4wd selection light on dash?

[miniac Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close miniac]

Hey folks, this is my first post here so please go easy on me.
My wife and i have just purchased a 2002 Prado TX 3.0 TD with a few other goodies, and i am just wondering if there is supposed to be a light on the dash that tells you that you are actually in 4wd (either High or low). If there is supposed to be then i will get the dealer to fix it before we pick it up as its not easy to tell without looking at the selector and sort of going through the gears.
If someone could provide a photo of what the dash should look like when you turn the key to ignition, that would also be awesome.

Thanks in advance.

Cam

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

Alright cam, we'll go easy this once. Joke, we're not a pack of cage fighters!

In answer to your question, there is no 4WD light as such, but a light that indicates when the centre differential lock is engaged. Low range is indicated by the position of the stubby lever.

[xlr8_87 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close xlr8_87]

Presuming its the same as mine, you'll have a 4WD lever on the left past the gear selector. For everyday driving it'll be in H (High range, centre diff NOT locked). When you push it up into HL (High range, centre diff locked) or LL (Low Range, centre diff locked) you should see an orange centre diff lock light on the bottom row of dash lights (where ABS, Handbrake etc pop up).
The thing is, to actually get the centre diff to lock can be a bit tricky. You need to make sure you're on as flat a ground as possible, and sometimes reversing a bit and then going forwards again can help it pop in.
Hope that makes sense!

[miniac Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close miniac]

Presuming its the same as mine, you'll have a 4WD lever on the left past the gear selector. For everyday driving it'll be in H (High range, centre diff NOT locked). When you push it up into HL (High range, centre diff locked) or LL (Low Range, centre diff locked) you should see an orange centre diff lock light on the bottom row of dash lights (where ABS, Handbrake etc pop up).
The thing is, to actually get the centre diff to lock can be a bit tricky. You need to make sure you're on as flat a ground as possible, and sometimes reversing a bit and then going forwards again can help it pop in.
Hope that makes sense!

Thanks for the quick reply. I dont remember seeing a light come on the dash, but when I test drove it in 4wd (hl and Ll) you could tell it transfered (low 1st is quite low) will check out for the light we we go to pick the car up. Cant wait to take it bush, I had a brand new BT50, but due to having a baby and wanting something that I didnt mind scratching up, the playdoh will hopefully fit in to the fair amount of touring we do, and the mild amount of 4wheeling I do.

Cheers,

Cam

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

Shifting the stubby lever into HL or LL does not always engage the CDL straight away so the light won't come on. You may need to drive back and forth a few metres for the splines in the centre diff lock to align and engage.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

The light does not say 4WD, it is an "I" with a ball in the centre, the common rule from Toyota is, when you move the small lever into 4WD HL the light will come on, if the light has not come on even after moving the lever, your centre diff lock is not engaged, so you will not have true 4WD until this light eluminates. This is presuming the bulb has not blown.

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

Cam, as it's a 2002 TX I'm assuming it is an automatic not a manual, plus it is always in 4wd (you have no option of 2wd only)
As such I think it should be the same as my VX, that is you will have a Hi range or Low range selector ( the stubby lever ) and the center diff lock will be a button on the right hand side of the dash.

You can be in Low range unlocked or you can lock the center diff both in high or low range.

Lee

[miniac Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close miniac]

Cam, as it's a 2002 TX I'm assuming it is an automatic not a manual, plus it is always in 4wd (you have no option of 2wd only)
As such I think it should be the same as my VX, that is you will have a Hi range or Low range selector ( the stubby lever ) and the center diff lock will be a button on the right hand side of the dash.

You can be in Low range unlocked or you can lock the center diff both in high or low range.

Lee

Nope, its 5 speed manual. Got the dealer looking into it for me (making sure the light comes on and its not a blown globe) and will be double checking it all before we leave. Only 2 sleeps to go.

Cam

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

Here is a simple test you can do to check the operation of the centre diff lock. Jack 1 of the front wheels off the ground and have transmission in neutral and the transfer in H. You should be able freely spin the wheel that has been jacked up. Shift the transfer lever into HL. Try to rotate the front wheel. It may turn for a few degrees and then lock and won't turn at all. If that happens the centre diff lock is engaged completely, so check the instrument panel to see if the CDL light is on.

[miniac Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close miniac]

Here is a simple test you can do to check the operation of the centre diff lock. Jack 1 of the front wheels off the ground and have transmission in neutral and the transfer in H. You should be able freely spin the wheel that has been jacked up. Shift the transfer lever into HL. Try to rotate the front wheel. It may turn for a few degrees and then lock and won't turn at all. If that happens the centre diff lock is engaged completely, so check the instrument panel to see if the CDL light is on.

Thanks williade,
Well we have our prado home now and i have been driving it around for week now and loving it. Not quite as much power as the BT50 but oh well. I have engaged 4wd again since we have had it home and all is good. Light comes on....blah blah blah. Hopefully put it through its paces next weekend.

Thanks again to all who commented to help me out.

Cheers,

Cam