Hello guys. This is my first Montero ever, in fact my first SUV, first 4x4 ever. This is a 2001 Montero XLS. Ok so straight to the point I know nothing about 4x4 im new to this. I always Knew Montero were very capable off roaders and thats the reason I got it. Before getting this Montero I drove a stock 1997 Isuzu Trooper LS through sand until I purposely got stock in 2H mode, then switched to 4L to get out and have fun around, never got stuck. I tried the same with my Montero and I got stuck, it was still sand but different beach and different day. Why? I thought Montero were better off roaders than Trooper.

So this shooter a couple of questions to my head:

1. I saw a review on a similar Montero but Limited model and had Locking differential. Does the 01 XLS model comes with locking differential too?

2. Why does my 4x4 mode display gauge doesn't work? Sometimes it lights just the two front wheel, sometimes it blink randomly without a specific pattern. Does this affects the 4x4 performance?

3. I know XLS comes with a 4 speed trans vs Limited that comes with a 5 speed shiftronic trans so the gear shifter had a manual shift mode. But why is the 4x4 shifter different???? THe Limited 4x4 shifter looks like a automatic transmission shifter while the XLS 4x4 shifter looks like a manual transmission shifter??

4. Is there any performance difference between the XLS and the Limited model besides the 5 speed trans? (i.e difference 4x4 system, different differentials, different suspension)