Higher….Higher….Lower….Lower!

[BigSi]

Took the 90 to a garage last week. While is was there, the guy said that it would only drive with the diff lock leaver in the 4x4 position. Put it in neutral, and the vehicle wouldn’t drive. One more thing to sort out I thought, but while driving home, I was wondering if he was referring to a 90 running gear, and not the Range Rover running gear that the vehicle has. Am I right in thinking that a Range Rover Classic has permanent four wheel drive, with the leaver selecting between Hi and Lo ratio with neutral in between?  :-k  :-k  :-k  :-k

Im assuming that Defender/90's and Range Rover Classics have different four wheel drive systems?

[Pete]

With a few rare exeptions on some export models, they are all permanent four wheel drive.
 Pete.

[electricbluebadger]

Yep they are permenant 4x4, put it in neutral and you will get no drive, nothing wrong with that

Cheers Steve

[AbyssDJ]

its a common thing for people that "know" what they're talking about to get wrong. i've had arguments with people a few times now when they tried to tell me that i cant drive a 90/110/defender in 4 wheel drive because "it will wreck it".

90/110/defender are always 4 wheel drive. the transfer stick has 3 positions - high, neutral and low. obviously, it has diff lock for high and low too. if its in neutral, it wont go anywhere no matter what you do.

diff lock is what they get confused with. they put 2 and 2 together and come up with 9... you shouldnt drive on tarmac or any other hard surface with diff lock engaged unless you're losing or have lost traction... thats what breaks things, not driving "in 4 wheel drive" as they often put it.

still, sounds like he doesnt know what hes on about :)

[BigSi]

Do Range Rovers have automatic diff lock (viscous coupling…or something)? The leaver on says H – N – L, so I’m assuming that for normal use you drive it in High, and for when the going gets tough, drive it in Low?
 :roll:  :roll:  :roll:  :roll:


I know.....not another daft question!!!

[Bowie]

The later ones have a viscous centre diff, which means you don't need to engage a difflock once you go off road :)

[BigSi]

What about a 1986 one?

[AbyssDJ]

86 would use a normal diff lock i THINK. dont hold me to that.

either way, what you said is correct. H for usual driving, L for off road, mega steep hills, and dragging planets across the universe.

[muddyman]

My old 86 RRC, had the normal diff lock with the light on the dashbord,
The one I have now is a 93 and thats got the Vicous diff lock.

[hairyasswelder]

Viscous diff lock came in in 1989 on RR  
Mine is a 1988 auto  with manual diff lock.  The lever will push to the left and as you move off a square orange light will come on just below the fuse box as the diff locks.

The viscous lever will only go forward for lo and back for hi ratio.

Both levers are marked different on the top for the movement.

Could be a later box??

Steve

(Dont know about 90's)

[L90OOK]

What about a 1986 one?

You may have a vacumn operated diff lock, is it a 4 speed manual gearbox?
The diff lock switch is a little round knob, pull up to engage diff lock.

[BigSi]

It's a LT77 five speed manual gearbox. The only lever is the one to switch from High, to Low. Not sure what transfer box it has?

[AbyssDJ]

are you sure the transfer lever doesnt move left and right too?

[L90OOK]

It's a LT77 five speed manual gearbox. The only lever is the one to switch from High, to Low. Not sure what transfer box it has?

It will almost certainly be an LT230 T/box.  The Transfer box lever should move to the left in all positions H-N-L to select difflock.  Try selecting reverse gear & gently rock the vhicleon the clutch whilst trying to engage/disengage difflock.  Be quiet forceful pushing the lever to the left, the same applies when disengaging the difflock.

[Range Rover Blues]

One fairly easy way to check what you have and if it's working is to jack up one wheel then try to undo the wheelnuts.  If it spins freely chances are it's a LT230 and you should have a difflock control on the short stick.  If the wheel will not turn then the centre diff is locked, either stuck in difflock or the Vicous coupling.  If this is the case then lean on the wheelnut wrench and see if it move very slowly under your weight.  If it does then you have a vicoous coupling that is working fine, go inside for a cup of tea.

If the weel is locked up tight then you need to establish what's wrong.  That means getting underneath.

Correct me if I'm wrong but does the LT230 have any access panels in the casing that are visible from underneath?  the Borg-Warner does not, it splits front and back, the case is ribbed and the bottom face is curved slightly IIRC.

[L90OOK]

The LT230 has the PTO access panel at the rear...can be used to check input gear wear.  :D

[Range Rover Blues]

Right then, the Borg Warner has just a cap, that sticks out slightly and can be tapped off, no bolts.

[BigSi]

Thanks for the replys, one more job for the weekend!!!  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[simdeb]

our rrc went for its mot, i had to walk away from the guy as the conversation went something like this
'there is something wrong with the power steering pump'
'why'
well when the engines not running its really hard to turn the wheels'
to which i replied 'derr, why do you think its got power streering?'
simon added 'don't you think it may have something to do with the size of the tyres'

needless to say it won't be going there again

[hairyasswelder]

our rrc went for its mot, i had to walk away from the guy as the conversation went something like this
'there is something wrong with the power steering pump'
'why'
well when the engines not running its really hard to turn the wheels'
to which i replied 'derr, why do you think its got power streering?'
simon added 'don't you think it may have something to do with the size of the tyres'

needless to say it won't be going there again

Come on you got to name and shame there  :?  :?  (or PM)

Steve

[L90OOK]

our rrc went for its mot, i had to walk away from the guy as the conversation went something like this
'there is something wrong with the power steering pump'
'why'
well when the engines not running its really hard to turn the wheels'
to which i replied 'derr, why do you think its got power streering?'
simon added 'don't you think it may have something to do with the size of the tyres'

needless to say it won't be going there again

Come on you got to name and shame there  :?  :?  (or PM)

Steve

Report them to VOSA for not knowing what they are doing...let alone testing  :roll:
They were probably trying to con you into having unnecessary work done  

[BigSi]

our rrc went for its mot, i had to walk away from the guy as the conversation went something like this
'there is something wrong with the power steering pump'
'why'
well when the engines not running its really hard to turn the wheels'
to which i replied 'derr, why do you think its got power streering?'
simon added 'don't you think it may have something to do with the size of the tyres'

needless to say it won't be going there again

If that's the case, then I've got something wrong with my power steering too!!!!!!!  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[clbarclay]

our rrc went for its mot, i had to walk away from the guy as the conversation went something like this
'there is something wrong with the power steering pump'
'why'
well when the engines not running its really hard to turn the wheels'
to which i replied 'derr, why do you think its got power streering?'
simon added 'don't you think it may have something to do with the size of the tyres'

needless to say it won't be going there again

Had a similare problem some time ago with a inspector (HSE if memory serves), when inspecting a tractor the inspector said the steering was bad and was increadibly heavy and demonstared this be hanging all his weight on the steering wheel and not getting any movement. My grandad just reaches in, starts the engine and proceds to turn the steeing wheel lock to lock with a single finger in the middle of the wheel :roll:  
Inspectors.... :smack:




Power Steering is where a hydraulic system with a (incomprehndable to to mear mortals) valve block works an actuator that moves the wheels and is fitted to slow vehicles like tractors, has no mechanical link from steering wheel to road wheels and is not allowed on high speed vehicles (ie cars).

Power Assisted Steering (PAS) is what is fitted to cars (and high speed tractors). There is a direct mechanical link from steering wheel to road wheels which is assisted by either hydraulics or electics. This means that if the hydraulics or electrics fail at speed you can still control the vehicle.