FL2 HSE 2008 ALL WHEEL DRIVE

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DTS

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TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Good afternoon - I reported recently I suspected my all wheel drive was not working and recd some useful suggestions. I put a camera under the car and inched forward and back in off road settings, and the main drive shaft from the engine to the differential is turning, but the 2 rear shafts to the rear wheels are not.. I assume this means that the differential is not functioning - would you agree ? It is ironic, as I bought the car in April 2016, and on 30th March, the previous owner had spent £1,260 on a complete rebuild of the rear differential, and I have done no off-roading since.. Any comments pls..
 
I put a camera under the car and inched forward and back in off road settings, and the main drive shaft from the engine to the differential is turning, but the 2 rear shafts to the rear wheels are not.. I assume this means that the differential is not functioning - would you agree ?
No, I wouldn't agree.
It's impossible, as the drive shafts are connected to the wheels, via splines in the hubs, so they must turn with the wheels. The chances of those splines failing is zero, so it's not going to be those.

The main reason for no drive to the rear, is the drive to the PTU (transfer box at the front) splines have failed.
The Haldex can also fail, but this normally give a warning on the LCD display.

The only way to test the PTU splines, is to try to turn the propshaft while all the wheels are on the ground. If you can turn it, then it's not connected to the gearbox.

How many miles on the replacement diff is more important than when it was changed.

Oh and the FL2 isn't a permanent 4x4, it's an electronically controlled part time AWD, which uses wheel slip to determine when to engage the rear drive, although putting it in sand mode, should lock it in AWD, but only when actually moving.
 
I agree with what's said here - if the rear wheels turn - so will the drive shafts surely!

If something is broken in the transmission - not knowing much about the F2, I defer to @Nodge68 regarding the splines powering the prop. However, "something" has happened to the diff for a rebuild to be needed. This is not unusual at all on F2, I would think most 08 cars have had major work on their diffs or replacements fitted - they are poor units when hooked up to the Haldex (as they all are). This "rebuild" though - where was it done? Is it not possible they have just removed 1 of the gears leaving the diff doing nothing and returned it to the customer "good as new"? Plenty of cowboys have sold reconditioned VCUs for F1s filled with anything they could get their hands on - even if it was just custard.
 
not knowing much about the F2, I defer to @Nodge68
The FL2 uses a very similar system to the FL1.
The FL2 uses a PTU, which effectively does the same job as the IRD in the FL1. The only difference being the front diff, which is still in the gearbox of the FL2. The PTU takes power directly from the diff carrier, using a spline coupler tube, very similar to the spline link in the FL1 gearbox. The drive from the gearbox is then turned 90° by the PTU, so it can rotate the propshaft.
The FL2 spline coupler is known to fret and wear, which basically disconnects the drive from the gearbox to the PTU, meaning the PTU doesn't have any power to send down the propshaft to the Haldex.

The Haldex is basically an electronic version of the VCU, using a wet clutch pack, pump and piston, instead of plates and fluid.
The Haldex is switched in and out as needed.
The propshaft will still rotate with the wheels, as the diff will "back-feed" the drive from the wheels, through the Haldex (there's always a slight drag on the plates), which is enough to turn the propshaft, giving the impression that all is well, but that can't be guaranteed without some proper testing.
My own FL2 has had at least one replacement rear diff, shortly before I got it, which then seized, so I've now rebuilt another, which is all good so far. My FL2 also has a clean looking PTU (much cleaner than the gearbox it's bolted to), so I'm thinking my PTU is also a replacement unit.

From doing lots of reading and research, I'm not convinced that the FL2 drive train is any more robust than the FL1 drive train.:(
 
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A fairly easy way to check the rear driveshafts would be to jack one of the rear wheels up, release handbrake and turn the wheel from that you should be able to check the drive shafts and diff
 
Of course another thought that’s just come to mind is that the previous owner had a bodge done on the rear diff and got rid of it quickly to an unsuspecting buyer.
Hope that’s not the case.
 
Thank you all for your comments - you are right that the rear drives do turn with the wheels. Now that the sun is out, I will get on with the other suggestions..
 
Right - In fine weather, jacked both rear wheels off the ground, they turned freely and independently, in and out of gear, engine running in sandy terrain setting - they did not turn the main drive shaft, nor could I turn the main drive shaft by hand. So to conclude, the engine turns the main drive shaft as far as the differential, but no power transferred to the rear wheels. So I assume the differential is faulty - it was rebuilt in March 2016 and has done about 50k miles since then. Does this make sense ?? - thanks
 
So I assume the differential is faulty - it was rebuilt in March 2016 and has done about 50k miles since then. Does this make sense ?? - thanks

More likely to be the Haldex causing the issue, as that is what actually connects the propshaft to the rear diff.
If it's not been serviced in 50k miles, then it could be the fluid has turned to jelly, or the filters are blocked, or the pump has failed, or maybe a combination of all 3.
 
The differential can't cause loss of drive, unless there's a serious mechanical failure with it, which is unlikely.

A diagnostic read should show up issues with the Haldex.
 
Just this thread? My FL2 exploits have been far more challenging than this little thread. ;)
But yes, unless you enjoy messing with complex and seemingly fragile vehicles, it's best to avoid the FL2. ;)
Yes, your threads as well but I just assumed you took yours apart for the fun of it.

Col
 
Thanks again Nodge for your very useful insights - I'll get the diagnostics done.. Also for the other amusing comments - the freelander 2 is a great car...
 
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