Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

You've got it right Charles it is faulty ...................

Meaning the solenoid, not the sucking

Will hopefully have the new solenoid by the weekend and see if it works.

A Question - how often must I engage the difflock to keep the running parts going ? I engaged it +- every 6 weeks if I wasn't out on a trail/excursion using it during that period.

I would have thought 6 weeks is often enough?

I know that Tour de Frans has found a way to open these solenoids up and service them, alternatively PECS sells a solenoid of better specification for considerably less.

Thanks Peter , that's the solenoid I was trying to get my mind around PECS. Prices seem good and quality is up market

Thanks Peter , that's the solenoid I was trying to get my mind around PECS. Prices seem good and quality is up market

Tested my locker on the weekend to find it does not engage.
Tracked it down to the engage valve not switching.
I can confirm electrically it is commanded to lock in both 4H and 4L (question about this was discussed early in the thread).
Opened up to the individual valve but could not get to insides.
After allot op patients, Q20 and time I got it to switch again.
Suspect it is because this one is very seldom activated compared to the disengage valve which is switched every time the car is switched on.
I have now swopped my control and vacuum lines to the back around to give the guy that rested the most in his live a turn to work.
This might become a sheaduled maintenance action.

If I have problems with the solenoids again, I am going to try these.
I don't know if they will work or what they cost but I am going to try them should I need solenoids in the future.
These solenoids are in a 2007 Ford Ranger 2500TD 4x2.
They are used in the 4x4 Ranger for the front wheels.

Seems like on the Patrol a spare solenoid is as essential part of overlanding spares as Hoses, fanbelts, petrol/airfilter etc ......... ???

Not really, because the diff lock is not mission critical (most overlanding missions can easily be completed by a Patrol without touching the diff lock button).