yet another diff lock question but slightly different . . .

I recently purchased a low mileage 1995 Discovery 3.9 V8i with the auto box. I am a newbie to 4x4 and everything that goes with it and I am slightly confused when it comes to the transfer gearbox. The gearstick for the transfer box currently sits more to the left than the right, which I would assume would be the "diff lock engaged" position. I have been trawling the net to see if I could get a diagram to show where the "diff unlocked" position would be and how far to the right the lever would be. I have found this:



I assume that this is the position that the lever should be in when diff lock is unlocked/ not engaged? My transfer lever sits much further to the left than this, in fact level with the first half of the instruction sticker on the dashboard. I have tried to move the lever to the right, but it will not budge and I was wary of damaging it in some way. It does however move fairly easily from "high" to "neutral" to "low"

The discovery does not feel odd to drive (although I'm not sure how it would feel otherwise) and the "diff lock engaged" light is not showing on the instrument panel, but I am concerned that the lever appears to be in the "locked" position and was so when I purchased it - the guy I bought it from said he never used it. I am obviously a little concerned as I do not want to be driving it round with diff lock engaged- not that it will be used for ong mileages anyway - mainly short distance horse box towing and visits to saddlery to stock up on hay, feeds and chippings.

Is there any check I can perform to test whether or not the diff lock is engaged? Secondly, if it is engaged, how do i free the lever - there is plenty on the web about moving a stuck lever "into" the "locked" position, but not "out of" it.

Thanks in advance

Terry

I don't think it looks bad in the photo! When the lever is in the right hand position diff lock is out, to the left diff lock is in. You should feel it mesh in. You say the diff lock light is out in the right hand position and on in the left hand position, this all sounds ok.

One way of telling it to find an area like an empty car park etc and turn on full lock go around and around trying diff in and out (do this nice and slowly!) you should feel the tyres grabbing when the diff is in!

Also have you checked the oil level in the transfer box? Through hard knock experiances don't take the guy you bought it from's word, check it out yourself!

Sorry, maybe it was confusing - picture is a library one that shows (supposedly) where stick should be when not in "diff lock". Mine currently sits on the left (nothing like photo) although the "diff lock" light is not on.

Your response confirms my suspicions though that my lever is in the "diff lock" position. The problem is that I can't seem to get it into the position shown in the photo - the shifter does not seem to want to move.

Oh bugger! yeh crossed wires there!

If you slide under your disco and look up at the transfer box you'll be able to see the linkage for the diff lock and high/low give it a dose of wd40 maybe?

If the guy you bought it off is honest and it hasn't been used it probebly has just seezed, not likeing the siezed in the left position though! Don't panic though! someone out there is bound to know!

Hang tough - don't panic! It's a landrover after all!

he hadn't done loads of mileage in it and mainly used it offroad in fields - he was a keen shooter. The odd thing is that it doesn't feel strange to drive - goes round corners good etc and no bouncing or wheel scrubbing is evident - as though diff lock isn't engaged. Wondered if there was a way I could double check whether it was engaged or not?

I also don't know how stiff these things should be - as i wasn't entirely sure of whether lever would move to right (which i know now it will) - perhaps I should put a bit more force into it?

It should'nt take too much effort!

Do you have a non-genuine LR dealer near to you? They may just jump in the seat and have a quick look and tell you ay or nay? Hard to help if it was a manual gearbox id say it's been out and someone has fettled with it getting the linkage set up wrong but auto's are generally pritty good! I'm probebly delving a little deep there. I guess as much as i hate to say it but a main dealer may have a quick look / advice for you?

i think that may be the best option - i think there are a couple of independents in the area - probably best to pay one a visit and ask them to check it over, failing that, as you say a main dealer might be best.

I had heard that I would be able to test the diff lock by jacking one wheel up and placing the auto box into neutral. If I am able to rotate the wheel, then no diff lock, if i can't then the diff lock's engaged???

Yeh that's the way, give it a go! I recon she probably does work if the lights going on n off. Take a look n see... I'm off back under mine now ttfn...

just jacking one wheel up may not show if it is locked or not as it is a central lock not an cross axle lock. if you are in a field you will soom tell if you wheel spin and it is locked the 1 wheel on each axle will spin if it is unlocked the only 1 wheel out of 4 will spin.

The transfer box has low, high, then diff lock low and diff lock high.

While driving along, if you need to engage diff lock, you should be able to easily slide it to the left, and back to the right when you have crossed the dodgey terrain, you don't use the clutch/neutral to engage diff lock.

Its not uncommon to have to apply a huge amount of force to move an unused/seized diff lock. So, as mentioned above, just blast the top of the transfer case with WD40, or something similar and give it a try.

The best place to hear if you have diff on or not is in a gravel car park or something, you will hear wheels skidding on it when you turn tight.

It could be the connecting rods have disconnected, so its not on, although the gearstick is in the on position.

Thanks for the info, I will give the WD40 a go (perhaps leave overnight to soak in) - I presume it is easy to get at the top of the transfer case from underneath?

My worry at the moment is that it has been driven round with diff lock engaged for god knows how long, although, the disco runs fine - as you say, could be connecting rods.

Just on another point, how reliable is the diff lock light on the dash?

Update on this:

After reading the advice I went down to local Land Rover Dealership and asked advice. Technician test drove and confirmed that even though Gear stick is in "diff lock engaged" position, the Diff lock definitely isn't engaged. He suggested that Connecting rods have somehow become un connected, although he wasn't sure how. High and low Ratio work fine so he suggested that unless I was going to do any serious off roading, best to leave alone or otherwise face a huge bill for them just to look at it.