select neutral and slow down

checked through the old threads and couldn't see anything.

P38 diesel auto yr 2000. whilst driving last month, the readout read "select neutral and slow down" the gear lever lights were all flashing.

I stopped, played with the gear selector. low box, etc then turned ignition off, restarted all ok.

yesterday it happened twice. Any ideas?

Sounds like it thinks you want to select low range. Check the connectors to the transfer box motor etc, check the engine compartment fusebox for signs/smells of burning, check the battery voltage is good and that the alternator is charging. You should have a minimum of 14.4 volts at the battery with the engine running after a short while.

Cheers again, Data, will check the fuses and voltage shortly. I was thinking of dropping the oil and changing the gearbox filter over christmas

As Data said if yer battery is on the way out it "Usually" effects the gearbox readout first......like 35MPH MAX ect .....

& besides you live in Holywell EVERYTHING is downwards from there ,,,,,,its at the top of a bloody welsh mountain!!!!

lil4399 said:

Cheers again, Data, will check the fuses and voltage shortly. I was thinking of dropping the oil and changing the gearbox filter over christmas

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It's most likely electrical, no harm I guess changing the oil and filter but this relates either to the transfer box electrics/ECU or the gear selector lever position switches, or as I said battery/fusebox/charging. Random gearbox related fault messages are often a sign of low battery voltage.

Datatek said:

It's most likely electrical, no harm I guess changing the oil and filter but this relates either to the transfer box electrics/ECU or the gear selector lever position switches, or as I said battery/fusebox/charging. Random gearbox related fault messages are often a sign of low battery voltage.

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I just said that Data!!!

the hooded claw said:

As Data said if yer battery is on the way out it "Usually" effects the gearbox readout first......like 35MPH MAX ect .....

& besides you live in Holywell EVERYTHING is downwards from there ,,,,,,its at the top of a bloody welsh mountain!!!!

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lol. I may be at the top of a mountain but, beleive it or not I have no snow!! every mountain around me is white, even snow on the beach below! who needs a 4x4!!

the hooded claw said:

I just said that Data!!!

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You just beat me to the submit button that's all

Datatek said:

It's most likely electrical, no harm I guess changing the oil and filter but this relates either to the transfer box electrics/ECU or the gear selector lever position switches, or as I said battery/fusebox/charging. Random gearbox related fault messages are often a sign of low battery voltage.

Click to expand...

As Data says, check for the obvious electical connectors first. I get the same message every time i go through a local ford (the river kind). Goes away after half an hour.

Tested the charging circuit, 14.14 volts. Battery does not get chance to charge, I only drive 6 or 7 miles at a time and a couple of hours in between so I have to charge the battery every week. (couple of hours on a maintainer) Driving today I realised it takes a long time to change between gears - all of them, is this linked or just in need of a gearbox oil and filter change? its done 85k .

The message that u got is for the transfer box. If you try and shift from hi to lo or lo to hi and pull away too quickly, you will get that message. A hi to lo shift is not immediate and if you drive off before it has completed the change properly the MES lines from transferbox ecu to becm will signal a change not complete and you get that message and the flashing leds. I guess the cold can slow down the shift, making issue more likely.

If you need to charge the battery a few times a week just to keep it topped up then I'd suspect the Battery condition.

Your 14.4V when running is confirming that the Alternator is doing what it is supposed to be doing. The question is - Does the battery hold the charge. I wouldn't of thought that it is if you need to keep charging it all the time.

I would get the biggest battery you can find .... short journeys and low temps kill any battery ( they only last a couple of years usually) and a P38 hates a weak battery.

Then check the connections under the beast... Thats what I would do

Get yourself a solar charger leave it connected all the time, and save the trouble of hooking up to the mains all the time