Owners manual has diagnostic testing procedure. Available 90 dollars or so.
Well worth the cost. I do all routine maint myself with confidence.

"'Curly Q. Links'" <motsco_@_interbaun.com> wrote in message
news:3FA58527.8E1ABD96@_interbaun.com...
> I'm shopping for a used AWD CRV.
>
> I wondered if anybody on the group(s) knows if there's a simple way to
> tell if the rear differential on a CRV can be tested (in shop, no
> roadtest).
>
> My theory (which I never tried on our last CRV):
>
> Engine stopped, tranny in gear, (or park for an auto) lift one rear
> wheel off the floor. I figure you should be able to rotate that wheel
> forward or backward slowly, with a fair bit of felt resistance. If it
> was really cold outside, the resistance would be greater because the
> 'Dual Pump Fluid' would be stickier in the differential's clutches.
>
> Anybody read a procedure like this in a service manual?
>
> P.S. I realize this is a very narrow test of what the differential does,
> and wouldn't spot other (possibly expensive) problems.
>
> What do you think ? ? ?
>
> 'Curly'
> --
>
> To REPLY: If there are a couple of underscores in my return address,
> you must remove them to reply directly . . . . . . Thanks.