Rear diff lock sensor

[sonof8pies]

Hi all, new to the site, I have a new sr5 dual cab which went in for the 10k service this week.
When i picked the car up from toyota they informed me the rear diff lock sensor was snapped off.
No worries they said $150 bucks and 5 minutes to fit it.
Now, i have only driven this car offroad a couple of times on some very mild
4wd tracks and never used the diff lock yet, it is bog standard except for a bullbar and lights.
So toyota called me a couple of days later and said the sensor was in, bring the car in and theyll fit it straight away
Went in yesterday and they informed me that they can't do it as the diff needs to be pulled apart to fit it.
The sensor is for the dash light but from what i can work out is part of the circuit for the locker so it wont work unless the sensor is working.
They are trying to work out whether they can do it under warranty.
The sensor is located on the front right hand side of the rear diff covered by a small guard that looks perfectly designed to catch a stick and the sensor is pretty much flush with the bottom of the guard so not very well protected IMO.
Hopefully toyota will fix it under warranty but just something to be aware of if you do a lot of bush driving.
Would be interested to know if anyone has had a similar problem
Have added a pic that i took at toyota you can see the top of the guard on the forward right of the diff.
Cheers Ben

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[adamkberger]

I tested my locker while camping a couple of weeks ago and all it seemed to do was flash the indicator on the dash. Ben, did your's do the same?

Adam.

[sonof8pies]

To be honest I've not even tested the locker yet.
Still waiting in toyota to decide a course of action to repair mine.
Have been in and out of low range a few times and found that to be fairly clunky and temperamental.
Maybe me but definitely not as smooth as the ranger it replaced.
Cheers

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[Myralga]

Can only engage the locker in low range 4WD. It flashes at you if your not in the correct settings.
Will go solid once engaged


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[numberplate]

Went in yesterday and they informed me that they can't do it as the diff needs to be pulled apart to fit it.
The sensor is for the dash light but from what i can work out is part of the circuit for the locker so it wont work unless the sensor is working.

its basically a mechanical position sensor - the diff lock may take a revolution or 2 to actually engage when its called for. When it does engage , the sensor sends an earth signal back to the ECU saying "im locked in" now bring up the dash light.

Red / White wires are for the lockers coil , Green/ White Black are the position sensor.

somebody was working on a custom guard for this same issue , cant remember who it was.

[sonof8pies]

Thanks do you know if its correct that the diff has to be dismantled to replace this sensor?
Toyota seemed a bit uncertain.
Will definately be modifying the guard once it has been fixed

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[numberplate]

Im not sure on that one , thats not usually the way Toyota do things . Nissan and Mitsu do things that way though!!!

just maybe once the cover comes off they will find the wires damaged , and maybe they can repair them without replacing.

either way let us know how it goes?

[sonof8pies]

Gday all, seems toyota have come to the party and are going to fix the sensor under warranty.
Pretty relieved
Cheers

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[adamkberger]

I had mine looked at today. Nothing wrong physically with it. Toyota advised that there was a bulletin released. Had my 4wd ECU reflashed as per bulletin. It appears to be working again.

[sonof8pies]

So car went in for what should have been a day to replace sensor.
Diff was reassembled and still not working.
Diff disassembled again to find a broken part, apparently some sort of plunger that actuates the sensor.
Anyway there are no parts in the country.
Was initially told 3 month wait for bits now its come back to a month.
So no car for the next few weeks.
The good thing is its all under warranty.
Now just need to convince them to give me a car to use in the meantime.
Cheers

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[Myralga]

Hey everyone.

Had a very weird and very quick warning appear on my dash this afternoon.

Heard a loud beep exactly like the seat belt alarm looked down at the dash to see the red diff lock warning flashing.

Only happened for a few seconds and I was in 2H barely out of the drive way only started the car a minute before. Would be lucky if I was anywhere near 30kmh.

Has anyone had this before and if so was there something wrong.
Is there a log that can be pulled to find out what the fault might have been??

Any help will be greatly appreciated.


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[numberplate]

was it the diff lock symbol or the 4WD symbol? I have heard of a couple of people needing new dash activation ( rotary ) switches

[Myralga]

was it the diff lock symbol or the 4WD symbol? I have heard of a couple of people needing new dash activation ( rotary ) switches

It was the rear diff lock (red symbol x in rear diff)

Has not been back since.

One thing that only just clicked to me.

I did throw the ute into 4WD Low that morning. I Had the car skipping on the tar to pull out a tow truck which I found ironic. But I did not engage the diff lock.

But it came out of gear fine and had started and stopped a couple times before that and driven maybe 20km.

As I said has not been back since.

I find it interesting that you mention the rotary switch because that was my main concern with upgrading to the new ute. I hate electric drive selection when did everyone get so lazy they couldn’t push a lever???


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[Nath.c]

So car went in for what should have been a day to replace sensor.
Diff was reassembled and still not working.
Diff disassembled again to find a broken part, apparently some sort of plunger that actuates the sensor.
Anyway there are no parts in the country.
Was initially told 3 month wait for bits now its come back to a month.
So no car for the next few weeks.
The good thing is its all under warranty.
Now just need to convince them to give me a car to use in the meantime.
Cheers

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Hey mate. Just wondering how this all ended up for you? I’m going through the same issue now.
Did warranty end up covering it for you?

[Blackdelux]

Can anyone confirm that you don't need to pull diff out to change out sensor