gear box: S+M lights and leaky transfer case

Hi - I have just joined. I've had a Discovery II (2004) for a year and a half, bought in the UK, but now in Accra in Ghana. I also have a gorgeous 1953 Series, sadly not in Ghana, but safe in Devon.

Anyway, I adore my Discovery, but it's not exactly been fault free (not a surprise a guess). Right now I am getting the flashing S + M lights on the automatic gearbox a lot, periodically getting the three amigos, and have broken engine mountings (as well as just buying a new front window regulator and having in the last six months replaced the shocks, break pads, and universal joint, and having had a broken fuel line and leaking EGR fixed.... the joys of Land Rover).

The immediate issue for posting is the S+M lights. I had the battery replaced about a year ago (I forgot to mention that above) so that should be fine, but have struggled to find something to check if its adequate voltage. The Ghanaian mechanic I use (who knows Land Rover well) says there's nothing wrong with the gearbox. I guess that leaves the X Y Z switch. The mechanic did check fluid levels in the automatic and transfer gearboxes, and the latter was low. Topping it up seemed to help. But it's now got worse. I have just been under the car and (as far as I can tell) the transfer gearbox is leaking badly - not dripping or anything, but something viscous is all over the front plate, and looks like it might have been for a while.

Is it likely that this leak could be cause of the S + M lights, or just another problem, with still a need to get a new X Y Z switch. Incidentally, I have checked the codes on the ECU, which says something along the lines of Gear Selector fault, which seems a little obvious. I can try and get the actual code, since I appreciate that'll be useful.

Sorry for a long post - I'll learn as I go along and make them shorter.

Thanks

Danny

The S + M lights can also be put up if the loom to the WXYZ switch rubs through on the top rear edge of the transfer box.Worth a look,plus if that is not the case its also been known (I've seen it many times)for the engine ecu to cause it when the 5v supply to various sensors around the engine gets corrupted.Often its the loom around the front of the cyl head above the EGR cooler being rubbed through,or near the AC compressor.
All easy to check,and best of all costs nothing,repair if needed is minimal.

I had s & m lights come on, battery voltage low , start you engine and let it run for 30 seconds or so , this will charge battery enough so fullvoltage is at the gearbox, it they still come on after that then check alternator , if that ok then i would look at xyz switch. hope it helps. best mark

Danny Graymore said:

Hi - I have just joined. I've had a Discovery II (2004) for a year and a half, bought in the UK, but now in Accra in Ghana. I also have a gorgeous 1953 Series, sadly not in Ghana, but safe in Devon.



The immediate issue for posting is the S+M lights. I had the battery replaced about a year ago (I forgot to mention that above) so that should be fine, but have struggled to find something to check if its adequate voltage. .................................

Is it likely that this leak could be cause of the S + M lights, or just another problem, with still a need to get a new X Y Z switch. Incidentally, I have checked the codes on the ECU, which says something along the lines of Gear Selector fault, which seems a little obvious. I can try and get the actual code, since I appreciate that'll be useful.

Sorry for a long post - I'll learn as I go along and make them shorter.

Thanks

Danny

Click to expand...

Hi Danny these lights can be triggered by a number of things.

1. Poor battery performance (I know you said it's new-ish but don't discount this source); put the battery on charge overnight and see if the problem is still there;

2. Poor contact at the loom connector near the gearbox switch - clean both sides with carbon tetrachloride (switch cleaner) then pull and push them a few times, before re-assembling;

3. The switch itself is dodgy - some peeps have had luck renovating or re-positioning the switch, at £400 for a new one it has to be worth a go?

4. Rubbed wiring as others have said. Check and repair as necessary.

Good luck

Dave

Thanks for the advice - all sounds great.

I had a problem with the EGR a while ago, which may link to all of this. It seemed to leak oil from around the rubber hosing at the front. By the time I realised it was happening oil had leaked all the way through the engine and there was a slow drip on to the front steering rod - it had also spread to various other places, including the wiring loom behind the jack storage area. It has been fixed, and broadly cleaned up, but there's still oil in hard to reach places.

So I'll check all of that as suggested above. I'll also check the charge on the battery and the 5V supply to various sensors - on that, not always, but when the M & S lights come on, sometimes other electrics seem odd - for instance, the sun roofs become clunky on opening and shutting, but are fine once the engine is turned on and off. So there may be a broader (loom linked?) electrical issue.

I had suggested gearbox fluid leaks, but the fluid levels are fine (checked yesterday) so I guess that's not an issue.

Thanks again

Danny