Locking rear diff light flashing

Highwaystreets [OP] · 11-22-2010, 10:36 PM

i've never turned on the locking rear diff on my FJ so i decided to try today just to see how to do it and i believe i did it all correct however when it was activated there was a 4x4 light, which was red and it was flashing... does this mean the rear diff lock is not activating?

To activate it i put it in 4 lo and then turned on the rear diff lock, does ATRAC need to be off? i don't remember if i did turn it off but i've been doing some reading and i don't think both can be on at the same time... all the other lights come on that are supposed to (ABS and such)

just looking for a little advice on if i need to bring it in to the dealership

FJJeremy · 11-22-2010, 10:41 PM

when it blinks it isn't activated yet. you will hear it click into place, usually after a few feet of driving. atrac has nothing to do with the locker on your FJ

FJJeremy · 11-22-2010, 10:43 PM

also, did you move the FJ at all or was it in one place the whole time? sometimes 4lo can be a bit tricky to engage, so you might not have had the lever in all the way...happens to me often

Highwaystreets [OP] · 11-22-2010, 10:54 PM

ok thanks i'll try that out tomorrow... just want to make sure it works properly!

***Layonnn*** · 11-23-2010, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Highwaystreets previously said:

there was a 4x4 light, which was red and it was flashing... does this mean the rear diff lock is not activating?

Blinking red light with the X means the rear diff is trying to lock.
Solid red light means it is locked.

Quote:

To activate it i put it in 4 lo and then turned on the rear diff lock, does ATRAC need to be off? i don't remember if i did turn it off but i've been doing some reading and i don't think both can be on at the same time... all the other lights come on that are supposed to (ABS and such)

Mid-model-year 2007 a change was made that allowed the rear diff lock and A-TRAC to work together. Both of mine work together without the "hack". You have an 08 so yours work together.

Stop the vehicle
Place the vehicle in 4LO
Press the rear diff lock button.
Slowly drive forward (under 5mph) turning the steering wheel back and forth until you either hear the click of the rear diff or see the light stop blinking.

And just to be sure: NEVER attempt to engage the rear diff when you have a spinning wheel.
If the locker locks both axle shafts together with one wheel spinning rapidly and the other wheel stationary, you are going to have a bad day (i.e. stuff in your rear axle is going to break and you are going to need to get towed home).

**FJ FunJunkie** · 11-23-2010, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Layonnn previously said:

NEVER attempt to engage the rear diff when you have a spinning wheel.
If the locker locks both axle shafts together with one wheel spinning rapidly and the other wheel stationary, you are going to have a bad day (i.e. stuff in your rear axle is going to break and you are going to need to get towed home).

Actually, there are supposed to be failsafe's in place that will not let the locker engage at wheel speeds over 3-5 MPH, Knowing the glitchy systems on the rest of the FJ I'm not willing to test it out though .LOL

Highwaystreets [OP] · 11-23-2010, 02:48 PM

tried that today and it works!!! i just didn't wait long enough before... thanks for the help guys

Canadian Cruiser · 12-11-2010, 12:06 PM

I am having the same problem, however after attempting all the suggested ways of getting around the problem its still not working. I have an 07 6spd. I've tried going forward and reverse pushed the button when in LL when not moving and all that. I am hearing a slight clicking when I am in 2wd driving in revers or slightly when going forward slowly. I bought this truck used last month and thought that I had checked the locker and it was working fine. The ONLY thing I have not tried is steering from side to side while moving forward. If I was to start checking things at the dealer whats the first step? Or has this happened to other people where it was broken? I have even tried pushing harder on the 4L leaver in case the switch wasn't fully engaged.

Thoughts? I'll keep trying in the mean time.

***Layonnn*** · 12-11-2010, 03:22 PM

You cannot go into 2wd in a manual. It has full-time 4wd transfer case setup.

If you are trying to figure out if it is locked or not, place in 4LO on gravel or dirt or grass, lock the rear, it should make a audible click , turn driver side and drive forward while leaning your head out the window and look at the driver rear tire. The tire should be slightly spinning on the ground in semi jerky motions while you are going forward. This is due to the passenger side rear tire traveling at a larger radius circle and rotating more than the inside tire causing it to slip.

If you are not noticing it slip, the rear is not locking.

Quote:

Canadian Cruiser previously said:

I am having the same problem, however after attempting all the suggested ways of getting around the problem its still not working. I have an 07 6spd. I've tried going forward and reverse pushed the button when in LL when not moving and all that. I am hearing a slight clicking when I am in 2wd driving in revers or slightly when going forward slowly. I bought this truck used last month and thought that I had checked the locker and it was working fine. The ONLY thing I have not tried is steering from side to side while moving forward. If I was to start checking things at the dealer whats the first step? Or has this happened to other people where it was broken? I have even tried pushing harder on the 4L leaver in case the switch wasn't fully engaged.

Thoughts? I'll keep trying in the mean time.

Catman · 12-20-2010, 11:13 AM

Thanks Layonnn! I had not even tried 4Lo or the locker until recently and when I did I could not get the locker to engage. I moved forward and backwards in 4Lo, but nothing other than a flashing red locker light. I gave up after 20 minutes thinking there was a problem. Finally after reading your post I tried turning the wheel back and forth and I eventually heard the clicking and it engaged! Thanks again!