2013 4Runner trail rear locker go crazy… HELP!!

Hi all,

My 2013 4Runner Trail edition just went crazy signal yesterday when press rear locker button in 4Lo in the wild. After coming home garage, I try to repeat the issue and take a clip, see if anyone has clue what may go wrong.

In the clip, I normally switch to 4Lo at beginning, everything is fine and well engaged. However, after I press rear locker switch, the locker light rapid flashing and MTS flashing too. I don’t know why MTS flashing and didn’t see it like this before… locker doesn’t seem engaged neither.

And then I try to follow the normal procedure back to 2H, the indicators all go crazy… even I shut the engine off, remove the key and restart again… didn’t recovered.

This morning, I start the car at 2H, indicators resume normal, everything works well, switch to 4Lo, works well. Then press rear locker… indicators go crazy again…

by the way, in these test, MTS function is good as just activate it in 4Lo.

May I know any suggestion? Appreciate for the help.

 

In order for the locker to actually engage, you have to move forward slightly. Sometimes you sometimes need to move forward slightly and turn the wheel left or right. Listen for a quiet “click”sound from the back. Then it will be engaged.

Dont cycle through 2wd to 4hi to 4lo and back while you are sitting still. Avoid shutting down your engine while you have blinking lights. That is asking for trouble. The only time you should be stopped is when engaging or disengaging 4lo.

Also, review the manual for operation.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, McSpazatron. I tried the way you suggested, move forward/backward slightly in off-road in order to engage rear locker, but it doesn't work.
While in normal case, rear locker not engaged yet, the red rear locker indicator flash "slowly", which is different from what i am having now- "rapid" flashing...

Actually, i have been using rear locker in off road several times and always enjoy the function. It always works and help me get through those tough terrain just same as most Toyota, 4Runner video clip on website.

Just this time I ran off-road two days ago, rear locker just doesn't work as usual, then i try to duplicate the symptom after back to my garage and asking for a clue...
I read the manual, it specifies "rapid" flashing rear locker indicator is abnormal. Just similar to my symptom at 0:39 of video clip. And mine even have MTS light flashing which doesn't seem a right symptom... that's why i am wondering what may go wrong.

Due to 4Runner is not an official standard model to Toyota dealer in Taiwan, the service/maintenance shops may not be very familiar to 4Runner technical.
(We are kind of lacking technical support on 4Runner here) Hence, I'd like to get everyone's advice in 4Runner forum here to provide the direction of diagnose this rear locker problem and what would be possibly fix before I try the 2nd service shop. (i went to one service shop yesterday, but can't solve it... )

Appreciate for all kinds of suggestion again~

 

Thanks for the additional info! Helpful to know you may not be able to rely on your mechanic shops local to you, it makes me understand your urgency for information.

Im not a mechanic, but sometimes some people have success attemping to drive it some distance. If the locker actuator is seized up, maybe trying to drive slowly for some distance may help free it?


Hopefully somebody else can chime in with ideas…

 

I forgot to mention this. If you need to search out a mechanic or toyota dealer, it’s my understanding that the Prado has a very similar 4x4 system, Im not familiar with the Prado trims, but the systems may even be exactly the same.

So if a dealer or shop knows how to service a Prado, they should be able to figure out a 4runner.

 

Thanks for the info. Good idea to check my local Toyota dealer about- Prado as reference to 4Runner.
Yes, Prado is a standard model in Taiwan although it's not popular... let me seek for this way for service.

 

In my earlier life I spent over 25 years earning my living as a "wrench" but that was 20 years ago and admittedly I know little of the rear locker operation on our 4runners. That said it sounds like your locker is not fully engaging (servo/actuator whatever), so if I was in that situation I would have someone I fully trust engage the rear locker while you take a BAH (Big Ass Hammer) and swing on the rear differential to try and persuade it to engage. If it works, hooray you found the problem and if not then on to the next step...

 

Appreciate for the info.
Got to look for a BAH this weekend!
(Thor may know how to find a good BAH, let me call him later)