Rear differential lock takes long to engage and disengage

selecting rear differential lock: it takes a long time to engage and even longer to disengage. is that normal? how long should it take?

 

Seems like it's normal for Toyota. Mine takes a good while. Sometimes only a second other times 15. I saw in a video comparing the Bronco vs the 4Runner they said the same thing about the Toyota taking a while to engage, meanwhile the Bronc was instant.

 

My SR5 rear diff doesn't engage at all, I can't find the button.

 

Excersize it often.. The more you use it, the easier it'll engage

 

I've found this to be true with the 4wd too.

 

For the locker, turn the steering wheel left to right to get the splines to line up. Same for unlocking to let off the stress holding it locked.

While moving forward up to 50ish (consult the manual) in a straight line, let off the throttle slightly to make the shift easier on the system. Not completely off because then it's stressed from engine braking.

 

This. In addition, if you are creeping forward and stop the truck the moment the locker engages or disengages, the splines will be aligned. At that point, you can repeatedly cycle the locker on and off to exercise it. It will just take like one second to engage/disengage.

 

My locker goes on pretty fast but is slow to come off. I use it almost every weekend and mostly just leave it on till I'm close to the end of the trail.

I'd like to say there is a trick to getting it off but I haven't figured it out yet. I have played with shifting into neutral / park after turning it off on the button. That might work in certain instances but not all the time. Seems like if it's under load - ie you're climbing a hill, it wont turn off.

 

Question, does the OEM rear locker automatically disengage if you reach a certain speed?

I was under the impression that the rear locker and ATRAC are disabled above a certain speed.

 

Honestly, my jeep rubicon took forever to engage and disengage sometimes too. Just depends on conditions, and whenever the computer and sensors decide they feel like doing things you’ve asked them to do. Never thought the locker in my 4Runner was that much different.

Even sometimes with electric lockers I’ve direct wired, or air lockers, you can feel it take a bit to disengage (engaging was usually pretty quick though). Need the teeth to lineup and fall into place, then likewise needs a moment of slack for the teeth to disengage.

If it’s perceived as faster in anything else, it’s probably just the light popping on and thinking it always means job done.

 

Only works in 4 low, which in of itself limits your speed

 

^^^+1.

Once I go off gravel, I go into 4 low and shift down to 3rd gear. 4low has all the goodies (for the most part). Plus it keeps your transmission cooler. 3rd gear (or locking out 4th and 5th gear) - keeps you in the power band.

I'll turn on the locker once I encounter an obstacle that needs climbing over. The rear locker is cheating in some ways. It allows you to take bad lines. That being said the bad lines are usually the fun lines. At least here in the Ozarks.

A bad line on Black Bear Pass could see you rolling a vehicle. Here a really horrible line might result in a dent or two. Depending on the trail, trees will usually prevent you from rolling - very far.