Thread: The mystery of the viscous coupling

The transfer case one I assume.
I don't know of an official test but I have a P38 with a locked viscous at the moment. If I coast at a slow speed on full lock, it will soon come to a stop. If I use another car (several to choose from unfortunately as I have P38itis), it doesn't come to a stop.

The 'locked' car also scrubs it's tyres, inside rear usually, very easily on anything but perfect bitumen.


As for going bang in the middle of nowhere, I think they'll be locked up way before they go bang.

As mentioned, if it's not locked completely up, it's working. Lockup is noticable and this is what will lead to a bang at some point after - can be quite a long time too depending on hiw and where you drive it once it has locked up.

Sounds like yours is fine - go drive and enjoy it. 😊

Originally Posted by Scouse

. If I use another car (several to choose from unfortunately as I have P38itis)

......and a shining example to us all you are.

Careful, I might send one or two down to you!!

That'd be handy.
I haven't had my Rangie for the last 3 weeks and have separation anxiety. But can a P38 hold a candle to a Classic.....hmmmmm.

Thanks for the feedback. Sadly I can't go and drive it yet as I need to do a few things to get a rwc first.

@scouse how many km and what sort of km has your one that has locked up done.
Were there any signs prior to it locking up?

Im a details person, so if anyone has a spec sheet, that would be amazing, I've seen the one for the Freelander, but I'd assume this would be quite different.

My concern or understanding is that if my viscous coupling isn't working correctly, it will put unnecessary load through the auto and therefore shorten its life. I don't like autos, but I fancy replacing it less so.
Im a fan of just in time maintenance, not over the top, but just enough at the right times, hence my desire to understand more.

It’s hard to say what causes a viscous coupling to die. There’s no evidence anywhere to suggest any particular activity does it. Rest assured, driving it as a 4wd will not destroy it - it’s a well designed, solid 4wd, that will do everything asked of it. They are not fragile 4wd’s that need to be babied or take the chicken tracks at every chance. Mine regularly sees the type of terrain that you generally see on 4wd Action, albeit driven more sensibly. Wheel lifts, lockers, lots of cross-axle terrain, deep holes and big muddy rutted hills.

Water crossings - absolutely! With my snorkel of course! It’s getting stuck in deep water that will hurt you as mentioned before, the ECU’s are under the seats. The door seals are very good in P38’s, so you have time to ford long crossings without worry (think the Jardine River or the many crossings on the Tele Track).

Ive said it to many a P38 owner - maintain it, know it, enjoy it. Don’t live in fear that it’ll break down, because they are not lemons like they’ve been made out to be. My D2 owning mates can attest to this.

Cheers
Keithy

Originally Posted by Gsmack

@scouse how many km and what sort of km has your one that has locked up done.
Were there any signs prior to it locking up?

Most of my cars are high milers, around 375k on the locked up one but a couple of OK cars are approaching that mileage too.
There was no definite signs, I just started noticed it scrubbing tyres in spots where the others didn't. It's not a daily driver & it's only been in my possession for 12 months so it could well have been locked prior to me driving it.