1994 RRC Classic LSE Viscous Coupling or Electronic Diff broken?

So I was out in my LSE (1994 RRC) on Saturday and almost got stuck in a muddy field.

I have good all terrain tyres on it but the problem was that as we started to lose traction there was a funny ticking noise coming from the centre of the car, if I was on full lock left or right it didn't really impact the direction of travel and I was told by people outside the car that the rear wheels appeared to be locked and doing nothing.

I popped it into Low ratio and we started to move ahead okay.

But this car got stuck in a field a few years ago when my other LSE was fine, but that was when it had slicker tyres and the other had the all terrain so I put it down to tyres.

So my guess is I have a fault with the Viscous coupling/differential? I think it's automatically supposed to distribute the power and something is wrong here as if the front wheels are turning the back shouldn't be locked up?

Saying all this I don't get any issues driving it on the road, I've not felt the wheels being locked or any dragging etc., so any thoughts greatly appreciated.

If the viscous coupling goes you get issues on tarmac.

AFAIK a '94 LSE will have traction control that operates on the back wheels only, the abs system monitors wheel speed and applies the brakes to gain traction so it sounds like the system was operating as intended and the limiting factor was the tyres. Wet grass isn't called green ice for nothing, muddy fields are deceptive and can be unexpectedly challenging.

Scotland1975 said:

So I was out in my LSE (1994 RRC) on Saturday and almost got stuck in a muddy field.

I have good all terrain tyres on it but the problem was that as we started to lose traction there was a funny ticking noise coming from the centre of the car, if I was on full lock left or right it didn't really impact the direction of travel and I was told by people outside the car that the rear wheels appeared to be locked and doing nothing.

I popped it into Low ratio and we started to move ahead okay.

But this car got stuck in a field a few years ago when my other LSE was fine, but that was when it had slicker tyres and the other had the all terrain so I put it down to tyres.

So my guess is I have a fault with the Viscous coupling/differential? I think it's automatically supposed to distribute the power and something is wrong here as if the front wheels are turning the back shouldn't be locked up?

Saying all this I don't get any issues driving it on the road, I've not felt the wheels being locked or any dragging etc., so any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

the classic borg warner viscous is prone to failing by seizing solid meaning you center diff is locked and the wind up that gives on the road, which can break an axle diff or strip the splines on the output shaft in the transfer box,you can remove hand brake assembly and unbolt output housing shaft comes away with the housing
shaft is ftc657
viscous rtc6044 ,same viscous as p38

Okay so sounds like it isn’t the viscous coupling as the car is fine on the roads with no issues at all.

If the car sensing a loss of traction should it not distribute the power though so all the wheels turn or does it deduce no point in turning the back wheels if they don’t have traction/grip?

jamesmartin said:

the classic borg warner viscous is prone to failing by seizing solid meaning you center diff is locked and the wind up that gives on the road, which can break an axle diff or strip the splines on the output shaft in the transfer box,you can remove hand brake assembly and unbolt output housing shaft comes away with the housing
shaft is ftc657
viscous rtc6044 ,same viscous as p38

Click to expand...

classic kev said:

If the viscous coupling goes you get issues on tarmac.

AFAIK a '94 LSE will have traction control that operates on the back wheels only, the abs system monitors wheel speed and applies the brakes to gain traction so it sounds like the system was operating as intended and the limiting factor was the tyres. Wet grass isn't called green ice for nothing, muddy fields are deceptive and can be unexpectedly challenging.

Click to expand...

This^^^^

Suspension:
- Electronic Traction Control, ETC, standard with ABS brakes
The ETC work on the rear axle, where the ABS system "grab" the spinning wheel so
the diffential redirect the power to the on with better traction
http://www.range-rover-classic.com/Home/land-rover-brochures/range-rover-1990-s & scroll down to
1993 Range Rover Model Year - VIN KA (UK) - Released: October 1992

Scotland1975 said:

Okay so sounds like it isn’t the viscous coupling as the car is fine on the roads with no issues at all.

If the car sensing a loss of traction should it not distribute the power though so all the wheels turn or does it deduce no point in turning the back wheels if they don’t have traction/grip?

Click to expand...

if splines have worn you lose drive to the rear but still have drive to the front,likewise a bust diff will effect that axle but the other will have drive

Sounds like it’s working as it should then!

Many thanks

Ratae said:

This^^^^

Suspension:
- Electronic Traction Control, ETC, standard with ABS brakes
The ETC work on the rear axle, where the ABS system "grab" the spinning wheel so
the diffential redirect the power to the on with better traction
http://www.range-rover-classic.com/Home/land-rover-brochures/range-rover-1990-s & scroll down to
1993 Range Rover Model Year - VIN KA (UK) - Released: October 1992

Click to expand...

Ratae said:

This^^^^

Suspension:
- Electronic Traction Control, ETC, standard with ABS brakes
The ETC work on the rear axle, where the ABS system "grab" the spinning wheel so
the diffential redirect the power to the on with better traction
http://www.range-rover-classic.com/Home/land-rover-brochures/range-rover-1990-s & scroll down to
1993 Range Rover Model Year - VIN KA (UK) - Released: October 1992

Click to expand...

hows that fit with stationary rear wheels and ticking noise

Oh well I assumed the wheels were stationary as they had been “grabbed” and maybe the ticking noise was just the abs system in operation?

Scotland1975 said:

Oh well I assumed the wheels were stationary as they had been “grabbed” and maybe the ticking noise was just the abs system in operation?

Click to expand...

both rears cant be stationary if fronts are turning

jack a rear wheel up,hand brake off box in n and using a bar try and turn the jacked up wheel

And what am I looking for or not looking for?

jamesmartin said:

jack a rear wheel up,hand brake off box in n and using a bar try and turn the jacked up wheel

Click to expand...

Scotland1975 said:

And what am I looking for or not looking for?

Click to expand...

see if it turns, if it does easily theres no drive to rear, if it doesnt at all vc is seized should rotate slowly and stiffly

So tested it and it rotates with difficulty so that looks fine. I was told though that It also has the wheel spinning in drive, I looked up the problem online and in some defender forums they were saying that some times the auto boxes have to be rocked in reverse to get the transmission to engage. Is this others view?

Sorry duplicate

Sorry duplicate post.

Sorry duplicate post.

Scotland1975 said:

So tested it and it rotates with difficulty so that looks fine. I was told though that It also has the wheel spinning in drive, I looked up the problem online and in some defender forums they were saying that some times the auto boxes have to be rocked in reverse to get the transmission to engage. Is this others view?

Click to expand...

presumably hand brake off, box not in park,the vc ensures both axles are driven but one wheel on both axles can spin which if that happens you stand still, but both wheels on one axle cant stand still one has to turn
rocking to engage reverse is rubbish unless a clutch is slipping so bad it cant hold enough to give drive without help ,but that would be obvious all the time

Scotland1975 said:

So tested it and it rotates with difficulty so that looks fine. I was told though that It also has the wheel spinning in drive, I looked up the problem online and in some defender forums they were saying that some times the auto boxes have to be rocked in reverse to get the transmission to engage. Is this others view?

Click to expand...

presumably hand brake off, box not in park,the vc ensures both axles are driven but one wheel on both axles can spin which if that happens you stand still, but both wheels on one axle cant stand still one has to turn
rocking to engage reverse is rubbish unless a clutch is slipping so bad it cant hold enough to give drive without help ,but that would be obvious all the time

Scotland1975 said:

So tested it and it rotates with difficulty so that looks fine. I was told though that It also has the wheel spinning in drive, I looked up the problem online and in some defender forums they were saying that some times the auto boxes have to be rocked in reverse to get the transmission to engage. Is this others view?

Click to expand...

presumably hand brake off, box not in park,the vc ensures both axles are driven but one wheel on both axles can spin which if that happens you stand still, but both wheels on one axle cant stand still one has to turn
rocking to engage reverse is rubbish unless a clutch is slipping so bad it cant hold enough to give drive without help ,but that would be obvious all the time

Yeah, just keep pressing the post button.....