Date:         Tue, 12 Jan 1999 04:51:10 +0100
Reply-To:     Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Subject:      Re: Diff Locks
Comments: To: Malcolm White <malcolm@WHITE.IE>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi, Malcolm,

I will try to answer your q's about the diff locks,


Malcolm White wrote:

> I tried to select the diff locks on my '88 Syncro

Cool, I have an '88 Syncro, too!

> for the first time today and
> the warning lights would not come on.  Are there any areas that I can check
> myself before writing out a blank check to my VAG dealer?

How far did you drive, what kind of speeds, what kind of surface, have you checked
the bulb.... Many ways to check the diff lock. The best way I can think of, is this:
Place the car on some loose surface, like snow or ice, gravel, wet grass or like,
pull the knob, turn the steering over to the right, as you most probably have a RHD
car in Ireland, open the door, and watch the rear wheel, as you start to drive. If
the lock is engaged, the inner rear wheel wants to go faster than the surface it is
sitting on. You cannot be wrong about this, if the wheel is spinning, the lock is
engaged, if the wheel behaves normally, there may be something wrong. DO NOT do this
on concrete, asphalt or any other hard surface, as you can ruin both the diff an
cv-joints.

>
>
> Also, on my display panel, there is a third LED in the middle. Is there a centre
> lock on some models when both front and rear locks are selected? Mine is a UK
> model (1.9 petrol / carb).

the center lock was apparently on some 16" models, instead of the VC...   I do not
know if they had part time 4wd or a center diff, like the Audi quattro models.


PerL
88 Syncro