Help advice and or information please.....

[DefenderSte]

I have a 2008 130 twin cab defender which is my daily driver to and from work. I have owned her for almost a year and thus far no issues apart form your general wear and tear.


Sorry this is a bit drawn out but just to set the scene a little.....


A few days ago I was collecting a load of logs from the bottom of quite a steep hill and tried to pull away to climb up but stalled it a couple of times moving no where. Eventually managed to en-guage the diff lock with a bit of a clunk and I guess that is what the orange light on the speedo top right side that looks like four wheels with the front two right hand lock...??


Then managed to climb out all good then I put her back into high box parked up but could smell the clutch. She has been driving ok since then with no issues but today......


As I was slowing up to a set of traffic lights changing down through the gears the clutch pedal felt a little strange but didn't think much of it but as I dipped the clutch and tried to put her into first to pull away from the lights the gear stick wouldn't go into first but as I tried again it was making a whirring type noise like that similar to the sound of a thrust bearing. (if that makes sense)


Anyway I moved the little gear leaver ( the transfer box ) into neutral then back into high box again with a bit of a clunk and this time got into first no bother and no issues with the rest of the gearbox. I did have a quick look underneath but nothing seemed to be visibally leaking from around the gearbox and transfer box area.


Again sorry its a little long and drawn out but I am fairly new to defender ownership well as I said above almost a year. Is it something I need to be worried about or just keep an eye on.


Thanks in advance for your advice and information etc.....


Steve.....


I

[tact]

I have a 2008 130 twin cab defender which is my daily driver to and from work. I have owned her for almost a year and thus far no issues apart form your general wear and tear.


Sorry this is a bit drawn out but just to set the scene a little.....


A few days ago I was collecting a load of logs from the bottom of quite a steep hill and tried to pull away to climb up but stalled it a couple of times moving no where. Eventually managed to en-guage the diff lock with a bit of a clunk and I guess that is what the orange light on the speedo top right side that looks like four wheels with the front two right hand lock...??


Then managed to climb out all good then I put her back into high box parked up but could smell the clutch. She has been driving ok since then with no issues but today......


As I was slowing up to a set of traffic lights changing down through the gears the clutch pedal felt a little strange but didn't think much of it but as I dipped the clutch and tried to put her into first to pull away from the lights the gear stick wouldn't go into first but as I tried again it was making a whirring type noise like that similar to the sound of a thrust bearing. (if that makes sense)


Anyway I moved the little gear leaver ( the transfer box ) into neutral then back into high box again with a bit of a clunk and this time got into first no bother and no issues with the rest of the gearbox. I did have a quick look underneath but nothing seemed to be visibally leaking from around the gearbox and transfer box area.


Again sorry its a little long and drawn out but I am fairly new to defender ownership well as I said above almost a year. Is it something I need to be worried about or just keep an eye on.


Thanks in advance for your advice and information etc.....


Steve.....


I

Hey Steve,

I have a 2013 DCPU, bought new more than 2yrs ago, my first Defender.

Most of what you wrote I can understand and imagine:
1. smell from the clutch could be explained by driver slipping the clutch, steep hill, heavy load, etc. (Avoid by using low range, lower gear, and not slipping clutch).

Not telling you how to drive or you did it wrong - just saying its explainable/understandable in those circumstances to get a bit of a burnt smell from the clutch.

2. Also I get it about engaging the centre diff. Yes the orange light you describe is the indicator that CDL is locked. A few notes on that:
- assuming all functional and adjusted correctly if the indicator light is not on then the CDL is not locked. i.e. You can move the lever left and still not have the CDL properly locked. Watch for that. Sometimes you need to move the vehicle a little while applying pressure on the lever - to get the mechanism to move properly to a locked position.
- never try to lock CDL if you are spinning a wheel (lost traction)
- unlocking can be a trick too, move the lever to the right doesn't mean its unlocked. If the indicator lamp is on, the CDL is still locked. Moving the vehicle a little back or forwards will see it drop out of lock
- In the first year I had a lot of problem with the CDL slipping out of being locked and catching my by surprise. (struggling on hard stuff til I realise the CDL is not locked, again...). Things seem to have "worn in" and now this is not so much an issue.

3. I don't get what was happening when you stopped at the traffic light and could not get the main box into first gear. Can you describe that a little more?

I have seen what may be a different issue... When moving from HIGH to LOW range, or vice versa, you can be in a situation where the transfer case gears have not engaged fully. When this happens you either:
- won't get any drive in any main box gear (t'fer case effectively in its own neutral position).
- you get drive but at some time the t'fer case jumps out of gear into its own neutral with a bit of a bang.
- (similar to the CDL not properly meshing/engaging at times)
- the way to be more positive that you are fully in HIGH or LOW range is to carefully lift the clutch in gear while still applying a little pressure to the transfer lever... "feeling" it as it notches properly into place.

[DefenderSte]

Thanks Neil for your cracking and in depth reply much appreciated.....




3. I don't get what was happening when you stopped at the traffic light and could not get the main box into first gear. Can you describe that a little more?


As I approached the lights I was slowing down and upon pressing the the clutch pedal it felt a little stiffer/harder than normal which I thought at the time was strange. Then as I was trying to get into a lower gear i.e. 3th to 2nd it woul'nt go in at all but as I was trying to get her into gear it was making all I can describe it as like a thrust bearing whirring type of noise and it did'nt want to try and force it into gear.


So that's when I moved the transfer box leaver from high into neutral and back to high again and that seemed to do the trick. So got through the lights and pulled up to the road side and went through the same process into 1st and I managed to stall her but still struggled to get back into 1st gear. Made it to work and then parked up and then went through the gears pulling forward slowly and all seemed to be ok.


So wether I was changing gear too hard because their have been a couple of occiassions where I have changed gear and its clunked into the next.


I'm hoping that its just one of those little gremlin things that's ironed itself out but will soon see after work on my way home.....


But I am learning that's the joys of defender ownership a large learning curve for me but.......yes i'm loving it.




Thanks again


Steve.

[tact]

Thanks Neil for your cracking and in depth reply much appreciated.....




3. I don't get what was happening when you stopped at the traffic light and could not get the main box into first gear. Can you describe that a little more?


As I approached the lights I was slowing down and upon pressing the the clutch pedal it felt a little stiffer/harder than normal which I thought at the time was strange. Then as I was trying to get into a lower gear i.e. 3th to 2nd it woul'nt go in at all but as I was trying to get her into gear it was making all I can describe it as like a thrust bearing whirring type of noise and it did'nt want to try and force it into gear.


So that's when I moved the transfer box leaver from high into neutral and back to high again and that seemed to do the trick. So got through the lights and pulled up to the road side and went through the same process into 1st and I managed to stall her but still struggled to get back into 1st gear. Made it to work and then parked up and then went through the gears pulling forward slowly and all seemed to be ok.


So wether I was changing gear too hard because their have been a couple of occiassions where I have changed gear and its clunked into the next.


I'm hoping that its just one of those little gremlin things that's ironed itself out but will soon see after work on my way home.....


But I am learning that's the joys of defender ownership a large learning curve for me but.......yes i'm loving it.




Thanks again


Steve.

Thanks for the extra detail. It may be wasted on me tho as what you are experiencing is like nothing I have seen on my vehicle. Sorry.

Just thinking out loud:
The whirring like a thrust bearing sound may be main box synchros trying to do their thing. Perhaps the clutch is not fully disengaging?

This may explain why, when you move the transfer lever into neutral, you can get the main box into 1st gear. (takes the weight of a dragging clutch off the main box?)

Could be some damage to clutch plate?

To get you home or to workshop, should the clutch fail totally, you have some tricks you might try if you dare, with care!:
- you can select first/reverse with engine stopped and key start in gear to get rolling.
- with a bit of skill you change gear on the move without using clutch, need to match revs pretty well so synchros don't get over worked.

[DefenderSte]

Well i am thinking it may have been cheeky little gremlins messing about or i have not fully put the transfer box leaver in correctly but.....


I drove home last night and back into work again this morning without amy issues..... :):)


Thanks again Neil for you help much appreciated..... :)