2008 Taco E-Locker Woes

rngrchad · 07-02-2008, 02:08 PM

I purchased an 08 tacoma, TRD Offroad package 6 cylinder yadda yadda....anyhow the only thing I wanted from the TRD offroad package was the locker; so I sucked it up and bought the whole friggin trd deal just to get the locker. Toyota bought my old tacoma and it had a lockright for 6 years with no troubles whatsoever. I get this brand new (2 miles on the odo) truck home, enjoying every minute of it, and decide to pull into my 20 acre cut hay field and check out the new e-locker. Long story short, it DOES NOT WORK. It will not engage, everyone I talk to at Toyota, and at the Dealership act like they've never had an e-locker issue in any new model tacos.

Does anybody have in information on my situation? I am a mechanic by trade and really would rather fix the problem myself if I could just get it troubleshooted for me by using other 08 tacoma locker-experiences.

Might I add also: the in-dash indicator light for the locker flashes constantly: meaning the truck knows it is not engaged. When the locker engages this indicator is supposed to light up and quit flashing.

ps- 4x4 works perfect.

Just an aggravated new tacoma owner.....who doesn't want to take the truck back to the dealership.....unless absolutely necessary.

Matt16 · 07-02-2008, 02:36 PM

Why not just spend the money on an ARB locker?

Jay351 · 07-02-2008, 02:45 PM

No warrenty? If my 2mile old truck had a problem with its locker I would be back at the dealer so damn fast their heads would spin!

Go back and make them fix it!!!!!!!!

***Corey*** · 07-02-2008, 03:07 PM

Hey Chad, congratulations on the new rig.

The only time I have seen the flashing red light is if I try to engage the locker while in high.
With my rig it only engages while in 4WD low.

They should be able to diagnose it I would think, maybe a loose wire at the motor?

89macrunner · 07-02-2008, 03:31 PM

Good point corey...

remember, stock yota lockers will ONLY engage in 4WD low.

Don't touch your rear end, you paid for a 3\36,000 mile warranty when you got the truck..use it!

crews462 · 07-02-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay351

No warrenty? If my 2mile old truck had a problem with its locker I would be back at the dealer so damn fast their heads would spin!

Go back and make them fix it!!!!!!!!

X2. Make the dealership deal with it.

AppleJack · 07-02-2008, 05:36 PM

Yes, Low range only and, you must not be moving. Just in case you didn't know. Not that I don't think you know how to operate it, but some don't so........

scuba · 07-02-2008, 06:31 PM

im curious as to the outcome on this, why wont it work in 4H ??

89silverpu · 07-02-2008, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scuba

im curious as to the outcome on this, why wont it work in 4H ??

Probably a safety issue so you don't drive fast and forget its on then roll...

hodgepodge79 · 07-02-2008, 07:26 PM

Set the Parking brake.
Put it in Neutral.
Engage 4WD-Low.
Now engage the locker.
I may require driving forward and swerving back and forth to get the splines to line up so the collar of the elocker and slide over.

It won't engage from Park, Reverse, Drive, ect. Only while stopped in Neutral, at least that is what worked for me when I test drove a TRD DC Taco last week.

Good luck.

rngrchad · 07-02-2008, 08:10 PM

WOW, It has been such a long time since I've been here on the site. I make one post after years of MIA and you all are here to help a "brother" out. Thanks for the replies to all of you. Tonight I crawled underneath my truck and removed all the vaccum? lines, as well as the electrical connector that plugs into the locker.
I let the truck sit for about 20 minutes, then started it up without any lines connected to the locker module, and then shut her off, plugged the stuff back together, started it up and WA-LAH...good as new.
Dunno...maybe a loose connection when they put it together at the factory.
Anyhow....I am soooo relieved. Tonight while fishing I backed my 14 ft john boat down into a river and went extra far just to have an excuse to test the locker out. Needless to say I am one happy tacoma owner again. PHEW.

You all asked why I just don't have the dealership work on it well:
I work 70+ hours a week....by the time I get off work I'm ready for bed....I don't have time to deal with the bs involved with the dealership diag'n my truck, getting me into a loaner vehicle, then fix'n it...by the time all that is said and done I could have taken care of it myself....and know it was done right...I don't trust any tech I don't personally know so I feel extremely leery of letting them tear apart my 29,674 dollar truck.

To answer the question on why I didn't just buy an ARB air locker: Toyota gave me a RIDICULOUS amount of money for my old buyback tacoma and after the financing and the massive rebates ontop of the 10,500 dollars I was given toward this 08 I just pretty much said to myself: "what the hell" I'll get the full blown trd offroad package

HMMMM...now to find the thread on the "GREY WIRE e-locker MOD"....off to the search button I go. I love this site.

scuba · 07-02-2008, 09:11 PM

damn i wish i had an old taco, then i could get a new one for cheap

but congrats on the new buy, and no sweat for the help, hell what are we all here for anyway..

EDIT:
(Although i was no help)

07-02-2008, 02:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
rngrchad Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Currently reside in Ohio Posts: 791	2008 Taco E-Locker Woes I purchased an 08 tacoma, TRD Offroad package 6 cylinder yadda yadda....anyhow the only thing I wanted from the TRD offroad package was the locker; so I sucked it up and bought the whole friggin trd deal just to get the locker. Toyota bought my old tacoma and it had a lockright for 6 years with no troubles whatsoever. I get this brand new (2 miles on the odo) truck home, enjoying every minute of it, and decide to pull into my 20 acre cut hay field and check out the new e-locker. Long story short, it DOES NOT WORK. It will not engage, everyone I talk to at Toyota, and at the Dealership act like they've never had an e-locker issue in any new model tacos. Does anybody have in information on my situation? I am a mechanic by trade and really would rather fix the problem myself if I could just get it troubleshooted for me by using other 08 tacoma locker-experiences. Might I add also: the in-dash indicator light for the locker flashes constantly: meaning the truck knows it is not engaged. When the locker engages this indicator is supposed to light up and quit flashing. ps- 4x4 works perfect. Just an aggravated new tacoma owner.....who doesn't want to take the truck back to the dealership.....unless absolutely necessary. __________________ 2008 Tacoma TRD Access Cab v-6. 97 regular cab tacoma 33x9.5bfg at, 4.10 gears, custom sliders, custom rear bumper, 4xinnovation tube doors, lockright. CB: Connex 3300hp Radio driving a FatBoy Amp doing around 1000watts on AM. Antenna: Monkey Made MM5 -=NO BAMA 08 =-

07-02-2008, 02:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jay351 Contributing Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 6,031	No warrenty? If my 2mile old truck had a problem with its locker I would be back at the dealer so damn fast their heads would spin! Go back and make them fix it!!!!!!!! __________________ 91 Pickup - xcab - 5sp - 3.0 - sr5 - 4x4 - 230,000kms \|2.25" catback w/ magnaflow cat + glasspack \| Weasy2k cams \| Aisin manual hubs \|Diff breather mod \| Marlin HD clutch \|3" BL \| es3000's \|2" AAL \|1.5" bj spacers \| ISR \| Alpine headunit \| 4" Infinity fronts/5" rears \| 4.88's \|Rear lockright \| 33x12.50" BFG M/T on 15x8" steelies \|Hella 500's \|4" reverse lights\| Grant GT \|Downey idler arm brace\|hella E-codes\| Marlin armor \| %100 Amsoil synthetic http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2572486 Last edited by Jay351 : 07-02-2008 at 02:46 PM.

07-02-2008, 03:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
*Corey* Co-Founder/Administrator Staff Join Date: May 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 23,823	Hey Chad, congratulations on the new rig. The only time I have seen the flashing red light is if I try to engage the locker while in high. With my rig it only engages while in 4WD low. They should be able to diagnose it I would think, maybe a loose wire at the motor? __________________ Corey 2007 FJ Cruiser ARB bumper, Warn XD9000, OME lift, roof top tent, so much more, see my website & buildup thread PNW FJ Cruisers ☺ Detailing 101 ☺ Join Topsites ☺ Muffler Comparisons ☺ Maggiolinas In The Wild FJ Cruiser Buildup ☺ New Roof Top Tent ☺ Video Of My Penthouse ☺ Rehinge Your ARB/Engel Fridge

07-02-2008, 03:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
89macrunner Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 2,067	Good point corey... remember, stock yota lockers will ONLY engage in 4WD low. Don't touch your rear end, you paid for a 3\36,000 mile warranty when you got the truck..use it! __________________ Daily Driver: 2007 Windsor "The Hour" Fixed Gear 250 miles Crouch Rocket 2005 Felt F80 1100mi (purchased new in Jan 2008) 2006 Mazda3 GT 2000 TRD Tacoma..Bought back and crushed 1988 4Runner SR5 V6 5 speed..sold

07-02-2008, 05:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
AppleJack Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Medford, Oregon Posts: 500	Yes, Low range only and, you must not be moving. Just in case you didn't know. Not that I don't think you know how to operate it, but some don't so........ __________________ Fires, Friends, and Books Decree Wisdom, Strength, and Controversy. To believe with certainty, one must begin doubting.

07-02-2008, 07:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
hodgepodge79 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Otero County, NM Posts: 191	Set the Parking brake. Put it in Neutral. Engage 4WD-Low. Now engage the locker. I may require driving forward and swerving back and forth to get the splines to line up so the collar of the elocker and slide over. It won't engage from Park, Reverse, Drive, ect. Only while stopped in Neutral, at least that is what worked for me when I test drove a TRD DC Taco last week. Good luck. __________________ '87 DLX, E-Locker, Aussie, 30x9.50-15 Mesa CT(street) 34x9.50-15 TSL(trail), DougThorley Header.... Best Mod...Desert Pin-Striping (you can't buy that kind of work!) Last edited by hodgepodge79 : 07-02-2008 at 07:51 PM.

07-02-2008, 08:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
rngrchad Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Currently reside in Ohio Posts: 791	WOW, It has been such a long time since I've been here on the site. I make one post after years of MIA and you all are here to help a "brother" out. Thanks for the replies to all of you. Tonight I crawled underneath my truck and removed all the vaccum? lines, as well as the electrical connector that plugs into the locker. I let the truck sit for about 20 minutes, then started it up without any lines connected to the locker module, and then shut her off, plugged the stuff back together, started it up and WA-LAH...good as new. Dunno...maybe a loose connection when they put it together at the factory. Anyhow....I am soooo relieved. Tonight while fishing I backed my 14 ft john boat down into a river and went extra far just to have an excuse to test the locker out. Needless to say I am one happy tacoma owner again. PHEW. You all asked why I just don't have the dealership work on it well: I work 70+ hours a week....by the time I get off work I'm ready for bed....I don't have time to deal with the bs involved with the dealership diag'n my truck, getting me into a loaner vehicle, then fix'n it...by the time all that is said and done I could have taken care of it myself....and know it was done right...I don't trust any tech I don't personally know so I feel extremely leery of letting them tear apart my 29,674 dollar truck. To answer the question on why I didn't just buy an ARB air locker: Toyota gave me a RIDICULOUS amount of money for my old buyback tacoma and after the financing and the massive rebates ontop of the 10,500 dollars I was given toward this 08 I just pretty much said to myself: "what the hell" I'll get the full blown trd offroad package HMMMM...now to find the thread on the "GREY WIRE e-locker MOD"....off to the search button I go. I love this site. __________________ 2008 Tacoma TRD Access Cab v-6. 97 regular cab tacoma 33x9.5bfg at, 4.10 gears, custom sliders, custom rear bumper, 4xinnovation tube doors, lockright. CB: Connex 3300hp Radio driving a FatBoy Amp doing around 1000watts on AM. Antenna: Monkey Made MM5 -=NO BAMA 08 =- Last edited by rngrchad : 07-02-2008 at 08:14 PM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Wanted: E-locker Taco/4Runner	Precision Marine	Buying & Selling Advice Forum	1	09-12-2008 01:39 AM
Locker woes	Sleeper	95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners	67	02-26-2008 07:53 AM
05+ Taco locker mod!!!	crawler#976	03+ 4Runner/GX470, & 05+ Tacomas	7	07-01-2007 01:38 PM
where to buy a cheap ez locker for a taco	backyard_motorsports	Offroad Tech	7	10-14-2004 03:44 PM
99 Taco, E-locker retrofit complete!	p1michaud	95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners	14	09-15-2004 04:47 AM