 owners manual and read it, versus the 04 version I downloaded which has no info about the rear locker.

That said - what are the potential cons of modding the rear locker so I can use in high gear?

 

[Muddy Bean]

No cons. Go fer it. Definitely a mod I want to do. Would love to lock the rear without having to run in low gear. I just haven't gotten around to doing the mod yet.

 

[Mauiyotanokaoi]

If it's slow to engage then take it all apart re lube and re calibrate, mine works a lot quicker now. Just search threads to find out how to, that's what I did. Still requires some type of movement to allow the gear to line up but they get sticky. Also, driving figure eights is lame, if you push the button and it's not in right away who cares?? The second a tire slips then the gears will line up and it will be locked right when you need it.