Diff lock switch replacement

[Alex Roux]

So the story is not finished yet..

To recap, McCarthy Nissan (Randburg) told me the switch is faulty and will cost R10,800 to replace.
So this Saturday (having slightly damp grass in my back garden), I decided to test this for myself.

Taking the car to the backyard, in 4x4, and having reconnected the wire at the back (close to the rear axle), I switched the difflock on. I hear the click!, and making a sharp turn causes the inside wheel to kick up some grass. So it is working right? I switch the difflock off, and I do not kick up grass on the inside wheel anymore when turning sharply. I did this twice just to be 100% certain.
However once I reconnected the wire at the back, the difflock light on the dashboard goes on (as well as the usual flashing ABS light). Hence the car remains convinced that the difflock is engaged whether it is or not. And of course the difflock alarm goes off beyond 30km/h. So I cannot live with the alarm (it gets to you after a while!). I need to go underneath the chassis each time I need difflock and physically reconnect the wire, then switch the difflock on inside the car again.

Peter C, I did not follow your detailed diagnostic procedure, but I think from the above it is clear that the switch is indeed working.

So the remainder of my problem: How do I get the sensor right that thinks my difflock is always engaged?
(I have given up asking McCarthy Nissan for help, but perhaps I can try another service centre, or a recommended auto electrician?)

Thanks

[Peter Connan]

Alex, in this case I am pretty sure it is the light switch.

This is mounted on the rear diff, on the end of the vacuum actuator for the diff lock, behind the diff pumpkin. I am not 100% sure of this as I have not checked it, but I have been told that this is the same switch as is used on the nissan 1400 bakkie's gearbox to switch the reverse light on.

My recomendation is to remove it, take it to the spares shop (in SWAMBO's car) and ask them for a Nissan 1400 reverse light switch. Compare the two before you buy.

If you have a multi-meter with resistance measurement, it should be very easy to test it and thus possible to repair it.

[Grootseun]

Alex i have to agree with Peter C , sounds like the position indicator swithc to me and not the activation switch
Alos heard the Nossan 1400 switch story but cant confirm what i can tell you though is the following two things
1 - you get two types of switches on the 1400 one is normally open and the other is normally closed so be sure ad get the right oen if they are similiar in size or you mught still have the problem
2 - i know on the Colt diff if you pull out the swithc and refit it actually pushes the difflock in and keeps the diff locked no matter what you do and so yo uneed to be extremely carefull when replacing that switch , no i really doubt that nissam would have been so stupid but just make sure you test your diffs operation on soft ground or in the aor before you drive off after replacing the switch

If you dont get it sorted i am prepared to take a look for you and see if i can help you out as i am an Auto Electrician by trade , but in my diagnostic business im traveling all over our country agian the next two months so it might be at some absurd time that i can actually assist you , but at least i also have my patrol here as a reference irf we wish to test anything before hand

[Alex Roux]

Hi Driko

I think it is best if you have a look.
If you say I should be careful, then all the more reason why I should not do it myself!...

[ChristoSlang]

Alex, as jy kans kry kan jy dit 10:1 maklik self regmaak!

Hier's 'n mooi skematiese diagram van die hele stelsel wat jou sal laat verstaan hoe alles in mekaar steek. Die rooi pyltjie toon die skakelaar binne in die kar, maar dit klink vir my asof hy reg werk. Die blou pyltjie toon die skakelaar aan die kant van die diff wat klink of hy vassteek:

Diff lock diagram.jpg (133.71 KiB) Viewed 2946 times

Hierdie diagram wys hoe daai skakelaar aan die diff lyk:

Diff lock indicator switch.jpg (58.62 KiB) Viewed 2946 times

Diskonnekteer sy plug, asook die bracket wat sy draad vashou aan die chassis sodat jy hom kan uitdraai sonder om die draad af te wen. Druk dan die skakelaar met jou vinger in en kyk of hy gemaklik weer uitspring. Indien nie, gaan bietjie werk met baie fyn skuurpapier en/of Q20 dalk net die ding doen. Kaarring aan die ding totdat hy gemaklik beweeg. Herrie het daai einste probleem met sy Patrol se skakelaar gehad, en ek ook met myne.

As jy 'n multimeter het, toets sommer ook die kontinuiteit om seker te maak dat die elektries ook nog 100% werk.

Skroef terug, koppel op en toets!

[Tinus lotz]

Baaie nice prentjies!!!!

[ChristoSlang]

Tot 'n Patrol se schematics is sag op die oog

[Alex Roux]

Hi Christo

Ek het die indicator swith afgehaal. Ek kon die draad op 'n verdere punt losmaak sodat ek hom nie afdraai nie.
Die indicator switch werk?!
As ek hom indruk, gaan die diflock liggie voor weer af. As ek hom los, gaan die liggie weer aan?!
Die veer binne in hom werk nog redelik goed, alhoewel ek hom seker bietjie kan Q20.
Ek moet by se, toe ek hom loss draai is daar redelike vogtigheid binne wat soos water lyk en uitgeloop het.

Moet ek dalk net die voorste punt van die indicator switch bietjie skuur?
Want as ek hom ingedraai het gaan hy dalk net weer die heeltyd wys hy is aan wanneer hy af is.

[Herrie]

Skuur hom maar liggies en spuit hom met Q20 net om seker te maak dat hy maklik werk.

Hoe lyk die olie in die diff? Is daar ook water in?

[Alex Roux]

Hi Kobus

Ek het geskuur en ge-Q20. Vasgemaak en toe ek start is die liggie weg. Maar nes ek die drade weer mooi vasmaak en wegpak toe is die liggie weer terug (Frustrasie).
Toe gaan ry ek 'n entjie. Die liggie gaan weg terwyl ek ry. By die Stop straat begin die diff lock liggie te flikker en dan is hy weer aan. Soos ek wegtrek gaan hy weer af.
Nou na 'n ent se ry is hy meer af as aan (by de stoppe).
Miskien moet ek maar weer as ek tyd kry, oop maak en nog bietie skuur.

Ek het die agterste diff se olie in Desember vervang en (ek onthou nou) sedertdien een keer deur water gegaan by de Wildt. Ek verstaan mens kan water insuig deur die breather as die diff se olie warm is? Nou, om oop te maak en te kyk is nuisance. Dit is seker die enigste manier om seker te maak of daar dalk bietjie water is in die diff?