Help. Cruiser Cannot Undo Diff-Lock

[TLC_Lover]

Hello. I am new to this forum.
Please be patient with me.
I have a 1998 Land Cruiser.
I have never lock the CENTER differential before.
Today, I pushed the button (Button "IN" )for CENTER DIFF LOCK.
The light came on.
I drove it for fun in a parking lot for a few minutes.
I stopped the vehicle.
Then I pushed the the button again (button "OUT").
The diff lock light remained ON.
The CENTER DIFF LOCK refused to DIS-Engage.

I kept pushing it in and out, and the result is the same == Light On, Diff remains engaged.

I gave up.
With the button "out", and the diff still engaged, light remained ON,
I drove 10 miles home.

When I got home, I had a hard time making tight turns in my own parking lot.

Then when I shift into reverse to park the car, I heard a "CLUNK", and the Center Diff Dis-Engaged. the light went out.

Is that normal?
Do I have to shift into reverse every time to dis-engage the Center Diff?

Can I push the center diff lock button while moving at 45 MPH?

Thanks.

[firetruck41]

You should only lock the center diff on low traction surfaces (ie. snow, gravel, slippery conditions), not on dry pavement. You can engage it at speed, but I wouldn't engage over ~30mph. You do not need to go in reverse to disengage, though that works sometimes, what you need to do is create a speed differential front axle vs. rear axle, you can do this by turning full lock at a low speed on a low traction surface, this will release binding on the center diff and allow it to disengage.

[TLC_Lover]

Many Thanks to "FireTruck41" / "SEAL TEAM ONE".