Differential light ON

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MechanIX

MechanIX

Member
Posts
42
Location
Nice
Hi,
Hope you can help. 2 days ago, willing to demonstrate to my daughter what was this extra lever for in the vehicle, I switched to Low ratio at 5km/h without clutching, it went well, switched back up to High and the differential sensor went ON. Although the vehicle is behaving perfectly well, the light is still on.
Could you advise please?
Best regards.
 
You may be stuck in difflock or have you simply not pulled the hi low stick back to the right to release it. It will release when it wants to after you move the stick not when you move the stick most of the time. Driving in reverse can make it release if stubborn. Use the clutch when changing the hi/low
 
Actually, I can still change from Low to High and High to Low, the differential isn't stuck, just the light which stays on.
 
Possibly just the switch stuck on - they don't get used much on many defenders. If you remove the centre seat/panel, you will be able to just see it on the transfer box - a tap from a long screwdriver may be enough to release it. Bit of a pig to get at, I'd think about removing the transmission tunnel if it needs replacing.
 
zeaphod said:
Possibly just the switch stuck on - they don't get used much on many defenders. If you remove the centre seat/panel, you will be able to just see it on the transfer box - a tap from a long screwdriver may be enough to release it. Bit of a pig to get at, I'd think about removing the transmission tunnel if it needs replacing.
Click to expand...

This sounds like this is it. Thanks for the advice. Will check it out this week and let you know.

Cheers
 
MechanIX said:
Actually, I can still change from Low to High and High to Low, the differential isn't stuck, just the light which stays on.
Click to expand...
Just because it changes from high to low is no indication that the centre diff is functioning or not. The diff lock only engages when you move the high/low lever sideways.
Once the diff lock has engaged it can stick and not disengage if the transmission has wound up, you can get round this by putting your nearside wheels on a grass verge or bump a nearside wheel up and down a kerb.
The diff lock linkage is spring loaded, so you can't force it in or out with the lever, if your diff lock light is on, your centre diff will be locked.
 
Rougharse Racing said:
Just because it changes from high to low is no indication that the centre diff is functioning or not. The diff lock only engages when you move the high/low lever sideways.
Once the diff lock has engaged it can stick and not disengage if the transmission has wound up, you can get round this by putting your nearside wheels on a grass verge or bump a nearside wheel up and down a kerb.
The diff lock linkage is spring loaded, so you can't force it in or out with the lever, if your diff lock light is on, your centre diff will be locked.
Click to expand...

This was exactly this!!! Thank you so much! Don't know why it was stuck, but finally got away by reversing. Worked on the 3rd attempt.
 
Thought that reversing would release it, mine can be slow to let go at times, something that comes with age/mileage I recon.
 
Most likely transmission wind up. On one occasion I gave up and jacked up a wheel to make sure it popped out. As the weight came off the wheel it was turning.
 
l stand corrected

l remember in about 1988 being sat in the passenger seat of a Police Range Rover while he pulled my Opel Manta out of a ditch.
Once he’d got my car off the grass (and after trying the transmission levers) he had to drive the RR in reverse for a few metres to “unwind the transmission” as he put it.
 
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