Get Driving & operating -> Gearbox & transmission Guide for Land Rover Defender 90 SUV First Generation (1990-2016)

Gearbox & transmission

MAIN GEARBOX

Your vehicle features a five speed main

gearbox and a two speed transfer box. In

addition, a centre differential in the transfer

box distributes the drive to the front and rear

axles, providing permanent four wheel drive.

By using the main gearbox in conjunction with

the transfer gears, ten forward and two

reverse speeds are available.

The gear positions for the main gearbox are

shown on the gear lever knob. Note that when

the gearbox is in neutral, the gear lever is

spring-loaded to automatically align between

third and fourth gear positions.

Clutch

Take care NOT to use the clutch pedal as a

foot rest. To prevent unnecessary wear,

always keep the left foot well clear of the

clutch pedal, except when changing gear.

WARNING

Do NOT select reverse gear unless the

vehicle is stationary.

Gearbox & transmission

TRANSFER GEARBOX

The second gear lever is used to select either

the high or low range of gears in the transfer

gearbox and, in addition, also controls the

centre differential (known as the ’DIFF LOCK’).

High range (’H’)

Use high range for all normal road driving and

also for off-road driving across dry, level

terrain.

Low range (’L’)

Use low range gears when moving off from

rest when towing a heavy load, or in any

situation where low speed manoeuvring is

necessary, such as reversing a trailer or

negotiating a boulder strewn river bed; also

use for more extreme off-road conditions

where progress in high range cannot be

maintained.

Neutral (’N’)

With the transfer lever in neutral, drive cannot

be transmitted to the road wheels, regardless

of the position of the main gear lever. Use

transfer neutral when being towed or when

using winching or power take off facilities.

’Diff lock’ centre differential

Use the ’unlocked’ position for all normal

driving, and use the ’DIFF-LOCK’ position to

improve traction in extreme conditions where

wheel grip could be lost, such as: wet grass,

mud, sand, ice or snow. Return to the

’unlocked’ position as soon as dry, firm,

ground is reached.

DO NOT use the ’diff lock’ unnecessarily!

Gearbox & transmission

USING THE TRANSFER GEARBOX

With the vehicle stationary and the engine

running, depress the clutch and then move

the lever fully forward (or backwards) in TWO

distinct but positive moves - ’high to

neutral’.... ’neutral to low’ (or vice versa).

If there is resistance to the gear engaging, do

not force the lever. Instead, with the main

lever in gear, release the clutch momentarily

and then try again.

Changing from low to high on the move:

Changing from ’L’ (low) to ’H’ (high) can be

achieved without stopping the vehicle, as

follows:

1. Apply slight backward pressure to the

transfer gear lever in preparation for

changing.

2. Then, in three simultaneous moves,

depress the clutch, release the accelerator

and pull the transfer lever into neutral.

3. Release the clutch pedal for approximately

3 seconds before depressing it again and

moving the transfer lever firmly into the

high position.

4. Finally, select a suitable main gear, release

the clutch and continue driving in the

normal way.

NOTE: After a little practice, this operation

can be carried out smoothly and quickly by

using firm, positive moves.

Gearbox & transmission

THE DIFFERENTIAL LOCK

Unlike many four wheel drive vehicles, all

Land Rover vehicles have permanent four

wheel drive. This is achieved by the inclusion

of a lockable differential between the front and

rear drive shafts. With the differential locked,

the drive shafts to front and rear axles are (in

effect) joined together, causing both to rotate

at the same speed. This is a normal feature

with all four wheel drive vehicles and

enhances traction on difficult off-road

surfaces. However, with the differential

unlocked the different running requirements

of the two axles can be accommodated,

thereby enabling Land Rover vehicles to

operate permanently in four wheel drive for

both road AND off-road use.

Selecting diff lock

The diff lock can be engaged or disengaged

either with the vehicle stationary, or when

driving at any road speed. However, with the

vehicle in motion it is ESSENTIAL to be

travelling on firm ground, in a straight line,

and without wheel slip.

WARNING

DO NOT engage the diff lock if one or more

wheels are slipping - this could damage the

transmission. If wheels are slipping, ease

off the accelerator before engaging the diff

lock.

DO NOT engage the diff lock from the

transfer neutral position.

To lock the differential:

Briefly ease the throttle and move the transfer

gear lever to the left - from either ’H’ (high) or

’L’ (low) position (the warning light on the

instrument panel will illuminate).

To unlock the differential:

Move the transfer gear lever to the right - to

either ’H’ (high) or ’L’ (low) position as

required; when the diff lock disengages the

warning light will extinguish.

Gearbox & transmission

When to use the diff lock

As a general rule, the differential should only

be locked in order to drive off-road on loose

and slippery surfaces. ALWAYS unlock the

differential for normal road driving or as soon

as a hard grippy surface is reached whether

high or low gears are selected.

NOTE: A valuable introduction to off-road

driving, which includes many useful

references to the transfer gearbox and ’diff

lock’, is included in the ’Off-road driving’

section of the handbook.

WARNING

If the vehicle is driven on normal road

surfaces with the differential locked, the

steering will feel stiff, excessive tyre wear

will occur and the transmission will be

’wound up’. This places excessive strain on

the transmission.

Diff lock warning light

The amber warning light on the instrument

panel illuminates when the diff lock is actually

engaged - rather than when it has been

selected. Similarly it will only extinguish when

the diff lock is actually disengaged. This

accounts for a slight delay between diff lock

deselection and the warning light

extinguishing which is quite normal.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Transmission ’wind up’

If the warning light is obviously reluctant

to extinguish after the diff lock has been

deselected, some transmission ’wind up’

may be present.

Reversing the vehicle for a short distance

and then going forward will usually

’unwind’ the transmission and extinguish

the light and the vehicle can then be

driven as normal. However, if after two or

three attempts to ’unwind’ the

transmission the light remains on,

consult your dealer AS SOON AS

POSSIBLE.

Driving & operating -> Gearbox & transmission for Your Land Rover Defender 90 SUV First Generation (1990-2016)

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