Diff lock wont disengage

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Posts
47
Hi there,
My defender screeches like a strangled cat when it goes round anything but the shallowest of bends. I suspect the diff locks are in, but without a manual I don't know how to work the low range gearbox. Can someone please take pity on me and explain as you would to a child how to work the low range box.
Thanks for your help.
 
push the little lever over to the right - the orange warning light on the dash should go out after travelling a few yards. if it doesn't, try reversing 100 yards or so.
 
Land Rover Diff Lock Lever
First thing to know is how to operate the diff lock on your Land Rover.



(Haven't attached the photo - it's the small lever between the seat and the gear lever - it moves backwards and forwards and side to side!)


What does the diff lock do?
The diff lock joins the front and rear prop-shafts together so they turn at the same speed. Each axle then gets 50% of the power. If the front wheels loose traction, then the rear wheels will still drive the vehicle forward and vice versa.

However, if all four wheels loose grip, or diagonally opposed wheels loose grip, then you will still come to a halt - so the system is not without its limitations!

High, Neutral, Low!
You will also notice that the diff lock lever is marked with "H - N - L".
In normal driving you will have the lever in the "H" or high ratio set of gears. By moving the lever forward you can engage the low ratio or "L" gears for more control over the vehicle.

When in low ratio, start off in 2nd gear when pulling away. The diff lock can be used in both high and low ratio.

Land Rover Diff Lock Basics
    • To activate diff lock, you push the lever to the left - do this when you are stationary.
    • When diff lock is engaged a warning light will illuminate on the dash
    • To deactivate the diff lock, pull the lever back to the right again.
    • As soon as you are back on firm ground/tarmac, disengage the diff lock
    • After disengaging the diff lock, you may have to reverse a short distance to make the diff lock warning light go out.
Using the Land Rover Diff Lock in snow & ice
    • Always use diff lock when ascending and descending snowy and icy hills.
    • You can use the low ratio set of gears to add more control when driving on ice and snow.
    • Never touch the brakes when descending a snowy or icy hill - use engine braking in either 1st gear high ratio, or 1st/2nd in low ratio.
    • If the Land Rover starts to slide when descending a hill, accelerate using the throttle to bring the wheels up to the speed of the vehicle.
General Land Rover tips for snow and ice
    • When ascending or descending a snowy or icey hill, if there is an opportunity to put one set of wheels (right or left side) onto a grass verge this will increase your grip and help stop the Land Rover from sliding.
    • If there is no grass verge, but just a hedge, stick close to the hedge. Try to keep one set of wheels up close to the bottom of the hedge. If a slide develops then you can use the hedge to slow you down! A few paint scratches is better than bent panels!
    • Driving on fresh snow will give you better grip than driving in somebody else's tracks, so try to straddle any existing snowy tracks or ruts.
    • Remember this saying " take it as slow as possible, as fast as necessary!"
    • Remember, even though you can continue driving in worse conditions than 2wd cars, braking still remains the same as a normal car. Brake gently and if you haven't got ABS, then use cadence braking if you feel the wheels lock up. This basically means lots of short, sharp applications of the brake pedal in rapid sequence
 
jack only one front wheel up and turn it if it turns your not in diff lock if it locks you are ,if you remove center seat panel you can see diff lock linkage running down from high low lever and fastened with 13mm nut ,if you put spanner on with handle pointing forwards if you turn nut towards gear box it should put it out of diff lock ,towards chassis into diff lock try turning wheel or get somone to turn wheel while you use spanner and you will see operation ,if this wont remove difflock switch at side may be screwed into far jamming diff lock selector they only need to be screwed in just far enough to operate light,hence lock nut,unless yours is early truck diff lock linkage it adjusted by undoing linkage and adjusting eyebolt in/out to get lever travel to correspond to diff lock operation ,they are often only on verge of going in or the other end coming out
 
Land Rover Diff Lock Lever
First thing to know is how to operate the diff lock on your Land Rover.


(Haven't attached the photo - it's the small lever between the seat and the gear lever - it moves backwards and forwards and side to side!)


What does the diff lock do?
The diff lock joins the front and rear prop-shafts together so they turn at the same speed. Each axle then gets 50% of the power. If the front wheels loose traction, then the rear wheels will still drive the vehicle forward and vice versa.
However, if all four wheels loose grip, or diagonally opposed wheels loose grip, then you will still come to a halt - so the system is not without its limitations!

High, Neutral, Low!
You will also notice that the diff lock lever is marked with "H - N - L".
In normal driving you will have the lever in the "H" or high ratio set of gears. By moving the lever forward you can engage the low ratio or "L" gears for more control over the vehicle.
When in low ratio, start off in 2nd gear when pulling away. The diff lock can be used in both high and low ratio.


Land Rover Diff Lock Basics
    • To activate diff lock, you push the lever to the left - do this when you are stationary.
    • When diff lock is engaged a warning light will illuminate on the dash
    • To deactivate the diff lock, pull the lever back to the right again.
    • As soon as you are back on firm ground/tarmac, disengage the diff lock
    • After disengaging the diff lock, you may have to reverse a short distance to make the diff lock warning light go out.
Using the Land Rover Diff Lock in snow & ice
    • Always use diff lock when ascending and descending snowy and icy hills.
    • You can use the low ratio set of gears to add more control when driving on ice and snow.
    • Never touch the brakes when descending a snowy or icy hill - use engine braking in either 1st gear high ratio, or 1st/2nd in low ratio.
    • If the Land Rover starts to slide when descending a hill, accelerate using the throttle to bring the wheels up to the speed of the vehicle.
General Land Rover tips for snow and ice
    • When ascending or descending a snowy or icey hill, if there is an opportunity to put one set of wheels (right or left side) onto a grass verge this will increase your grip and help stop the Land Rover from sliding.
    • If there is no grass verge, but just a hedge, stick close to the hedge. Try to keep one set of wheels up close to the bottom of the hedge. If a slide develops then you can use the hedge to slow you down! A few paint scratches is better than bent panels!
    • Driving on fresh snow will give you better grip than driving in somebody else's tracks, so try to straddle any existing snowy tracks or ruts.
    • Remember this saying " take it as slow as possible, as fast as necessary!"
    • Remember, even though you can continue driving in worse conditions than 2wd cars, braking still remains the same as a normal car. Brake gently and if you haven't got ABS, then use cadence braking if you feel the wheels lock up. This basically means lots of short, sharp applications of the brake pedal in rapid sequence

As a Newbie to 4WD can I just say this has answered so many of the questions I didn't want to type. Now I know what the funny little spare gear stick is for :doh: ;)
 
Back
Top