Does my diff lock work?

[JumboBeef]

Hello all,

About six months ago, I bought a 1993 110 TDi.  It has had two owners before me: first was an Airport (so I'm guessing it never really went off road) and the second owner used it more like a van, and never really went off road in it either.  So in 15 years it has had a really easy life.

I have never off roaded in it because I bought it for work....until a couple of weeks ago.  I had to cross a field (wet grass) and I got very stuck!  More mud than grass (did finally get out though).

Now, that was the first time I tried the diff lock.  The warning light didn't come on (and I haven't yet checked the bulb) and I'm convinced the diff wasn't locked.  I've tried it since on gravel/dirt/grass and I just think it is not working (we also have another 110 and the diff lock works perfectly on that one, so I know what I'm looking for).

Any ideas what might be wrong, and how to put it right?  The hi/lo works fine, gearbox is fine, everything else is good as well.

Thanks.

[Range Rover Blues]

Perhaps the linkage is loose/bust/bent then and the input to the gearbox isn't moving, it's probably stuck fast after all these years.

[trickydicky]

im having exactly the same problem a lockle mechanic told me to put deisel on it to brake down the old grease and free everythink up a bit i am going to try it this weekend ill let you know what happens

[extreme90]

some times the selector fork inside the box siezes if it aint used

[Bush Tucker Man]

If you can, jack up both wheels on the same side

Engage it (or try to), & leave main gearbox in neutral

If both wheels rotate when you turn one of them, it's locking

If only the hand-rotated wheel turns, it's not


Then investigate further!

Try this site for a few details (it's American, & mainly Discovery related, but the basic premise is the same)

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

[JumboBeef]

OK, thanks for the info.

I'll try the brute force method first! :D

[JumboBeef]

Nope, that didn't work! :lol:

[Range Rover Blues]

RE-reading it's history it might be worth checking to make sure it hasn't been dissabled on purpose, the stop numpties trashing the transmission by driving in difflock all day long.

[JumboBeef]

Interesting thought, how can I find out?

When I try to select diff lock, the level feels as though it is hitting something very solid, like metal.

Also, it has this plate attached under the bonnet (see pic).  I thought it was 'special' because it has rear side windows and a properly fitted (with seat belt) seat in the rear, but could this also mean other stuff too?

[marjan]

If you can, jack up both wheels on the same side

Engage it (or try to), & leave main gearbox in neutral

If both wheels rotate when you turn one of them, it's locking

If only the hand-rotated wheel turns, it's not


Then investigate further!

Try this site for a few details (it's American, & mainly Discovery related, but the basic premise is the same)

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

Mmm, never been sure that mine works either Richard so I"ll try that sometime this weekend.

[Bush Tucker Man]

Mmm, never been sure that mine works either Richard so I"ll try that sometime this weekend.

Try it & let me know

[Range Rover Blues]

Interesting thought, how can I find out?

When I try to select diff lock, the level feels as though it is hitting something very solid, like metal.

I'm not the best person to advise on that plate, but the hitting something solid doesn't sound good.  AFAIK the diff lock should drop in even if the dog doesn't line up when you selsct it, it has a spring in the linkage or something, so yours hitting something hard could either be the dog not lining up or some sort of lock-out as I described above.

Closer inspection is called for, get underneath or take the tunnel out perhaps.

[marjan]

Mmm, never been sure that mine works either Richard so I"ll try that sometime this weekend.

Try it & let me know

Yep it works, both wheels turn when 1 is turned. The light on the dash has never worked even though I have tried changing the bulb so it must be a bad connection on the box.

[Bush Tucker Man]

Yep it works, both wheels turn when 1 is turned. The light on the dash has never worked even though I have tried changing the bulb so it must be a bad connection on the box.

Good, that's one less problem to contend with :D

[tack43]

My difflock was doing the same. check for a feed at the switch (Blue /black wire). If thats ok try running a wire to earth from the other terminal (Black wire). It was the latter which cured mine!

[marjan]

My difflock was doing the same. check for a feed at the switch (Blue /black wire). If thats ok try running a wire to earth from the other terminal (Black wire). It was the latter which cured mine!

Cheers mate, I will try that when the weather clears up a bit  :D :D :D