[LCML] Was: Aussie Lockers Now: E-Lockers.

[Herb Peyerl]

On Apr 28, 2011, at 3:04 PM, alan wesley wrote:

> Humm . . . . I 'wheel with several folks running Toyota E-Lockers, both OE in the FZJ80 and retro-fitted into 40 Series and light-duty 70 Series and they have not experienced any failures.
>  
> Can you share your experiences Herb?

Well, my experience is a front axle swap from a lockered truck to an unlockered truck (hdj-81 to fzj-80)... Added the diff-lock computer and everything... Now, granted, my wiring is combination diesel and gasser.. So I've not yet been able to figure out how to get the front locker to engage.  The light just blinks at me... I've been all through the wiring harness but the locker wiring is tied into a bazillion places... So I don't know whether it's my center-diff-lock sensor, or whether the front locker won't engage because the rear locker hasn't reported itself as locked (I have a rear ARB), or whether there's some interaction with the vss or whether it's asking the automatic ECU questions that it's not answering because it's not there... In short, the system is opaque.  I view a locker as a system-critical piece of gear.  Its function should not be routed through unknowable numbers of computers (it should be noted that small embedded computers and sensors is what I do for a living). e-locker wiring problems are not trail-reparable..

My ARB is a fairly bog-simple device.

Now, with that all said and done, I'd say more than half the people in my club have 80's, with lockers... The most common comments I hear on the trail over the radio are:  

"hold on, my locker is still blinking. waiting for it to engage"
"my rear locker has been blinking all day"
"my locker started blinking halfway up that hill"
"I need a tug.  I can't get my front locker to come on."
"!$#*@ e-lockers.  Kill me now."


One of my club-mates just had his rear locker actuator replaced with a used one.  I have the old one on my bench.  The inside is clean but simply worn out.  I haven't fully dissected it to see what the failure mode was.

e-lockers: just say no.