Defenders for newbies

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Originally Posted by Chops

This is the stuff the Dealer should be showing a prospective new 4x4er any way. They certainly let themselves down, letting a "newbie" behind the wheel of a four wheel drive, of any calibre.

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Yeah you'd have thought that this is the kind of thing the dealer would let you know about, although when I went to buy a new Defender the salesman admitted something along the lines of "the trouble with selling Defenders is that usually the person buying it knows more about them than I do".
Still, if you've told them you're a complete newbie, you'd at least expect a run-down on the use of the transfer box and the idle-jack and anti-stall features.

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Originally Posted by DieselDan

Yeah you'd have thought that this is the kind of thing the dealer would let you know about, although when I went to buy a new Defender the salesman admitted something along the lines of "the trouble with selling Defenders is that usually the person buying it knows more about them than I do".

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Exactly my situation, the sales guy thanked me for teaching him so much about defenders and 4x4 in general (difference between part time/full time 4x4etc).

I even knew that defenders had anti-stall and loved the idea of it for years before I owned one - couldn't wait to try it off road. But even that "head knowledge" didn't prepare me for my first real life encounter with it! (The car at the lights).

And it was some weeks after buying the vehicle that I figured I should change my driving style for starting from a stand still - taking off with no throttle until the clutch pedal is fully up.

To be fair the latter shouldn't be something the dealer should have to teach.

Ive had my puma for a few months now, have tested out the anti-stall in low range and its worked a treat, but had no idea it works in high range as well! :o cant wait for the drive home from work now

With an Isuzu and even a Tdi you don't need any fancy electronic anti stall, they just keep chugging at silly low revs. :D

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Originally Posted by DieselDan

Yeah you'd have thought that this is the kind of thing the dealer would let you know about, although when I went to buy a new Defender the salesman admitted something along the lines of "the trouble with selling Defenders is that usually the person buying it knows more about them than I do".
Still, if you've told them you're a complete newbie, you'd at least expect a run-down on the use of the transfer box and the idle-jack and anti-stall features.

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Don't worry. My 110 is the first landy I've owned, and I even had to educate the salesman at the dealers as to the fact that the battery was not under the bonnet, but under the passenger seat! He was so convinced I was pulling his leg that I had to actually show him. The look on his face was priceless. Wish I'd had a few dollars on it :)

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Originally Posted by RVR110

Which year model is your 90?

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It is an 2015 build.

Thanks everyone, especially Neil, for all of your very helpful advice. I feel marginally less silly about things now.

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Originally Posted by Viclandychick

It is an 2015 build.

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So its very likely got traction control fitted then, I believe it is standard now in the Oz market (ABS/ETC/DSC) - is that confirmed, Viclandychick?

So the implications of having full-time 4x4 is as simple as meaning all 4 wheels normally get drive all the time. Forget about the "..big BUT!" mentioned in my earlier post (related to wheels losing traction). With ETC (traction control) being the game changer.

Now in almost any conditions, even with a wheel or two in a hole, you will get drive to the other wheels and be able to continue on where you want to go.

- You do still have a centre differential and a centre diff lock - you should still learn how and when to use it.
- You definitely have anti-stall
- You definitely have idle-jack
Best understand how they work.

You will have a regular key and a little dongle thing attached to it (I suppose). The fob has the buttons to remote lock and unlock. (I think the proper term is PLIP - but have forgotten what the acronym means).

If the battery gets low in the PLIP you are alerted in one, or all, of three ways:
- the indicators cease to flash when you unlock the vehicle with the PLIP
- you have to press the unlock button on the PLIP more than once to unlock
- the red security indicator on the dash will flash at a fast rate for several seconds after you unlock using the PLIP

None of the above is at all intuitive! Most people find out when they notice the indicators don't flash like they used to and think the system is faulty or dodgy. They google or ask in a forum. Maybe then learn what it means.

Also totally unintuitive is the steps for the simple task of replacing the PLIP battery. e.g. you MUST be int he vehicle... don't just flick the case open and change the battery on the sofa at home as normal people would. (detailed instructions are in the owners manual). Don't follow the steps - at your own peril!

This one got me fiddling with the handbrake switch for days .... @#$%!

As your brake pads wear thinner, the fluid in the brake fluid reservoir naturally drops. No leaks needed.

As a certain point it gets low enough to light a warning lamp on your dash. Guess what! Its the handbrake warning light isn't it. (Thats intuitive I think not! But its a fact)

So if you notice the handbrake light flickering on/off, intermittently! and apparently randomly, maybe when you brake, maybe when you go uphill... its not the handbrake switch. You will check the brake fluid perhaps and think its a little low, but not to the lower limit. Never fear... that damned handbrake light that flickers randomly is telling you your brake fluid is unintuitively low.