Thread: Puma Diff Lock Adjustment.

I was out playing in the Wombat State Forest on Saturday, and had to use the centre diff lock several times. After awhile the diff lock dash light stopped working. Pulled over for lunch and thought I'd check to see if the diff lock was still engaging, so jacked up one front wheel (park brake on). Yep all was good, looks like the switch was playing up.

So today I installed a new switch from Roverparts Plus, great service and good price.

My switch didn't have the locknut and there was no threaded spacer with the switch, so I re used the spacer off the old switch, only problem was when I nipped everything up to specs, the diff lock light wouldn't go out. So I found a thicker spacer and all seems good. On closer examination the end of the old switch was a touch more rounded or possibly worn than the new one.

However I was wondering if anyone knows how, or if it's possible to adjust the actual diff lock lever mechanism? The diff lock activation seems a little hit and miss. It goes in every time when I get underneath the vehicle and operate the arm from the lower pivot point on the transfer case, not exactly practicable. But when I do it from the low/high range lever it only engages approx 70% of the time. The low/high range lever doesn't seem to throw far enough to the left to push the lower pivot point across to the right enough to engage diff lock all of the time.

I've read many threads from the wise folk on this forum in regards to centre diff lock problems, and some have had the dealer make adjustments under warranty. Just wondering what these adjustments might be.

Would it be possible to widen the u-link on the lower part of the arm to the pivot point on the transfer case?, just to get it to throw that little bit further out to the right. Or is there another adjustment to be made higher up closer to the lever on the side of the gearbox? Would replacing the pins holding the u-link between the arm and pivot point make any difference?, just to take some slop out of the system. I've looked in my manual but can find anything about adjusting the linkage's, just what's shown below in regards to the switch itself.

My 2010 Puma is out of warranty, and anyway I enjoy working on it too much to take it to the dealer's. So was hoping someone here may have the answer. Thanks for your time, jeez I've waffled on, sorry!

Attachment 83142

Got mine adjusted under warranty, but still not ideal.

Sometimes doesn't stay on when it should and then other times hard to get out. Get strange looks driving back and forward. Good jolt in reverse sometimes works.

I would need somebody to show me how to adjust in person.