Defender Diff Lock & Light not working

lhandrover · Jul 9, 2016

I have a 1988 Ninety - I've trawled here and web looking for this and tried all I've found but nothing doing. Diff Lever moves, I can see the lever on the c link turning on gearbox, probably an inch or so and it feels like a click. No light, diff lock not working either (I've lifted a wheel front, then rear separately, and it turns whichever way I've engaged lever. I've tried levering a little further the engaging lever to see if it makes a difference but not moving any further. It does move to and fro easily, doesnt feel jammed - in fact its tendency is to stay clicked over to the on side with not much encouragement - that doesnt seem right. Not having operated one before I have no idea as to length of travel expected.

Any ideas please?

Kwakerman · Jul 9, 2016

Have you actually tried the lever whilst moving as the gearbox needs to rotate to let the lock engage? Don't engage it while on tarmac as you can wind up the drive train which makes disengaging awkward (possibly needing to reverse a short distance) and can also overstress components. Best try it somewhere with loose gravel or grass.

jamesmartin · Jul 9, 2016

lhandrover said:
I have a 1988 Ninety - I've trawled here and web looking for this and tried all I've found but nothing doing. Diff Lever moves, I can see the lever on the c link turning on gearbox, probably an inch or so and it feels like a click. No light, diff lock not working either (I've lifted a wheel front, then rear separately, and it turns whichever way I've engaged lever. I've tried levering a little further the engaging lever to see if it makes a difference but not moving any further. It does move to and fro easily, doesnt feel jammed - in fact its tendency is to stay clicked over to the on side with not much encouragement - that doesnt seem right. Not having operated one before I have no idea as to length of travel expected.

Any ideas please?

turn the nut on the spigot linkage fits to clockwise ,raise just a front wheel check it doesnt spin,you may need to adjust the linkage

lhandrover · Jul 9, 2016

Kwakerman said:
Have you actually tried the lever whilst moving as the gearbox needs to rotate to let the lock engage? Don't engage it while on tarmac as you can wind up the drive train which makes disengaging awkward (possibly needing to reverse a short distance) and can also overstress components. Best try it somewhere with loose gravel or grass.

Not tried that - Going to try it now..........

lhandrover · Jul 9, 2016

lhandrover said:
Not tried that - Going to try it now..........

Tried it but made no difference. No noticeable difference in travel of lever moving or stationary, no light and wheel turns when corner jacked up.

Is there something that can break internally, a pin or something? 4wd is working, just not diff lock

jamesmartin · Jul 9, 2016

lhandrover said:
Tried it but made no difference. No noticeable difference in travel of lever moving or stationary, no light and wheel turns when corner jacked up.

Is there something that can break internally, a pin or something? 4wd is working, just not diff lock

have you tried using a spaner on the nut see if it moves further, if switch is wound in too far that can inhibit the selector

lhandrover · Jul 9, 2016

I'll give that a go JM - Before I do, if switch is wound in too far would that still allow me to turn further with a spanner without damaging something - and would switch not turn on diff light sooner rather than not at all?

jamesmartin · Jul 9, 2016

operating diff lock compresses a spring which pushes the selector if its jammed spring just stays compressed, usually buggers the switch

lhandrover · Jul 9, 2016

Tried that - I can get extra movement (maybe 10mm) but no light on dash. Unfortunately I can't hold it in that position and test the wheel turn bit. I'll try it tomorrow with an assistant. Did manage to cure the reverse light switch whilst down there though, a few extra turns and it stays on instead of holding gear lever in reverse so achieved something today at least!

jamesmartin · Jul 10, 2016

if you cant hold it you gone too far so it would seem like selector isnt moving

simonlap · Jul 10, 2016

Oh, that means I should have a dash light somewhere showing me when I'm in difflock then..... not on my 1997 Defender 90 so far.

lhandrover · Jul 16, 2016

Got no-where new with this. I'm going to leave now until box has to come out for more important reason (clutch or similar) and then check internals.

Thanks for help everyone

Defender Diff Lock & Light not working

lhandrover

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Kwakerman

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jamesmartin

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lhandrover

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lhandrover

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jamesmartin

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lhandrover

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jamesmartin

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lhandrover

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jamesmartin

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simonlap

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lhandrover

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