Central diff light

[skyehelmsman]

Help
Driving my new NX Pajero on the freeway yesterday the central differential orange light started coming on it and itmade a strange noise.

I put into four-wheel-drive to see if that made a difference but it came back again, no noise though.

I will call the Mitsubishi dealer but I wanted with anyone had any ideas.
Bit of a worry in new car
Thanks

[Keithyv]

Just to be clear, you were driving in 2H (NOT 4HLC) when the noise started?
What was the state of the centre diff light before the noise? Off I assume?

[skyehelmsman]

Yep
2 h,then changed to 4 h and back

[nj swb]

skyehelmsman,

This is a great forum, with a lot of clever people with a lot of knowledge who want to help. But we can't help without accurate information.

The transfer case is a relatively simple system, but has four different modes of operation, involving 10 different switches and an electric motor. There is also a vacuum operated actuator alongside the front diff. Failure of any one of these can make the center diff light flash.

Help us to help you. Please provide more detailed information. This isn't Twitter, we're not limited by how much we can post - tell us what happened. By the numbers.

1. You were driving in 2H and the centre light came on and you heard a strange noise. Correct?

1a. In 2H, on the dash, only the two rear wheel lights should have been on. Is this what you had? Or did you have the front green lights flashing?
1b. When the centre light came on, did all other lights go off, or were others on / flashing?

2. Can you describe the noise a little better? Was it a whistle, whine, beeping, loud rapid knocking / ratcheting noise, or something else?

3. When you changed to 4H, the noise went away but the centre diff light remained flashing. Correct?

3a. In 4H, were any other green lights on while the centre diff light was still flashing?

4. After the noise went away in 4H, and you changed back to 2H, did the noise return or not?

Help us to help you.

[skyehelmsman]

Thanks for your patience. I am a new member, and am impressed by the depth of knowledge, and the helpful attitude of members.

Its not just my typing speed thats the limiting factor here, perhaps.
I will try to be more precise!

2020 model NX Pajero GLX,3000 odd km

1.Central orange light came on intermittently, lasting a few seconds only, recurring every few minutes, on freeway at 100 k, while in 2H.

2.Appearance of light was sometimes accompanied by a very soft noise, hard to describe, but animal like, not mechanical,or bearing like.

3.I think the 2 green lights went off when centre light came on.

4.Shifting to 4H didn't stop the episodic light, but all 4 green lights were present, even when the orange diff light flashed
5.Back in 2H,the problem recurred.


Haven't driven car since.

[Pixie_au]

Equal tyre pressures all-round?

[Mike DiD]

The ONLY problem I've had in 30 years of owning Pajeros, with the 4WD mechanism was with the NX after 60,000km.

I went to take it out of 4LLc but the Orange Diff light stayed on (or was it flashing). I couldn't select any 2H or 4H modes.

Took it to the Dealer and they diagnosed a faulty Transfer Case switch. Quickly fixed when the switch came in and was replaced.

[nj swb]

Thanks for your patience. I am a new member, and am impressed by the depth of knowledge, and the helpful attitude of members.

Its not just my typing speed thats the limiting factor here, perhaps.
I will try to be more precise!

2020 model NX Pajero GLX,3000 odd km

1.Central orange light came on intermittently, lasting a few seconds only, recurring every few minutes, on freeway at 100 k, while in 2H.

2.Appearance of light was sometimes accompanied by a very soft noise, hard to describe, but animal like, not mechanical,or bearing like.

3.I think the 2 green lights went off when centre light came on.

4.Shifting to 4H didn't stop the episodic light, but all 4 green lights were present, even when the orange diff light flashed
5.Back in 2H,the problem recurred.


Haven't driven car since.

A quick guess (guess being the operative word).

A wiring problem somewhere (wire rubbing on the chassis somewhere?) is sending a signal to the transfer ECU that you've engaged one of the 4wd modes when you're actually still in 2H. The ECU is switching vacuum to the front disconnect, which is trying to engage at highway speeds, which (without the front propshaft being driven by the transfer case) is not a good thing - and can make some horrible noises.

In 4H the front prop shaft should be driven by the transfer, and the ECU should be (correctly) telling the disconnect to engage, so no noise. Is that correct? If you're still getting the centre diff light flashing that suggests the wiring issue is with one of the switches for 4HLc or 4LLc - but I could be wrong.

Have you ever used the vehicle offroad? If you've done a lot of bouncing one of the transfer switches can hit a bolt on the underside of the transmission tunnel, leading to switch damage. Crawl underneath with a torch and a small mirror, and try to get a look at the switches on top of the transfer case - 3 on one side, 2 on the other.

[skyehelmsman]

Thanks all for your helpful comments
Just collected Fang from the dealer.
Loose connection behind console /4wd ecu
Maybe loosened when electrician installed voltmeter?(ac wire also cut!!!)

Seems fine,just need a few trips now to check out,and get my trust back.

Again,appreciate your advice

[oscaroo]

how much did they charge you for those booboos?