I am new to the Land Rover community and picked up a 2004 Discovery 2. I have been enjoying learning about the vehicle and it has been on 2 adventures so far. I am trying to determine if my center diff lock and traction control is working properly. I have attached a link to a YouTube video that shows me working over an obstacle. The angle of ascent here was much more than it appears on the video and the editing was done by my son so, please no film critics.
I produced more wheel speed than I intended because I was trying to allow the wheels to slip enough for the traction control to recognize it and work it's magic. In your opinion; does it appear my center diff lock and traction control are working? I have no lights on the gauge cluster indicating they are not, but I also have no light indicating I have engaged CDL when I have using the selector in the cab. It very clearly engages physically when I slide the lever to the left in either 4 high or 4 low.

The obstacle is at 5:07. I linked the video to start at the point, but it doesn't appear to be working.

 

It’s a little hard to see in the video but it looks like you are applying too much throttle and then letting off. Smooth and consistent throttle is needed. See the 19:00 min mark in this video. It takes a little getting used to but the traction control works very well.

 

You might want to get underneath the truck and confirm that the lever inside the cab is actually rotating the CDL nipple on top of the transfer case. If you were locked in that video, the rear wheels should have been rotating/slipping as much as the fronts.

 

The traction control will make an audible noise when activated, you will also feel pulsing in the brake pedal.

I would think you would have warning lights illuminated if they didn't work... That being said, do all of your warning lights work? Turn the key on without cranking it over, this initiates a bulb test, every one of the dash warning indicators should light up. Many stories of people fixing their fails TC or ABS issues by disabling the bulbs.

 

When I activate CDL, it chimes and a light in the instrument panel goes on. If traction control gets activated, another light is flashing in the instrument panel for a short time. Does HDC work?

 

I will investigate further tonight, but I don't think Hill Descent Control is working. I have tried it with no luck, but I think I need to try again in 4LOW. If I read and understood correctly; you simply press the HDC button when in 4LOW and it will maintain when you engage it below 5-7mph.

What symbol and lights should I look for when I do a "key on, engine off" review of the idiot lights? Is the "ABS" light the main one I am looking for?

 

If you engage the CDL on dry pavement, go slow and try to turn a corner I think you would know pretty quickly if it was working or not.

 

If you look closely you can see where the lights are in the binnacle... Make sure they ALL come on. For your issues, TC, ABS, and HDC. Here is a pic I stole from the internet.

 

This is what you should see when you first turn the key on. Note the HDC, CDL, and TC lights on the left. If they light up, at least it tells you that the bulb is still working even if the systems aren't.

 

If the switch is dead you have no traction control or hill descent, easy to test put your transfer case in low and hit the mode switch the M should light up on the dash.

The switch is easy to change, it is on the front of the transfer case.