Land Rover Defender 02my Owners Handbook 2nd Edition Rover

							Transfer Gearbox
70
T ransfer GearboxTRANSFER 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’)
The high range of gears should be used 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 low range for 
more extreme off-road conditions where 
progress in high range cannot be maintained. 
DO NOT attempt to use LOW range gears for 
normal road driving.
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; driving over 
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!
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.
H3607
L
N
HDIFF
LOCK 
						

							Transfer Gearbox
71
Changing from high to low on the move
With the vehicle slowing to a stop and travelling 
NO FASTER THAN 5 mph (8 km/h), depress the 
clutch and push the transfer lever into neutral. 
Just before the road wheels stop turning (and 
with the clutch still depressed) push the lever 
fully forward into ‘L’ (low).
NOTE: Use positive and confident moves, but 
do not rush the gear change.
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.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.
H3608 
						

							Transfer Gearbox
72
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.
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 the diff lock, is 
included in the ‘Off-road driving’ section of this 
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 in 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
Tr a n s m i s s i o n  ‘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 a short distance and 
then going forward will usually ‘unwind’ 
the transmission and extinguish the light 
and the vehicle can 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. 
						

							Brakes
73
BrakesFOOT BRAKE
For your safety, the hydraulic braking system 
operates through dual circuits. If one circuit 
should fail, the other will continue to function. 
However, in the event of brake failure where 
only one circuit is operational, the vehicle 
should only be driven at slow speed to the 
nearest qualified dealer. In these 
circumstances, exercise extreme caution and 
be aware that increased brake pedal travel, 
greater pedal pressure, and longer stopping 
distances will be experienced. 
Servo assistance
The braking system is servo assisted, but ONLY 
when the engine is running. Without this 
assistance greater braking effort is necessary to 
safely control the vehicle, resulting in longer 
stopping distances. Always observe the 
following precautions:
•NEVER allow the vehicle to freewheel with 
the engine turned off.
•ALWAYS take particular care when being 
towed with the engine turned off.
•If the engine should stop for any reason 
while the vehicle is in motion, bring the 
vehicle to a halt as quickly as traffic 
conditions safely allow, and DO NOT pump 
the brake pedal as the braking system may 
lose any remaining assistance available.
Brake warning light
If the warning light in the 
instrument panel illuminates 
while driving, and the handbrake 
is fully released, a fault with the braking system 
is indicated. Check the brake fluid level; if the 
light continues to illuminate, seek qualified 
assistance before continuing.Brake pads
Brake pads require a period of bedding in. For 
the first 500 miles (800 km), you should avoid 
situations where heavy braking is required.
Remember! regular servicing is vital to ensure 
that the brake pads are examined for wear and 
changed periodically to ensure long-term safety 
and optimum performance.
WARNING
DO NOT rest your foot on the brake pedal 
while travelling as this may overheat the 
brakes, reduce their efficiency and cause 
excessive wear.
NEVER move a vehicle without the engine 
running because braking assistance will not 
be available. The pedal brakes will still 
function, but more pressure will be required 
to operate them.
If the brake warning light should illuminate 
while the vehicle is in motion, bring the 
vehicle to a halt as quickly as traffic 
conditions and safety permit and seek 
qualified assistance before continuing. 
DO NOT pump the brake pedal - the braking 
system may lose any remaining servo 
assistance available.
Wet conditions
Driving through water or even very heavy rain 
may adversely affect braking efficiency. Always 
dry the braking surfaces by intermittent light 
application of the brakes, first ensuring that you 
are at a safe distance from other road users. 
						

							Brakes
74
HANDBRAKE 
Unlike most other vehicles, the handbrake 
operates on the rear propeller shaft, and NOT 
on the road wheels. This may result in slight 
movement of the vehicle after the handbrake is 
applied.
To engage the handbrake, pull the lever up fully.
To release, pull the lever up slightly, depress 
the button and lower the lever.
Always apply the handbrake fully whenever 
you park.
When parking on a slope, do not rely on the 
handbrake alone to hold the vehicle, park in a 
low forward gear when facing uphill and in 
reverse gear when facing downhill. For extra 
security on steep slopes, move the transfer 
lever into low range or engage the diff lock.
WARNING
DO NOT apply the handbrake while the 
vehicle is in motion as this could result in loss 
of vehicle control and damage to the 
transmission.
DO NOT rely on the handbrake to operate 
effectively if the vehicle has been subjected 
to immersion in mud and water (see ‘Off-road 
driving’ section).
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES*
WARNING
ABS cannot overcome the physical limitations 
of stopping the vehicle in too short a distance, 
cornering at too high a speed, or the danger of 
aquaplaning, i.e. where a layer of water 
prevents adequate contact between the tyres 
and the road surface.
The fact that a vehicle is fitted with ABS must 
never tempt the driver into taking risks that 
could affect his/her safety or that of other road 
users. In all cases, it remains the drivers 
responsibility to drive within normal safety 
margins, having due consideration for 
prevailing weather and traffic conditions.
The driver should always take account of the 
surface to be travelled over and the fact that 
brake pedal reactions will be different to 
those experienced on a non-ABS vehicle.
The purpose of the anti-lock braking system 
(ABS) is to allow efficient braking without wheel 
locking - thereby allowing the driver to retain 
steering control of the vehicle.
Under normal braking conditions, (where 
sufficient road surface friction exists to reliably 
bring the vehicle to a halt without the wheels 
locking), ABS will not be activated. However, 
should the braking force exceed the available 
adhesion between the tyres and the road 
surface, then ABS will automatically come into 
operation. This will be recognisable by a rapid 
pulsation felt through the brake pedal. 
						

							Brakes
75
In normal road use, in an emergency situation 
full braking effort should always be applied 
even when the road surface is slippery. The 
anti-lock braking system constantly monitors 
the speed of each wheel and varies braking 
pressure to each, according to the amount of 
traction available, thereby ensuring that the 
wheels do not lock.
No matter how hard you brake, you should be 
able to continue steering the vehicle as 
NORMAL. 
•DO NOT pump the brake pedal at any time; 
this will interrupt operation of the system 
and may increase braking distance.
•NEVER place additional floor matting or any 
other obstruction under the brake pedal. 
This restricts pedal travel and therefore 
braking efficiency is impaired.
Warning light
The anti-lock braking system 
incorporates a monitoring system, 
which checks that all the electrical 
components are in working order, as soon as 
the starter switch is turned on and also at 
frequent intervals during your journey.
The warning light on the instrument panel is an 
important part of this system. The light should 
illuminate for approximately 1 second as a bulb 
and system check when the starter switch is 
turned to position ‘II’ and briefly extinguish 
before coming on again. If the light does not 
extinguish and then illuminate again, a fault has 
occurred with the ABS system and you should 
consult with a Land Rover dealer at the earliest 
opportunity.
The warning light will remain illuminated until 
the vehicle is driven above approximately 5 
mph (7 km/h).If the light remains on, or illuminates while 
driving, a fault has been detected by the self 
monitoring system and full ABS control may 
not be available - consult your dealer at the 
earliest opportunity.
The normal braking system remains fully 
operational and is not affected by partial or full 
loss of the ABS. However, braking distances 
may increase.
Off-road driving
While anti-lock braking is designed to operate 
equally effectively in ‘off-road’ driving 
conditions, on certain surfaces total reliance on 
the system may be unwise - remember, in 
normal circumstances, anti-lock braking 
operates only AFTER the driver has already lost 
control. It cannot reliably compensate for driver
error or inexperience on difficult off-road 
surfaces.
Note the following:
•On soft or deep surfaces such as powdery 
snow, sand or gravel, and on extremely 
rough ground, the braking distance required 
by the anti-lock braking system may be 
greater than for normal braking, even 
though improved steering would be 
experienced. This is because the natural 
action of locked wheels on soft surfaces is 
to build up a wedge of surface material in 
front which assists the wheels to stop.
•If the vehicle is stopped on a very steep 
slope where little traction is available, it may 
slide with the wheels locked because there 
is no wheel rotation to signal movement to 
the ABS. To counteract this, briefly release 
the brakes to permit some wheel 
movement, then re-apply the brakes to 
allow ABS to gain control.
•Before driving off-road read and thoroughly 
understand the ‘Off-road driving’ section of 
this handbook. 
						

							Traction Control
76
T ra c tion C ont ro lELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL*
The purpose of electronic traction control is to 
aid traction when one or more wheels are 
spinning while others have good grip, e.g. if one 
wheel is on ice and others are on tarmac. The 
system works by applying the brake to a 
spinning wheel in order to transfer torque to the 
remaining wheels.
NOTE: Traction control can operate up to 
speeds of 30 mph (50 km/h).
Warning light
The instrument panel has a traction 
control warning (TC) which 
illuminates for a minimum of 2 
seconds whenever the system is active and also 
illuminates as a bulb check (for approximately 
4 seconds) when the starter switch is turned to 
position ‘II’.
If there is a fault with the system, the warning 
light will illuminate continuously and remain 
illuminated when the vehicle is stopped, in 
which case you should contact your dealer at 
the earliest opportunity.
In the unlikely event that traction control 
operates continuously for too long (in excess of 
approximately 1 minute), then the control unit 
shuts down to allow cooling and the warning 
light flashes for at least 10 seconds. 
						

							Towing
77
Tow ing
TOWING
The torque ranges of Land Rover engines allow 
maximum-weight loads to be pulled smoothly 
from standstill, and reduce gear changing on 
hills or rough terrain. A smooth start will be 
achieved with trailers over 4400 lb (2000 kg) by 
moving off in low range then changing to high 
range while on the move (see ‘TRANSFER 
GEARBOX’, page 70).
The suspension is designed to cope with a 
heavy trailer load without upsetting the balance 
or feel of the vehicle.
WARNING
It is recommended that you fit only towing 
accessories approved by Land Rover.
In the interest of safety, the gross vehicle 
weight, maximum rear axle weight, 
maximum trailer weight and tow hitch load 
(nose weight) must not be exceeded.
If a NATO Hook or a Jaw and Pintle type 
towing accessory is to be fitted to your 
vehicle, DO NOT attach them directly to the 
chassis rear cross-member - it is essential 
that an adaptor plate kit (available from a 
Land Rover dealer) is also fitted.
DO NOT use lashing eyes or vehicle recovery 
towing eyes to tow a trailer or caravan.It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that the 
towing vehicle and trailer/caravan are loaded 
and balanced so that the combination is stable 
when in motion. When preparing your vehicle 
for towing, pay attention to any instructions 
provided by the trailer/caravan manufacturer as 
well as to the information that follows.
Balancing the combination
To ensure optimum stability, it is essential that 
the trailer adopts a level aspect. In other words, 
the trailer must be level with the ground, with 
the towing hitch and trailer drawbar set at the 
same height (note the illustration at the top of 
the page). This is particularly important when 
towing twin axle trailers!
•The trailer should be level with the ground 
when loaded.
•The height of the drawbar hitch point should 
be set so that the trailer is level when 
connected to the loaded vehicle.
H3633 
						

							Towing
78
Points to remember:
•When calculating the laden weight of the 
trailer, remember to include the weight of 
the trailer PLUS the load.
•The recommended trailer nose weight plus 
the combined weight of the vehicles load 
carrying area and rear seat passengers must 
never exceed the specified maximum rear 
axle load (see ‘TOWING WEIGHTS’, 
page 162).
•Where the load can be divided between 
trailer and tow vehicle, loading more weight 
into the vehicle will generally improve the 
stability of the combination. However, 
ensure that the gross vehicle and maximum 
rear axle weights are not exceeded and that 
the combination remains level.
•Towing regulations vary from country to 
country. Always ensure national regulations 
governing towing weights and speed limits 
are observed (refer to the relevant national 
motoring organisation for information). The 
vehicle’s maximum permissible towed 
weight refers to its design limitations and 
NOT to any specific territorial restriction 
(see ‘TOWING WEIGHTS’, page 162).
NOTE: The maximum speed when towing is 
100 kph (62 mph).NOTE: Above 1,000 ft (300 metres) the effects 
of altitude can adversely affect engine 
performance and also cause overheating.
Vehicle weights
When loading a vehicle to its maximum (gross 
vehicle weight), take account of the unladen 
vehicle weight and load distribution to ensure 
that axle loadings do not exceed the permitted 
maximum values. It is your responsibility to 
limit the vehicle load in such a way that neither 
the maximum axle loads nor the gross vehicle 
weight are exceeded.
Coupled braking systems
In order to tow a trailer with a weight in excess 
of 3,500 kg, the vehicle must be adapted to 
operate a coupled braking system. If this 
adaptation is carried out, the vehicle 
identification number plate (VIN) must be 
changed to show the increased train weight.
Revised VIN plates may be obtained from Land 
Rover; these will be issued subject to 
satisfactory proof that the vehicle has been 
fitted with an approved conversion.
Trailer socket
When the engine is running, power output from 
the trailer socket must NOT exceed 5 amps.
ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Tyre pressures:Ensure trailer/caravan tyres are at the pressures recommended by the trailer 
manufacturer.
Loading:Keep trailer loads securely anchored, evenly distributed and as low as 
possible with heavy loads over the axle. Towing vehicle maximum axle 
weights and gross vehicle weight must not be exceeded.
Nose weight:The recommended trailer nose weight limit is 330 lb (150 kg).
Hitch height:Must be set so that caravan/trailer is level when connected to the tow 
vehicle.
Brakes:Check the operation of trailer brakes and lights. 
						

							Load Carrying
79
Loa d C a rry ingLUGGAGE SPACE
WARNING
DO NOT carry unsecured equipment, tools or 
luggage which could move and cause 
personal injury in the event of an accident or 
emergency manoeuvre, either on or off road.
ROOF RACKS 
ALWAYS use an approved roof rack and follow 
the manufacturer’s fitting instructions carefully. 
A full list of all approved accessories is available 
from your Land Rover dealer.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Always observe the following precautions:
•The MAXIMUM load for approved roof 
rack systems is 330 lb (150 kg) for 
normal road use and 66 lb (30 kg) 
off-road. Calculation of the maximum 
load must include the weight of the roof 
rack.
•A loaded roof rack can reduce the 
stability of the vehicle, particularly 
when cornering and encountering cross 
winds.
•All loads should be evenly distributed, 
and secured within the periphery of the 
roof rack.
•Always secure the load to the side rails, 
not just to the cross rails.
•Only fit roof racks that have been 
designed for your vehicle. If in doubt, 
consult your dealer.
•Driving off-road with a loaded roof rack 
is not recommended. If it is necessary 
to stow luggage on the roof rack while 
driving off-road, all loads must be 
removed before traversing side slopes.