I've been doing some reading about the differences between the Land Rover Discovery series. One thing that I'm confused about is the locking center differential. I've read that certain years of Discovery IIs don't have the locking center differential. What does that mean? Do these vehicles not have 4WD? I've heard that there is a fix. What is it? Is it an extensive modification?

So what years are affected by this? I'm looking at maybe buying a 2000 Discovery II. Is this model year affected as well? It seems like all of the Discovery IIs I've seen still have the "Diff Lock" lever on the console. Is this cosmetic on the years that don't have a center locking differential?

What happens on the vehicles that don't have the locking differential? Does that mean that you don't have a true 2 speed transfer case? Is there no low range? I'm used to my 2H N 4H 4L (NP241, NV271/273) transfer cases with actual shifting levers. I guess that's old school. I'm imagining that on non-locking differential models it would be like a 2L setting where you would be able to run both driveshafts but the transfer case would not lock the front and rear axles together.

Any info is very appreciated. I searched the forums but couldn't really find the answer other than Craig Miller's transfer case lock addition on his '99. So I assume that '99 on may not have the locking center differential. Do most people that want to use these trucks offroad rectify this situation?

Thanks again,

--Don

Thank you very much Craig and Danny for the advice. Craig, your explanation was just what I was looking for.

I have a shift lever available here in the Portland area, and could ship.  I'm heading out on a short ski trip to Bachelor, so if anyone tries to contact me, it'll be Friday before I see it.

 A quick intro. My name is Chris and I have spent time on this sight for a little over a year now, but this is my first response to anything.

I have a 2000 D2 that I swapped out my factory cable Hi/Lo linkage with a D1 direct lever link so that I could use the center diff/lock that the transfer case is set up with. It bolted directly on top of the case and only require a little minor bending of one of the arms to connect it with the nipple. I got the parts off a D1 parts truck. More time is spent taking apart and re-installing the center console.

I was born in 1969... And I have nipples.   So does my 00 DII.

Lol, nice Todd!. I have an 01 and it has the "nipple".

I was told recently that the nipple may be missing but the parts are still there inside the transfer case, and that someone has a kit to restore the nipple to the top of the case. (trying hard here to not turn this into non-family content)

I used the method discussed here to enable my CDL on my 1999 D2. I also snipped the wire under the glove box that causes the HDC and ETC to be disabled after a restart. Instructions can be found at the bottom of this page. Click on Installation Instructions, and then down to "To finish off the job..."

I find that the combination of ETC and CDL works excellent for treading lightly and getting everywhere you want to go.

cheers, Dave

Rather than cutting the wire, it is also possible to install a switch.  Rick posted a tech article in his blog.

Because ETC brings ABS with it, and ABS isn't always desired. Without ABS, you can lock your wheels up and allow a wedge of gravel/rock to form in front of the tires, but can still manually pump the brakes to approximate the behavior of ABS when needed.