Alright, I just picked up a 98 Discovery(you can tell by my name on here, haha). I'm curious about the 4x4 options in front of the shifter. It seems like its an "H" pattern. A buddy of mine told me that you dont have to mess with that unless youre in mud up to your doors, but im looking for a second opinion. He said that the Disco is always 4x4, like a part time 4x4. I'm not too familiar with them yet, so all help is appreciated.

 

discos are full time 4 wheel drive. Your D1 has hi/lo and CDL lock/unlock ..search for CDL on here to learn more about it.

 

The land Rover Discovery is "Full Time 4 Wheel Driver"

The "H" Shifter you see will shift your "Transfer Case" into Low if you push it straight up, and if you slide it to the left you will engage the "CDL" (Central Locking Differential) This will essentially lock the amount of power delivered to the Front and Rear Drivelines.. 50% Front 50% Rear... now that power is still distributed through the Front and Rear Differentials as well, and those are open Diffs, so when the CLD is engaged, Not all 4 Wheels will be turning at the same rate, but atleast 2 of them will be.. Right Rear, Left Front..

Air lockers and other methods of locking the front and rear differentials are out there, but odds are you wont ever need them.. The Disco is a Very Capeable 4x4 Stock..

Often the linkage for these shifters get stuck..
Its important to get onto a Dirt or Snowpacked, or Gravel road and engage it and is dis-engage it several times..
Some peope need to crawl around underneath it and lubricate the linkage, I bought my 94 recently and it worked perfectly.. First try..

Shifting the CDL should be done while either in Park, or Neutral.. NOT DRIVE..
Neutral seems to be the easiest for me, while the Vehicle is rolling forward at not more than 5mph or 8mph..
I got a little paniced first time I played with this, but once I got the hang of it made perfect sense.

Congradulaitons on your DISCO!!!
Remember.. It runs on PREMIUM GAS!!!

 

Thanks for the help guys! I'm definately a fan of the Disco and its capabilities. All thats left now is the roof rack, OME 2" lift, snorkel, 32's, and a whole hell of alot of Halogen lights, haha.

 

Before you go crazy outfitting your new disco, do a complete and comprehensive service. change ALL your fluids including diffs, tranny, brake, power steering etc.; filters, plugs, wires; adress any major leak issues. search this forum for the 60K service schedule.