Land Rover Discovery Series Ii 2002my Owners Handbook Nas Rover

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							Off-Road Driving
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Off-Road Driving
Off-Road DrivingBEFORE YOU DRIVE
Before venturing off-road, it is absolutely         
essential that inexperienced drivers become 
fully familiar with the vehicles controls, in 
particular the transfer gearbox, and also study 
the off-road driving techniques described on 
this and the following pages.
WARNING
Off-road driving can be hazardous!
•DO NOT take unnecessary risks and be 
prepared for emergencies at all times.
•Your Discovery has a higher ground 
clearance and hence a higher centre of 
gravity than an ordinary passenger car. An 
abrupt manoeuvre at an inappropriate 
speed or on an unstable surface could 
cause the vehicle to go out of control or 
rollover.
•Familiarize yourself with the 
recommended driving techniques in order 
to minimize risks to yourself, your vehicle 
AND your passengers.
•Always ensure that seat belts are worn for 
personal protection while driving on-road 
or off-road.
•DO NOT drive off-road alone or without 
letting someone know where you are going 
and when you plan to return.
BASIC OFF-ROAD TECHNIQUES
These basic driving techniques are an 
introduction to the art of off-road driving and do 
not necessarily provide the information needed 
to successfully cope with every single off-road 
situation.
We strongly recommend that owners who 
intend to drive off-road frequently, should seek 
as much additional information and practical 
experience as possible.
Before driving off-road it is important that you 
check the condition of the wheels and tyres and 
that the tyre pressures are correct. Worn or 
incorrectly inflated tyres will adversely affect 
the performance, stability and safety of the 
vehicle.
Gear selection
On automatic models, with the main selector 
lever set at ‘D’, the gearbox automatically 
provides the correct gear for the appropriate 
gear range selected (HIGH or LOW). Remember 
that position ‘1’ will hold the gearbox in first 
gear to give maximum engine braking when 
required.
HIGH range gears should be used whenever 
possible - only change to LOW range when 
ground conditions become very difficult or 
gradients are steep.
‘Manual’ mode
Press the mode switch whilst the automatic 
gearbox is in Low range to select ‘Manual’ 
mode; this enables the transmission to function 
as a manual gearbox locking the gearbox into 
whichever gear position has been selected 
(‘D’ = 4th gear), providing maximum vehicle 
control and engine braking - ideal for use in 
severe off-road conditions.
NOTE: Changing from Low to High range will 
automatically cancel ‘Manual’ mode.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
•DO NOT drive if the fuel level is low - 
undulating ground and steep inclines 
could cause fuel starvation to the 
engine and consequent damage to the 
catalytic converter.
•As a precaution against accidental loss, 
remove the towing eye cover from the 
front spoiler before driving off-road 
(see ‘TOWING EYES’, page 200). 
						

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Braking
As far as possible, vehicle speed should be 
controlled through correct gear selection and 
the use of Hill Descent Control (HDC). 
Application of the brake pedal should be kept to 
a minimum. In fact, if the correct gear and HDC 
have been selected, braking will be largely 
unnecessary.
If the brake pedal is depressed when HDC is 
active, HDC is overridden and the brakes will 
perform as normal. If the brake pedal is then 
released, HDC will recommence operating, if 
necessary.
Use of engine for braking
Before descending steep slopes, stop the 
vehicle at least its length before the descent, 
engage the parking brake, then engage LOW 
range and then select first or second gear (‘1’ or 
‘2’ for automatic transmission) depending on 
the severity of the incline.
While descending the slope, it should be 
remembered that the engine will provide 
sufficient braking effort to control the rate of 
descent, and that the brakes should not be 
applied.
Accelerating
Use the accelerator with care - any sudden 
surge of power may induce wheel spin and, 
therefore, invoke unnecessary operation of 
traction control, or in extreme conditions could 
lead to loss of control of the vehicle.Steering
WARNING
DO NOT hold the steering wheel with your 
thumbs inside the rim - a sudden ‘Kick’ of the 
wheel as the vehicle negotiates a rut or 
boulder could seriously injure them. ALWAYS 
grip the wheel on the outside of the rim (as 
shown) when traversing uneven ground.
Survey the ground before driving
Before negotiating difficult terrain, it is wise to 
carry out a preliminary survey on foot. This will 
minimize the risk of your vehicle getting into 
difficulty through a previously unnoticed 
hazard.
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Ground clearance
Dont forget to allow for ground clearance 
beneath the chassis, axles and under the front 
and rear bumpers. Note that the axle 
differentials are situated BELOW the chassis 
and are positioned slightly to the right of the 
centre of the vehicle. Note also that there are 
other parts of the vehicle which may come into 
contact with the ground - take care not to 
ground the vehicle.
Ground clearance is particularly important at 
the bottom of steep slopes, or where wheel ruts 
are unusually deep and where sudden changes 
in the slope of the ground are experienced.
On soft ground, the axle differentials will clear 
their own path in all but the most difficult 
conditions. However, on frozen, rocky or hard 
ground, hard contact between the differentials 
and the ground will generally result in the 
vehicle coming to a sudden stop.
ALWAYS attempt to avoid obstacles that may 
foul the chassis or axle differentials.
Self-levelling suspension
On vehicles equipped with self-levelling 
suspension, the rear suspension can be raised 
to increase departure angles and ground 
clearance at the rear of the vehicle (see 
‘SELF-LEVELING SUSPENSION*’, page 129). 
For additional information, see ‘DIMENSIONS’, 
page 225.Loss of traction
If the vehicle is immobilised due to loss of tyre 
grip, the following hints could be of value:
•Avoid prolonged wheel spin; this will only 
make matters worse.
•Remove obstacles rather than forcing the 
vehicle to cross them.
•Clear clogged tyre treads.
•Reverse as far as possible, then attempt an 
increased speed approach - additional 
momentum may overcome the obstacle.
•Brushwood, sacking or any similar material 
placed in front of the tyres may improve tyre 
grip.
CD Autochanger
Playing CDs while negotiating arduous off-road 
terrain is not recommended. Severe jolting of 
the vehicle may disturb the operation of the 
autochanger, causing the disc to ‘jump’ or 
‘skip’. 
						

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AFTER DRIVING OFF-ROAD
SERVICING REQUIREMENTS
Vehicles operated in arduous conditions, 
particularly on dusty, muddy or wet terrain, and 
vehicles undergoing frequent or deep wading 
conditions will require more frequent servicing. 
See ‘OWNER MAINTENANCE’, page 160 and 
contact a Land Rover dealer for advice.
After wading in salt water or driving on sandy 
beaches, use a hose to wash the underbody 
components and any exposed body panels with 
fresh water. This will help to protect the 
vehicles cosmetic appearance and help prevent 
corrosion.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Before rejoining the public highway, or 
driving at speeds above 25 mph (40 km/h), 
consideration should be given to the 
following:
•Wheels and tyres must be cleaned of 
mud and inspected for damage - ensure 
that there are no lumps or bulges in the 
tyres or exposure of the ply or cord 
structure.
•If wheels and tyres are not cleaned 
properly, damage to the wheels, tyres, 
braking system and suspension 
components could occur.
•Brake discs and callipers should be 
examined and any stones or grit that 
may affect braking efficiency removed. 
						

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Driving TechniquesDRIVING ON SOFT SURFACES & DRY 
SAND
The ideal technique for driving on soft surfaces 
(dry sand for example) requires the vehicle to 
be kept moving at all times - soft sand causes 
excessive drag on the wheels resulting in a 
rapid loss of motion once driving momentum is 
lost. For this reason, gear changing should be 
avoided.
Select the highest suitable gear and REMAIN in 
that gear until a firm surface is reached. It is 
generally advisable to use LOW range gears, as 
they will enable you to accelerate through 
worsening conditions without the risk of being 
unable to restart.
Stopping the vehicle on soft ground, in sand 
or on an incline
If you do stop the vehicle, remember:
Starting on an incline or in soft ground or sand 
may be difficult. Always park on a firm level 
area, or with the vehicle facing downhill.
To avoid wheel spin, select ‘D’ and use the 
MINIMUM throttle necessary to get the vehicle 
moving.
If forward motion is lost, avoid excessive use of 
the throttle - this will cause wheel spin and tend 
to dig the vehicle into the sand. Clear sand from 
around the tyres and ensure that the chassis 
and axles are not bearing on the sand before 
again attempting to move.
If the wheels have sunk, use an air bag lifting 
device or high lift jack to raise the vehicle, and 
then build up sand under the wheels so that the 
vehicle is again on level ground. If a restart is 
still not possible, place ladders or other load 
spreading aids beneath the wheels.
DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES
(ice, snow, mud, wet grass) 
•Select the highest gear possible. 
•Drive away using the MINIMUM throttle 
possible.
•Drive slowly at all times, keeping braking to 
a minimum and avoiding violent 
movements of the steering wheel.
DRIVING ON ROUGH TRACKS
Although rough tracks can sometimes be 
negotiated in normal drive, on very rough 
tracks, engage LOW range to enable a steady,
low speed to be maintained without constant 
use of the brake pedal. 
						

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CLIMBING STEEP SLOPES
ALWAYS follow the fall line of the slope - 
travelling diagonally could encourage the 
vehicle to slide broadside down the slope.
Steep climbs will usually require the LOW gear 
range. If the surface is loose or slippery, use 
sufficient speed in the highest practical gear to 
take advantage of your vehicles momentum. 
However, too high a speed over a bumpy 
surface may result in a wheel lifting, causing the 
vehicle to lose traction. In this case, try a slower 
approach. Traction can also be improved by 
easing off the accelerator just before loss of 
forward motion.
If the vehicle is unable to complete a climb, do 
not attempt to turn it around while on the slope. 
Instead, adopt the following procedure to 
reverse downhill to the foot of the slope.
1.Hold the vehicle stationary using both the 
foot and parking brakes.
2.Restart the engine if necessary.
3.Engage reverse (‘R’) and LOW range.
4.Select hill descent control (HDC). 
5.Release the parking brake. Then release 
the foot brake and allow the vehicle to 
reverse down the slope using engine 
braking and HDC to control the rate of 
descent.
6.Unless it is necessary to stop the vehicle 
to negotiate obstructions, DO NOT apply 
the brake pedal during the descent - even 
a light application may cause the front 
wheels to lock, rendering the steering 
ineffective.
7. If the vehicle begins to slide, accelerate 
slightly to allow the tyres to regain grip.When the vehicle is back on level ground or 
where traction can be regained, a faster 
approach will probably enable the hill to be 
climbed. However, DO NOT take unnecessary 
risks, if the hill is too difficult to climb, find an 
alternative route.
WARNING
DO NOT attempt to reverse down a slope 
without the engine running - HDC and the 
braking effect of the gearbox will be lost. 
						

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DESCENDING STEEP SLOPES
WARNING
Failure to follow these instructions may cause 
the vehicle to roll over.
•Stop the vehicle at least a vehicle length 
before the start of the slope and apply the 
parking brake. Engage first gear (‘1’) LOW 
range and hill descent control.
•Unless it is necessary to stop the vehicle in 
order to negotiate obstructions, DO NOT 
touch the brake during the descent - the 
engine and HDC will limit the speed, keeping 
the vehicle under perfect control provided 
the front wheels are rotating. If the vehicle 
begins to slide, the limits of adhesion have 
been reached, and it may be impossible to 
maintain the minimum speed relative to the 
gear selected. In this case, HDC may 
automatically accelerate the vehicle 
sufficient to maintain directional stability. 
DO NOT use the accelerator or the brakes or 
attempt to change gear. HDC will 
automatically slow the vehicle down again 
as soon as possible.
•Once level ground is reached, select a 
suitable gear for the next stage of your 
journey.
TRAVERSING A SLOPE
WARNING
Failure to follow these instructions may cause 
the vehicle to roll over.
Before crossing a slope ALWAYS observe the 
following precautions:
•Check that the ground is firm and not 
slippery.
•Check that the wheels on the downhill side 
of the vehicle are not likely to drop into 
depressions in the ground and that the 
‘uphill’ wheels will not run over rocks, tree 
roots, or similar obstacles that could 
suddenly increase the angle of tilt.
•Ensure that passenger weight is evenly 
distributed, that all roof rack luggage is 
removed and that all other luggage is 
properly secured and stowed as low as 
possible. Always remember, any sudden 
movement of the load could cause the 
vehicle to overturn.
•Where possible, rear seat passengers 
should sit on the uphill side of the vehicle or, 
in extreme conditions, should vacate the 
vehicle until the sloping ground has been 
safely negotiated.
H2521H2531 
						

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NEGOTIATING A ‘V’ SHAPED GULLY
Observe extreme caution! Steering up either of 
the gully walls could cause the side of the 
vehicle to be trapped against the opposite gully 
wall.
DRIVING IN EXISTING WHEEL TRACKS
As far as possible allow the vehicle to steer 
itself along the bottom of the ruts. However, 
always keep a light hold of the steering wheel to 
prevent it from spinning free.
Particularly in wet conditions, if the steering 
wheel is allowed to spin free, the vehicle may 
appear to be driving straight ahead in the ruts, 
but in actual fact (due to the lack of traction 
caused by the wet ground) is unknowingly on 
full right or left lock. Then, when level ground is 
reached, or if a dry patch of ground is 
encountered, the wheels will find traction and 
cause the vehicle to suddenly veer to left or 
right.
CROSSING A RIDGE
Approach at right angles so that both front 
wheels cross the ridge together - an angled 
approach could cause traction to be lost 
through diagonally opposite wheels lifting from 
the ground at the same time.
CROSSING A DITCH
Cross ditches at an angle so that three wheels 
always maintain contact with the ground. If a 
ditch is approached head on, both front wheels 
will drop into the ditch together, possibly 
resulting in the chassis and front bumper being 
trapped on opposite sides of the ditch. On 
vehicles equipped with self-levelling 
suspension, and if the severity of terrain makes 
this inevitable, manually operating the 
self-levelling suspension to increase clearance 
between the ground and the rear of the vehicle 
may help.
H2532
H2530 
						

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WADING
WARNING
The maximum advisable wading depth is 
20 inches (0,5 m).
Severe electrical damage may occur if the 
vehicle remains stationary for any length of 
time when the water level is above the door 
sills.
If the depth of water is likely to exceed 20 
inches (0,5 m), the following precautions 
should be observed:
•Fix a plastic sheet in front of the radiator 
grille to prevent water from soaking the 
engine and mud from blocking the radiator.
•Remove the CD autochanger
*.
•Ensure that the silt bed beneath the water is 
free of obstacles and firm enough to 
support the vehicles weight and provide 
sufficient traction.
•Ensure that the engine air intake is clear of 
the water level.
•Select a low gear and maintain sufficient 
throttle to prevent the engine from stalling. 
This is particularly important if the exhaust 
pipe is under water.
•Drive slowly into the water and accelerate to 
a speed which causes a bow wave to form; 
then maintain that speed.
At all times, keep all the doors fully closed.After wading
•Immediately after wading, remove any 
protective covering from in front of the 
radiator grille.
•Drive the vehicle a short distance and apply 
the foot brake to check that the brakes are 
fully effective.
•DO NOT rely on the parking brake to hold the 
vehicle stationary until the transmission has 
thoroughly dried out; in the meantime, leave 
the vehicle with the gearbox selector moved 
to park (‘P’).
•If the water was particularly muddy, remove 
any blockages (mud and leaves) from the 
radiator to reduce the risk of overheating.
•If deep water is regularly negotiated, check 
all oils for signs of water contamination - 
contaminated oil can be identified through 
its ‘milky’ appearance. In addition, check the 
air filter element for water ingress and 
replace if wet - consult a Land Rover dealer 
if necessary.
•If salt water is frequently negotiated, 
thoroughly wash the underbody 
components and exposed body panels with 
fresh water.
NOTE: Vehicles required to undergo frequent or 
deep wading conditions will require more 
frequent servicing. Contact a Land Rover dealer 
for advice.