I just purchased a 1994 Land Rover Discovery with 5-speed manual shift and the small shifter in front to engage or disengage the 4-wheel drive options. No owners manual. I need to know what the different positions of this little shifter do, and what position results in normal highway 2-wheel drive. The graphic that shows the positions is not too clear to my viewpoint.

My only previous experience with a 4-wheel drive is my 1984 Isuzu Trooper II which (when shifting out of 4-wheel drive) requires you to drive backward for at least a meter to disengage the hubs.
and my friends 2005 Jeep Wrangler which you just pull up on a handle to engage 4-wheel, and move the handle in opposite direction to disengage. All of them, it seems have different techniques. I would appreciate a lesson in using the Land Rover Discovery 4-wheel system.

Also, is it normal to have some gear "whine" from the front wheel drive when in 4-wheel drive?

Thanks in advance.

 

These are full time 4WD. When you move the shifter to the left, it locks the front and rear axles together. The front and rear diffs are still open, but you have to slip 2 tires instead of 1. Move the shifter forward and you are in low (left is locked and right is unlocked). You have to be in N to shift low/high, and stopped in gear for lock/unlock. It says you can be rolling up to 5MPH to lock, but I wouldn't suggest it. Also, don't drive on dry pavement locked, it will load up your drivetrain.

Is is whining in low, or just locked in high?

 

4x4 Lo AWD LO
l ----N----l
4x4 HI AWD HI

 

I don't know if it was whining in low or high, as I didn't understand the 4-wheel, AWD options.

 

IT IS NOT ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE!!! IT IS FULL-TIME-FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE!!! THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!
Back and to the right is for normal everyday driving.

 

True, but why muddy the waters by getting into center diff lock and such. For people who are unfamiliar with 4x4 system theory and for simplicity sake, TC by use of the ABS systems to tranfer the power from "the wheel that slips to the wheel that grips" is an AWD system.

 

I take it you have little or no 4 wheeling experience, is the a local Rover or 4 wheel club in your area, if so you need to joint up with them and learn some of the basics of your vehicle, what it will do and how.
How mechanical are you? Safe to say this truck probably will need some work to get it up to a safe place for wheeling.
Here is a list of stuff you should consider doing to bring your tuck up to speed. Along with this a good inspection of the axles, bushings and all steering components is a must.
Shout if you have any questions.

This is the parts list for a 60,000 mile service or a high mileage used truck, the way I do it.
1 Oil filter, K&N 3001 or Mobil 1
1 Air filter
6 Qts of engine oil
12 Qts of ATF
7 Qts of 80/90W synthetic gear oil
1 Qt of synthetic Brake fluid
2 Qts of synthetic Power steering fluid
2 Gallons of OAT, orange coolant
1 Bottle of Lucas Power Steering additive
1 Bottle of Lucas Transmission additive
1 Can of Spray Carb. Spray
1 Can Of Brake cleaner
8 Spark Plugs, I use Bosch Platium Plus 4's
1 Set of Magnacor 8mm plug wires
1 Serpentine belt
2 Bottles of SeaFoam gas additive
1 T/Stat


60,000 Mile Service or Major Service for High Mileage Used Vehicle just purchased

Bleed the brakes
Flush and change the power steering fluid adding one bottle of additive
Service the tranny adding one bottle of additive
Change the coolant and t/stat
Do an engine flush before changing the oil
Do an induction cleaning
Clean the throttle body
Add fuel additive to full gas tank
Change both of the diffs fluid
Change the t/case oil
Replace the plugs and wires
Replace the air filter
Lube all the drive shaft grease fitting including the 2 slip shafts
Do full inspection of brakes, hoses, bushings etc.

Hopefully I didn't leave anything out.

 

He has a '94, there is no traction control.
Subarus have all-wheel-drive.
All-wheel-drive is defined as using a viscous clutch in the transfer case to distribute power between front and rear axles as needed, one wheel slips and the clutch transfers power from that wheel to another.
Four wheel drive uses gears not clutches. So without going into the engineering of it, it is full-time-four-wheel-drive NOT all-wheel-drive.
I know that it is petty, but it puts a craw in my neck when people say that because it isint true.