Thread: series 2 discovery diff lock

How hard is it to move the nut ? Just thinking maybe you could make a lever and use a central door locking motor to activate it.... then all you'd need is a toggle on the dash to engage/free the diff lock. :wink:

Last time the 2 lights you mention stayed on, I went to my dealer who ran diagnostic and informed me that an ABS sensor had disengaged itself. Apparently those lights remaining on indicates that the computer has sensed a fault. In your case I suggest the computer somehow sensed that the diff lock was engaged but had not been activated by the computer.

I was told by the mob that make the actuator's for the serries2, that when the centre diff lock was engaged on these models that it then disengages the abs & traction control, this giving you the best conrtol.??????
I could be wrong but, it happens all the time.

When you start up one of the diagnotics that the computer goes through is to check is the CDL is locked. If it is locked the computer disables ETC assuming an axle is broken or whatever. If you leave the engine running though and lock the CDL it will continue to run with ETC. Likewise, because the test for the CDL only happens during startup, the ETC will only be reactivated after turning off the engine and restarting.

To overcome this problem I have broken the wire from the CDL and put a switch in place up on the dash. If I restart while CDL is locked then I flick the switch, start the engine, then return the switch.

There are heaps of people that run the CDL locked and traction control active and have never had a problem. Actually from a number of Disco2 forums and groups I've never heard of any compatibility issues with this setup except for significantly better offroad performance. ETC has no issues with diff locks either.

Originally posted by barryj
but I have used more than enough $ for now on accessories.

:roll: I would have thought that having a selectable centre diff would be the most important "accessory" to have on a D2....

Thanks for the replies, sorry I haven't replied as I just got home from a night and day away from the computer. This is good practice for my 6 week trip to the Kimberly area. Leaving the week after Easter, (sorry to those who cannot get away).

Hellspawn, the nut was real easy to turn. It only needs about a quarter of a turn. Some of the electric after market units are only a solenoid from what I can tell. Les Richmond Automotive (http://www.lrautomotive.com.au/176.html) has a cable setup.

Gidget, yes I think I read somewhere that the traction control and abs are disabled when using the central diff lock. It makes sense. Because rover did not want me to know about the central diff lock possibility in the 2001 model they say to contact my service repairer if the lights stay on.

Does anyone know what lights are on with a 1999 or 2000 model? I don’t know if they have abs and traction control. At a guess the traction control may not have been offered.

Struan, I agree. The poor computer was probably lost with what I did. Next thing I will check is to engage the lock with the ignition on, probably wise to do with engine off and ignition on just in case.

Slunnie, Your comments also make sense.

My main problem is that I am not used to all this electronic stuff. My previous vehicles include a land rover series 2a, series 3 and defender. They were a lot rougher to drive in but a lot easier to understand, and fix from what I see.

Thanks again for the replies. From what I hear rover has refitted to manual central diff lock to the new series 3 discovery. Maybe they do learn from mistakes.

Barry

IIRC... The dash lights in the DiscoII do stay on when the diff lock has been engaged and will only turn off when you shut the ignition off and then back on again.

(Again)... IIRC, the transfer casing is the same on the DiscoII as on the P38 RaRo. If so, maybe you could pick up the (Hi/Lo) actuator from a scrap yard and just wire it up yourself??!!??

Mark.

Hi Barry,
I have just sold my 2000 Discovery TD5 and the home made CDL, along with a good set of tyres, was the best upgrade I made. I made a very simple mechanical linkage from an old 13mm socket and extension bar through a hole in the transmission tunnel. As you say it only needs about a 45 degree turn. It cost me about £5. I based it on an article on discoweb.org, go to "tech" then "disco 2 CDL install"

If you engage CDL with the engine running you have ETC, if you engage CDL before starting the engine (or if you stall and restart the engine with CDL engaged) ETC is disengaged and the ETC light will illuminate. You can use this to your advantage as there are times when ETC is detrimental to keeping momentum, in deep sand for example.