Diff locks.

rovie · May 27, 2023

This morning I finally had time to try out the off-road mode, the gear reduction and the locks.

High-Low and the centre diffential lock work, even though everything is still very stiff and you have the feeling that shifting is not good for the mechanics.

I had problems with the rear lock. I tried to switch it on according to the manual. However, the LED in the switch kept flashing instead of lighting up permanently after driving forwards and backwards as described.
In addition, there was a yellow symbol for the rear axle lock and a yellow caution triangle in the front display.

I undid all possible switches and switched it on again. But there was no change. After pressing the button again, the display turned flashing red, together with the yellow triangle. However, the LED in the switch went out.

The front axle lock could not be engaged. I therefore assume that the rear lock is also not engaged.

But who knows. It's the weekend and I can't reach the dealer or anyone competent at INEOS.

Have any of you had the same experience? Are there any ideas? Thank you.

Michael H. · May 27, 2023

rovie said:
This morning I finally had time to try out the off-road mode, the gear reduction and the locks.

High-Low and the centre diffential lock work, even though everything is still very stiff and you have the feeling that shifting is not good for the mechanics.

I had problems with the rear lock. I tried to switch it on according to the manual. However, the LED in the switch kept flashing instead of lighting up permanently after driving forwards and backwards as described.
In addition, there was a yellow symbol for the rear axle lock and a yellow caution triangle in the front display.

I undid all possible switches and switched it on again. But there was no change. After pressing the button again, the display turned flashing red, together with the yellow triangle. However, the LED in the switch went out.

The front axle lock could not be engaged. I therefore assume that the rear lock is also not engaged.

But who knows. It's the weekend and I can't reach the dealer or anyone competent at INEOS.

Have any of you had the same experience? Are there any ideas? Thank you.

Just checking … before trying to engage the differential locks, was the transfer case in Low and the centre differential locked?

Eric · May 27, 2023

Michael H. said:
Just checking … before trying to engage the differential locks, was the transfer case in Low and the centre differential locked?

And doesn't the drive have to be in neutral.

rovie · May 27, 2023

Michael H. said:
Just checking … before trying to engage the differential locks, was the transfer case in Low and the centre differential locked?

Hi Michael, thank you for your feedback! Yes, it was. The flashing LED in the switch was also described in the manual.

rovie · May 27, 2023

Eric said:
And doesn't the drive have to be in neutral.

Thanks Eric, yes, it was in neutral.

Michael H. · May 27, 2023

Eric said:
And doesn't the drive have to be in neutral.

No, I don’t believe so.

Eric · May 27, 2023

Michael H. said:
No, I don’t believe so.

No, I've just checked the manual, less than 9mph ergo doesn't have to be in N

rovie · May 27, 2023

Michael H. said:
No, I don’t believe so.

I meant, yes, I tried it in neutral too. But it doesn't have to be in neutral. You can also drive below 15 km/h.

Hannes01 · May 27, 2023

I have done a test drive on Thursday, not possible to engage the axle locks.
center lock ok.
have testet to engage in all options, no way.
( driving off road vehicles since 40 years )

rovie · May 27, 2023

Hannes01 said:
I have done a test drive on Thursday, not possible to engage the axle locks.
center lock ok.
have testet to engage in all options, no way.
( driving off road vehicles since 40 years )

Same to me, centre lock no problem. Well, then I'm not alone!

bemax · May 27, 2023

I tried all three locks yesterday on soft ground.
Low -> easy
Middle diff lock -> easy
rear diff lock -> took me some time (25 meters)
Front diff lock -> some more… (25 meters )
Disengagement rear and front -> took some time (30 meters)
Middle diff lock and high -> no problem at all.
Have I mentioned that the Torsen diff locks (front and rear) in my Defender always worked without a problem and without engaging them actively…

Tom D · May 27, 2023

The way these lockers work the teeth on the locker need to mesh with holes in a plate. If they aren’t lined up then it wont engage immediately. I have a small tractor with the same system. You need some lateral movement to line up the holes, i.e. steering input.

The issue with the Gren is that rather than illuminate the ’locked’ indicator light the moment the diff is energised it flashes to say ‘energised’ but then goes solid once the diff is engaged. However it doesn‘t monitor actual diff engagement but instead uses the wheel rotation monitoring that is part of the ABS system. If it detects that the wheels are rotating at the same rate it assumes that the diff is engaged. This will take a small distance to achieve.

So for those of you experiencing problems, I suggest trying this: Engage the centre and rear diff, then drive whilst steering from side to side, this will help the diff to engage. The same goes for disengaging it. If you are stuck in ruts and can’t go from side to side a small amount of wheel slip will do the same thing. However lots of wheel spin and power input will damage the diff lock as it engages.

Try this and post how you get on. If it still won’t work whilst steering from side to side then you have a problem.

bemax · May 27, 2023

Tom D said:
The way these lockers work the teeth on the locker need to mesh with holes in a plate. If they aren’t lined up then it wont engage immediately. I have a small tractor with the same system. You need some lateral movement to line up the holes, i.e. steering input.

The issue with the Gren is that rather than illuminate the ’locked’ indicator light the moment the diff is energised it flashes to say ‘energised’ but then goes solid once the diff is engaged. However it doesn‘t monitor actual diff engagement but instead uses the wheel rotation monitoring that is part of the ABS system. If it detects that the wheels are rotating at the same rate it assumes that the diff is engaged. This will take a small distance to achieve.

So for those of you experiencing problems, I suggest trying this: Engage the centre and rear diff, then drive whilst steering from side to side, this will help the diff to engage. The same goes for disengaging it. If you are stuck in ruts and can’t go from side to side a small amount of wheel slip will do the same thing. However lots of wheel spin and power input will damage the diff lock as it engages.

Try this and post how you get on. If it still won’t work whilst steering from side to side then you have a problem.

My locking worked with side to side steering. But it took to long in my opinion.

Tom D · May 27, 2023

I’ll hopefully try mine in a couple of weeks.

rovie · May 27, 2023

Tom D said:
The way these lockers work the teeth on the locker need to mesh with holes in a plate. If they aren’t lined up then it wont engage immediately. I have a small tractor with the same system. You need some lateral movement to line up the holes, i.e. steering input.

The issue with the Gren is that rather than illuminate the ’locked’ indicator light the moment the diff is energised it flashes to say ‘energised’ but then goes solid once the diff is engaged. However it doesn‘t monitor actual diff engagement but instead uses the wheel rotation monitoring that is part of the ABS system. If it detects that the wheels are rotating at the same rate it assumes that the diff is engaged. This will take a small distance to achieve.

So for those of you experiencing problems, I suggest trying this: Engage the centre and rear diff, then drive whilst steering from side to side, this will help the diff to engage. The same goes for disengaging it. If you are stuck in ruts and can’t go from side to side a small amount of wheel slip will do the same thing. However lots of wheel spin and power input will damage the diff lock as it engages.

Try this and post how you get on. If it still won’t work whilst steering from side to side then you have a problem.

Thanks for the hint. I will try it later. As I said, since the front differential can not be locked (notice in the display), I assume that the rear is not locked. I am worry about the red warning light. I will report back then.

Jean Mercier · May 27, 2023

Well, that's a casuality, I tested everything on a short track in Austria today: Here we go (navigation app) did send me through the shortest road, shortcut, about 200m up in the woods, no car had passed there in years, not useful, there is an asphalt road around it, slightly longer.
And there was a trunk of several meters, thickness of my leg, or thickness of the forearm of @Tazzieman, more or less parallel to the track and other branches and mud. Ideal situation to test the stuff.

Central diff lock in high was hard but quite OK to engage. I had to move the car several times to engage the "low" position, a meter or two backwards and forward again, and trying to engage again, indeed in neutral position.

I didn’t succeed to pass the obstacle. moved somme smaller pieces of wood. I then engaged rear diff, it took also some moving of the car, but it got engaged. Still no succes. I engaged the front diff lock, quite easily (beginner's luck?). And succeeded in moving two meters forward. Nice. But I gave up. Testing the diff locks was OK for me, and the time I would loose moving some smaller wooden trunks was not worth the effort.

Then in rear, trying to disengage the front and rear diff locks, I managed to damage one of my rear lights, damned ...

It took quite some time before all the diff lock lights went out after disengaging, a minute or so (didn't chronometer).

Perhaps I should pass my driving licence again, because yesterday I didn't damage my roof ... almost not:

Disappointed, yes for the damage, but the experience was ok. I have also a small but long scratch from yesterday crossing another vehicle in the forest in Austria. This I don't mind, will not be the last.

Krabby · May 27, 2023

I’m sorry @Jean Mercier I’m not following. Did you try to drive over a fallen tree/branch?

Jean Mercier · May 27, 2023

Krabby said:
I’m sorry @Jean Mercier I’m not following. Did you try to drive over a fallen tree/branch?

Yes and no, it was lying in the track, in the length of it, probably cut by humans, I knew it was tricky, I knew with time I could have taken the obstacle, but I was not in the middle of the forest 20 km inside after an hour driving, otherwise I would have prepared the terrain. Here I was only testing the car.

And the scratch was from branches.

ECrider · May 27, 2023

Bit disappointed on the difficulty in engaging the diffs. I can handle the bings and the bongs but when I need them to lock I really need them to work as promised. Perhaps there's a knack but it really should be easy.

Good luck with trying and working it out.

ECrider · May 27, 2023

Nice write up Jean. Appreciated. Back light damage is what I would chalk as 'mark of valour' !

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