RE: Early urq diff lock switch?

["Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com>]

> My urq has the single-pull switch that locks both the center and rear
> differential in one shot.  I seem to recall that later models (or
> perhaps '84 4000 quattros) had a double-detent switch that would
> allow the driver to lock the center differential first, followed
> by the rear diff.
> 
> Does this alternate switch exist, and is it a direct swap in for
> my single-pull switch?  What car can I pull the double-detent
> switch from (assuming it does exist)?
> 
... they sure do, and it really is a simple operation to replace the switch
itself. I did it on my car ... years ago.  You might want to think about
simply going to the dealer and ordering a new unit ... I can't imagine
they'd be that expensive and there aren't too many cars that used them ...
perhaps an '84-86 QTC would have this switch, if not your only option would
be an '84 4kQ.  It is probably possible to convert to the newer diff lock
panel like the '85-87 4kQ's have, but it would involve an exchange of the
center console.  

Remember that to make this mod work you're going to need to plumb in another
pair of vacuum lines ... getting them under the gas tank and through the
hole to the rear diff was a complete PITA.  

On my car I installed the 3 position vacuum switch in the stock location in
the center panel.  I relocated the lock status lights to be above the lock
switch and installed 2 VDO gauges (currently oil pressure and oil temp) one
on each side of the diff lock switch.  I got one of those $5 charging system
testers with 3 LEDs from Radio Shaft and mounted the LEDs below the lock
switch.  The neatest thing about this installation is the fact that I can
return the car to stock simply by reinstalling the original diff lock panel
in 10 minutes ...

HTH!
Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)