difflock broken

Tried to use my diff lock at the weekend and it wouldn't go in - the lever wouldn't budge over. Tried engine running / not running, transfer in H/N/L and while driving slowly forwards and back but it wasn't having any of it. High and low are fine though. I've got a 200tdi L reg.

Searched the forum and found this was fairly common with unused difflocks but I definitely used it in August last year and it was fine then - is 5 months enough time for it to seize up?

I've read that you can often fix a seized diff lock by taking out the centre console and getting at the top of the transfer box. Looking at the Haynes manual for this, it sounds like an easy job to remove the console, only thing I'm unsure of is the handbrake cable - is this easy to put it back together properly?

Oh well, I'd been looking for an excuse to get that console off to replace the heater control bulbs - I just couldn't be arsed doing it just for that.

Cheers

coat the difflock mechanism with wd40 and leave it to soak in,as fer the heater bulbsyou have to remove half the dashboard to get at them

Thanks yd, I will try that at the weekend.

Are the handbrake bits easy to put back together?

Fixing a Land Rover Discovery Stuck Differential Lock or Transfer Case

heres how to do it.
a very common problem.
the cure is to use it more often, as my doris keeps telling me.

Thanks ormus, that looks pretty comprehensive.

Had a crack at it this afternoon and am now confused. From what I gather, the common problem is the linkages seizing up but mine seem fine. When I work the lever, I can see all the bits moving until the last bit (the shiny bit with the nut on top in the pic). This moves a little bit and then sticks. Now, just under this bit is a mounting bolt which it might be sticking on, I had a feel around with my fingers and there ain't much room there.

Does anybody know if this is the correct position for this part to be in when the difflock is not engaged? A garage had my transfer box in bits in Aug/Sep 06 (new mainshaft) and I'm pretty sure I didn't use difflock until I tried it the other day. Maybe they have stuffed up putting it back together?

I'll play around with it a bit more tomorrow and take the connection off the shiny part and see if I can turn it with a spanner. Has anybody got any ideas in the meantime?

Thanks

It is very likely that the garage stuffed it up. I have seen diff lock linkages fitted backwards!

My father-in-law has a very steep driveway, so I use low range to get out in reverse without slipping the clutch - very handy. And I use diff-lock every day as I drive to work on a sand road. Having the diff-lock in makes the car much more stable.

This makes sure that it all keeps working

I can try to take a photo of a Disco linkage for you at work tomorrow if you like.

Yes if you could get a pic, that would be much appreciated. I've just been informed that we're off to a nephews birthday party so my plans have gone out the window for today anyway :-( Fun.

Had the same problem on my 97 auto that I just bought. Transfer box lever wouldnt budge at all. Took a lot of pulling back and forth - proper two handed car rocking tugging, to get it into low range, and even more to get it into diff lock, very sticky - but now seems OK.

This is off my 90 if it helps.

Thanks grunt - is the difflock on or off in that pic, do you know?

Sorry - off sick today so can't post a photo.

Looking at the position of the lever and the amount of shaft sticking out of the housing I'd say it was disengaged.

So it looks like mine is in the wrong position - I see your selector finger is well clear of the nearest of the 3 mounting bolts whereas mine seems to be sitting to the left of it and might be stuck on it.

So it looks like the correct position of the finger for disengaged difflock is 12 o' clock and engaged position is probably something like 1 or 2 o' clock. Can anybody confirm this?

Cheers

Having looked at the two photos again mine could have been in nuetral when I took the photo. But from memory, which isn't very good at the best of times, the housing can only go on in one position and its pretty logical as your putting it back on. If you can get at yours to take it of you will be able to tell whats stuck. The mechanism inside is spring loaded and should move easily with a screwdriver,

JimAttrill said:

Sorry - off sick today so can't post a photo.

Click to expand...

Hi, have you had a chance to do this yet? Even if you just have a look at one and tell me if the selector at the end of the linkage should point forwards (12 o'clock) when the difflock is disengaged. GRUNT's image has made me think mine is wrong but it'd be nice to confirm it by comparing with another disco 1.
Don't worry about getting a photo if it's any hassle.
Cheers.

Fixed the diff lock today, some chump had put the C shaped connector on the wrong way at the bottom of the lever, and the bottom part of the connector was stuck behind one of the housing mounting bolts.

The warning light aint working but I'll live with that. I guess the switch needs adjusting as the wires seemed ok and were plugged in. I tested the diff was working by jacking up a wheel and seeing if it would turn by hand.

I got my heater bulbs done too, only took me 18 months to get round to it...