Intermittently locking centre diff on reversing out of car parks

[Skermo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Skermo]

G'day all

Recently bought second hand 150 GX auto diesel. After parking and shutting off the engine, occasionally after restarting the engine and starting to reverse out of a park, I have noticed that the centre diff lock light flashes and the car feels as though it is in high range with the centre diff locked. It tends to want to crab sideways when the steering is on a tight lock on my gravel driveway. This afternoon it happened in a supermarket car park and there was a large 'clunk' after the vehicle moved forward and the centre diff lock light went off.

Has anyone experienced this type of problem previously. The vehicle factory warranty runs out in about 1 month so I will be asking the dealer to check it out. Other than that, the vehicle runs beautifully. I am very pleased with the diesel fuel consumption compared to my old 95 series petrol.

Regards

[dannyson Member Find all posts View Profile Close dannyson]

I have found on my 2009 150VX - if I change transmission from D to R a little quick whilst reversing up a slight incline it will get confused and 'clunk' into diff lock briefly.... I stop - let it settle down, sometimes moving it into neutral - just a couple of seconds and back into R and its OK again. Maybe something similar to your symptoms - probably similar time of manufacture. Anyway - it doesn't happen often enough for me to worry about - and I try to avoid allowing it to happen by taking my time between such shifts.

[smakb Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close smakb]

Just re-reading your post and I am not sure about something. The diff lock and the diff lock light should NEVER be "on" whilst on any sealed road.

Did you have it turned on at all whilst in the car park ?


Steve.

[Skermo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Skermo]

Thanks Dannyson. Sounds like a similar type of occurence. Regards, Alan

[Skermo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Skermo]

G'day Steve,
No. I didn't deliberately engage the cenre diff lock. It seemed to happen perhaps as the result of reversing out of the car park. On reflection, I think the few occasions when it has happened have occured after fairly long drives.
I am taking it to the dealer tomorrow as it still has a couple of months factory warranty. I guess it may not happen for the dealer's mechanics, but I would like them to check it out.

Regards

Alan

[Riv39 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Riv39]

I have found on my 2009 150VX - if I change transmission from D to R a little quick whilst reversing up a slight incline it will get confused and 'clunk' into diff lock briefly.... I stop - let it settle down, sometimes moving it into neutral - just a couple of seconds and back into R and its OK again. Maybe something similar to your symptoms - probably similar time of manufacture. Anyway - it doesn't happen often enough for me to worry about - and I try to avoid allowing it to happen by taking my time between such shifts.

Mine does this as well March 2010 build

[Chewbacca Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chewbacca]

This has happened to mine when you are reversing and suddenly shift to D while the car is still moving slightly. I am pretty sure it is the traction control light that you are seeing and not the diff lock light. If you come to a complete stop before changing gears you should be ok.
Cheers Matt.

[Skermo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Skermo]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like I am not going mad! I took it into the local Toyota dealer today. They said that they agreed that there was an issue but that they didn't have time to properly diagnose the cause. It is booked in again next Wednesday. I will keep you posted on the findings. Regards Alan

[Skermo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Skermo]

Toyota dealer appears to have solved the problem! The cause may be of some interest to other forum users.

They found that the 4WD control ECU was clicking on and off because the fuel tank guard (bash plate) was bent and rubbing on a plug on the diff lock actuator motor causing a short circuit. They repaired the offending wire and bent the guard back into place to stop further rubbing. Full marks to Toowoomba Toyota for tracking this down!

Regards

[dannyson Member Find all posts View Profile Close dannyson]

ooooeeerrr - how could that happen?

[Riv39 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Riv39]

ooooeeerrr - how could that happen?

Ilegal use of a 4WD off road of course.....

[Riv39 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Riv39]

Toyota dealer appears to have solved the problem! The cause may be of some interest to other forum users.

They found that the 4WD control ECU was clicking on and off because the fuel tank guard (bash plate) was bent and rubbing on a plug on the diff lock actuator motor causing a short circuit. They repaired the offending wire and bent the guard back into place to stop further rubbing. Full marks to Toowoomba Toyota for tracking this down!

Regards

Then I don't think this is the same issue as the noise you get when you are reversing and suddenly shift to D while the car is still moving slightly.