I simply can't remember what I had to do a few years ago when I replaced my 3rd member. I vaguely remember needing to lock it to simplify the removal. But what I remember the most was I had to remove the e-locker motor before removing the 3rd member because the gas tank skid on my 2000 4Runner was too close to it. With the e-locker motor removed, I might have locked/unlocked the e-locker, but I'm not sure about that anymore. After the 3rd member was back in place, the e-locker motor was the last thing to be put back in place (along with the motor's skid).