Locking Center Differential and VSC OFF Problem

[dbs600]

Recently lent my 2004 LX470 to my next door neighbor for a couple of hours and was upset to find the two lights in the attached photo (Locked Center Differential and VSC OFF) were lit on the instrument cluster when I got it back!

I never change these settings and even after investigating same in the owner’s manual, I had a difficult time turning the lights off.

Nevertheless, I was able to turn them off, but unfortunately, they were on again this morning, even though I didn’t touch the locking center differential button below the antenna mast button on the center console, as it was in the ‘out’ position!?

I put the truck in park, pressed the differential button, drove forward and then backward, placed the truck in park, released the differential button, drove forward and then backward. This procedure didn’t work the first time, but did the second time!?

What’s going on here? Could something have been damaged? Not happy.

Please advise.

Thank you!

 

[deepseajc]

Disconnect your battery for five minutes. Reconnect and drive for around for 39 min or so (trip to store?). After this, find some dirt (or stay straight on pavement), stop vehicle and place in neutral, then depress CDL switch, then place in drive and roll FWD (lights for CDL and vsc off should illuminate). Do the reverse of this procedure to turn off.

 

[deepseajc]

30 minutes

 

[chitown40]

I don't think you need to disconnect your battery and reset the ECU. When you don't regularly lock and un-lock your CDL it can stick a little. Start exercising it regularly and you probably will not see any future problems. Your neighbor probably started pushing buttons without any idea what he was pushing. The CDL is ok to drive on dry pavement with. You might get a small amount of binding in turns but it's usually pretty harmless.

 

[dbs600]

Thank you very much for this insightful info, Gentlemen!

So, CDL is not generally harmful on dry pavement, and for the short time my neighbor drove same on dry pavement, it shouldn't be a problem.

Otherwise, thanks for letting me know the system can 'stick' if not regularly used; hopefully this is why it came back 'on' without engaging it, and hopefully off now!