Land Rover Discovery Series Ii 2003my Owners Handbook Nas Rover

Off-Road Driving
150
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 166 and 
contact a Land Rover retailer 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...

Driving Techniques
151
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.
•Engage the diff lock
*.
•Select the highest suitable gear and 
REMAIN in that gear until a firm surface is 
reached. It is generally...

Driving Techniques
152
CLIMBING STEEP SLOPES
Engage the diff lock* and ALWAYS follow the 
fall line of the slope - travelling diagonally could 
cause 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...

Driving Techniques
153
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 control provided...

Driving Techniques
154
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...

Driving Techniques
155
WADING
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...

156 

157
On-Road Driving
On-Road Driving
INSTRUMENTS AND WARNING LIGHTS . . . . . .  159
POWER ASSISTED STEERING . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  159
WARMING UP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  159
VEHICLE HEIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  159
DRIVING PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  160
FUEL ECONOMY  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  161
BREAKDOWN SAFETY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  161 

158 

On-Road Driving
159
On-Road Driving
O n- Road  Dr iv in gINSTRUMENTS AND WARNING LIGHTS
Before driving it is important to fully 
understand the function of the instruments and 
warning lights (see ‘INSTRUMENT PANEL’, 
page 62).
NOTE: Red warning lights are of particular 
importance, illumination indicating that a fault 
exists. If a red light illuminates, always stop the 
vehicle and seek qualified assistance before 
continuing.
POWER ASSISTED STEERING
The hydraulic power-assisted steering is...