Stuck in HL

[Saltydog Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Saltydog]

Hi everyone,

I recently bought a cheap 2004 Automatic V6 Petrol GXL Prado with 113,000 km, knowing there would a be a few problems to trouble shoot. I'm currently working through the small issues and researching the big ones - might even find some time over christmas to tackle them. I'm looking at a broken tail lamp, ABS fault and poor fuel consumption.

The big one is this: the 4wd gear stick goes from H to HL to N to LL (albeit with a clunk) back to N and HL easy enough; but after a little driving, when I go from HL to H, the centre differential lock doesn't disengage (even with a bit of forward and reverse driving) and the corresponding dashboard light stays on. The only way to unlock the diff is put the vehicle in P, turn it off and turn it back on again (which works most times). It does not seem to make a difference if I change on the fly, stopped or in N.

Does anyone know where I should start looking?

[Saltydog Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Saltydog]

Anyone?

[red hilux Member Find all posts View Profile Close red hilux]

Mine can take a few secs to come out also.

I normally take it out of HL to H. Then apply power, back off. Apply power. Back off. Sometimes reverse a pinch. But it always comes out

[red hilux Member Find all posts View Profile Close red hilux]

The forum is great as it has a great amount of info. Just not current as people tend to use fake book.

Downside, lost info that may help others or don’t have fake book

[Saltydog Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Saltydog]

Mine can take a few secs to come out also.

I normally take it out of HL to H. Then apply power, back off. Apply power. Back off. Sometimes reverse a pinch. But it always comes out

I'm hoping it's something simple, like that. Some more research tells me the issue is 'wind up', and everyone has their own little way of addressing it.