Its sorta possible. Its AWD, so technically its always locking in the sense that front and rear are always turning, but the electrical "lock" pins the spider gears for 100% equal locking. Not a great system as its more complicated than it coulda been, but it works. The older units were a diagnostic challenge since they coudnt set fault codes or be scanned in any way. I honestly dont know why the front rear transfer case needed to be electrically locked, it seems like they took a simple idea and made it more complicated (especially since they didnt include diag early on). You absolutely can be in low with the actuator switched on or off. You just will have potential slippage between the front and rear, where as electrically locked they will be forced identical. Ford or Chevy trucks, you switch to 4w low, you get crow hop on a turn, ALWAYS. This system will NOT hop unless you activate the lock. BUT, it is still AWD, sorta, kinda...depending on wording.