Red locker light flashing and beeping

Hey Tacoma World,

On my way to get new tires today, my rear diff locker light started flashing and beeping. I was in 2wd, I haven't used the locker yet. I have used 4hi/4lo without issue.

Turns out, I was going to drop off my truck at the dealership anyway for a new headlight. So now I'll be adding this to the list as well.

I haven't seen this being an issue on the 3rd gens on the forum but other gens it has happened when someone accidentally hit the locker button when not in 4lo. That isn't the case here, I tried tapping the button and it did the same thing regardless.

I'll keep ya all posted in the event this happens to anyone else.

 

Didnt happen to hit the button accidentally did you?

 

Check the locker button

 

Thanks for the replies gents. I did check the locker button. I even pressed it a few times to make sure it could have been that. It certainly was not.

When I pressed it, it would do the same thing as before I pressed it. So maybe my switch is faulty.

 

Glad you took the suggestion as intended, some online are not friendly.
I know when I have gotten a "new to me" vehicle, there has always been an oopsie I bumped something and did not realize it! My First automatic transmission vehicle was like that, did not realize that I could use park, not neutral and ebrake, dont laugh to hard I was like 17 and used to manuals and tractors! Although, I still used the ebrake (habit)
Hope it is something minor, keep us updated.

 

So Toyota said that the light happening that way is a safety feature. Since I was driving in slippery conditions (which I was), the vehicle was trying to alert me to tell me to use the locker.

Which I feel is total BS. Especially since I drove it in worse conditions than that and that never happened. Sometimes the traction control light will come on but not the locker light.

I'm chalking this up to a, they cannot replicate the issue, it has no codes, so they cannot do squat about it.

Good thing I have a warranty for quite awhile.

 

Thats a new one on me.

Id say your right about them not being able to replicate the issue so they gave you a bogus line about that being "totally normal".

However the locker will not notify you on the dash when you are in conditions where a locker would be usefull.

 

Is the locker actually on?

 

was this a one-time event, or a one-drive event, or awhile?

That is total BS (that the truck was telling you to lock the diff), you do know the difference in teh 'slip indicator' (swervy car) and red 'rear diff lock indicator', with the red x on the rear diff.... doubt you would have mixed them up, and I dont recall the buzzer on the slip indicator either.

You shouldnt do any troubleshooting, but if memory serves there has been at least 1 case of a bad diff lock switch in the cabin that could cause this if it intermittently connects (but it might have been the 4wd switch that went bad...)..

Sorry, not being super helpful here.
ITs going to take a copy of Techstream (by the dealer or you) to find any intermittent diff lock system failures)... You can log with techstream, and find intermittent failures that way relatively easy.

 

it happened only on one drive, but it was several times during that drive. If anything, I agree with your assessment it could be a faulty switch given it was the same exact thing as pushing the switch. If it is a switch, it’s an easy fix I’m sure.

 

nah. It was the indication that it could not be turned on as I was in 2wd.

 

yea, and the manual states if this situation happens, then service immediately.

 

Stinks like dealership, we don't know, we don't care, go away
I'm pretty sure, There's a traction control light with the squiggly lines/tire tracks to show you have a slipping tire. (In yellow)

 

Yea, there definitely is. They know it wasn't that light. They told me verbatim, it was the vehicle trying to say to use the locker for safety due to the conditions I was driving in.

 

Wow, what a complete BS. The shit they come up with is just ridiculous. Scumbags, all i can say.

 

It is horseshit, I'm not anti dealer, hell I've got buddies that are dealer techs, but be a forken man- say we don't know, I'm sorry, we can't duplicate it either rather than just make some shit up, like you're stupid.

 

I would go to a different Dealership

 

I agree. I have a boss that can't admit when he doesn't know something. It's like mf I know you're lying. Quit being insecure and just tell me.

@op, sounds like you got a level head on your shoulders. Keep an eye on it, if something else happens @BigWhiteTRD and @ShimStack are super knowledgeable about the system.

 

Thank you for the heads up. I try to be as level headed as possible. I subscribe to the adage of, you get more with sugar than with vinegar.

Truth be told, I bet they aren't allowed to replace parts per toyota without verifying the issue. If everything is working, then nothing they can do. So they are coming up with some BS in an effort to appease me. I don't like it but screaming about it isn't going to do a damn thing. It not like I can't drive somewhere, or the truck left me stranded because of the issue.

Life is short. No reason to get wrapped around the axle over small stuff. If it happens again, I'll continue to document the issue and escalate as appropriate. I didn't record the locker light incident like I did with the lock/window switch. Next time, I'll be aware of what the light is, and that I should record the problem for documentation purposes.

Hopefully its new truck, new switch jitters and just needed pushed a few times or something. Or maybe it could be a loose connection somewhere which also isn't a huge deal.

 

Good attitude OP
For the future I suggest you get a VCI cable and get Techstream and get them working... (the ECU flashing thread by @tonered has alot of good info, and links to software, etc.

Will greatly improve ability to troubleshoot in the future if you need.