"First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is."
OK, I've been humming this tune since Sunday and the Greasy Spoon run.
Here's the deal. I bought my 99 Tacoma a few years ago with the V6 engine and TRD stickers. No locker switch on the dash- I figured it must have been an option that year that this truck didn't have.
This past Sunday I had the great pleasure of meeting Bostonmangler, who takes a look at my rear diff and proclaims that yes indeed, the truck has a locker, pointing at a mess of 'stuff' hanging off of it. Cool! He and Scott speculate that at some point the original dash got trashed and replaced without the locker switch. I'm advised to take the truck to a local 4wd shop to have them look it over and get it hooked up. I grin all the way home. Yahoo! I've got a rear locker. :wings:
Monday am and the 4wd shop says take it to the dealer, they know the specs.
Tuesday am the service rep at the dealer looks under the truck and tells me there is no locker. I insist. He disappears to check the vin and comes back saying he is 100% sure there's no locker. Those are brake lines coming off the rear diff. My story about the dash replacement is pretty farfetched. Do I want the 27 point 'free' inspection while I'm there?
Disgusted, I drive over to my mechanic. He takes a look and says, well, yeah you've got a locker. Come back Thursday and we'll fix you up.
This morning he tells me there's no switch because it engages automatically when it senses that it's needed. Doubtful, I ask him for more details and he explains that he called his buddy in the 4wd club and that's what his buddy said.
Do I go back to the dealer and take my free 27 point inspection to get by the service rep to a real mechanic? And refrain from :shakin: at the service rep on my way out?
Or does anyone know a mechanic in the Phoenix area who'd be up to the task? (Seems my clutch is going too- perhaps a new mechanic might be a good idea before I take care of that?)
And finally, anyone else interested in scheduling the first Expedition Portal Tacoma Mechanic's Trophy? I have a lot to learn!
OK, I've been humming this tune since Sunday and the Greasy Spoon run.
Here's the deal. I bought my 99 Tacoma a few years ago with the V6 engine and TRD stickers. No locker switch on the dash- I figured it must have been an option that year that this truck didn't have.
This past Sunday I had the great pleasure of meeting Bostonmangler, who takes a look at my rear diff and proclaims that yes indeed, the truck has a locker, pointing at a mess of 'stuff' hanging off of it. Cool! He and Scott speculate that at some point the original dash got trashed and replaced without the locker switch. I'm advised to take the truck to a local 4wd shop to have them look it over and get it hooked up. I grin all the way home. Yahoo! I've got a rear locker. :wings:
Monday am and the 4wd shop says take it to the dealer, they know the specs.
Tuesday am the service rep at the dealer looks under the truck and tells me there is no locker. I insist. He disappears to check the vin and comes back saying he is 100% sure there's no locker. Those are brake lines coming off the rear diff. My story about the dash replacement is pretty farfetched. Do I want the 27 point 'free' inspection while I'm there?
Disgusted, I drive over to my mechanic. He takes a look and says, well, yeah you've got a locker. Come back Thursday and we'll fix you up.
This morning he tells me there's no switch because it engages automatically when it senses that it's needed. Doubtful, I ask him for more details and he explains that he called his buddy in the 4wd club and that's what his buddy said.
Do I go back to the dealer and take my free 27 point inspection to get by the service rep to a real mechanic? And refrain from :shakin: at the service rep on my way out?
Or does anyone know a mechanic in the Phoenix area who'd be up to the task? (Seems my clutch is going too- perhaps a new mechanic might be a good idea before I take care of that?)
And finally, anyone else interested in scheduling the first Expedition Portal Tacoma Mechanic's Trophy? I have a lot to learn!
