Dummy with diff lock

Just read all the old threads on diff lock. Didn't help.

Sorry if this is daft to you, but I'm coming from a series L/R and the handbook is still in the post.

Got this 1996 300Tdi Auto box ES

Permanent 4wd.

The diff lock lever - first, how stiff should it be? When got vehicle, it was in High. (The only movement on it is High to Neutral to low - no sideways gate, no funny buttons) It needed a hefty push to get it to neutral, then another one to get to low, and it was a bit horrible going into low (sort of like I was pushing it through caked up earth.)

So,
1) How hard should it be?
2) Should I have a light somewhere?
3) Is it diff lock or just H and low range selector? As far as I can figure out the vehicle is always in 4wd and always in diff lock (equal power to front and rear axle) this lever is not locking the transfer diff, but just selecting High and low - like the red lever on the old SIII)
4) If there is no light (which I can't find on dashboard or is not working) HOW do i know I'm in low range? I've just gone and found some soft ground, driven in high and low (in gear 1 of auto box) and could not notice any difference in speed.
5)In Series L/R I'd get a lot of wind up if I drove in 4wd on road - how does the disco make sure this doesn't occur?
6) Anyone know a good source of books / on line downloads/ cd's to buy etc as I obviously need to do alot of reading up - especially as I will want to fix as many things as I can.
PS - should this vehicle have an automatic aeiral (it is always up, can't force it down - can't see under wing for the motor as these refined vehicles have a nice inner wing to stop mud getting all over the motor I guess)
PPS Does this have an immobiliser - (the alarm works). If so, is it automatically turned off with the key? Or have I just not got one.

cheers

I have just found this site, which could be useful to others maybe - I'm going back to read it now - and bookmark it etc.

http://home.twcny.rr.com/eeibooks/rover/discodifflock.htm

Now that page I've just pasted the address for states this:

If you aren't sure if your diff lock is engaging or not, here is a quick way to test it. First the indicator light on the dash is not 100% accurate in determining if the diff lock is on. A bent linkage can make the light stay on or stay off regardless of what the diff is actually doing. Second driving on the highway with the diff lock engaged will cause odd handling, especially around corners, chirping of the tires, and ultimately destroy your transfer case or shatter your drive shafts. So it is important to know if your transfer case lever is properly engaging and disengaging the diff lock.

But my lever just gives me H, Neutral or Low and the vehicle won't go anywhere with the Diff lock lever in Neutral - so AGAIN, I say is this really difflock, do I have difflock, or is it simply low and high range?

Yours, very confused, Ted
What a way to spend a day's holiday

On my '94 200Tdi the transfer box has five settings arranged like an H
If I put the box in neutral, then push left I get the orange diff lock warning light on the dash, then I can push up or down to choose Low or Hi range with diff lock. Or I can just push up or down from neutral to get Low or Hi range without diff-lock.

My transfer stick has a picture moulded into the rubbery stuff that shows what's what. If your's doesn't mention DIFF anywhere, I guess you don't have a diff lock.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for that.

The sticker above the gear stick says "diff lock".

It looks like this:

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?i...?q=diff+lock&start=80&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&sa=N

But mine won't budge left or right. Just forward and back.

I reckon it is stuck in h and low without diff lock.
I reckon diff lock won't engage.
I'm off for another drive to see what I can do.

you might have to get the wd40 out and free it off if you don't use them for a while they seize up

Ok, so maybe this old girl is refined, but it's still a landy.

With a lot of pushing, wriggling I've FOUND DIFF LOCK, and even better, got a light to say so on the dashboard.

The bloke I've just bought it from said he never used the lever, so no wonder it siezed up.

Thanks guys.

try and use the tranfrer box as much as you can just to free it up and keep it movein

aye good idea that. about once a week, find a gravel car park/loose surface, and engage the diff lock/high low range lever. drive about for a bit.
make sure you disengage before leaving for home...