Low Gear does not seem to operate - at all - PLEASE HELP

Hi guys

I have a 2004 RR L322 4.4 V8.

The low gear does not seem to be operating - at all.

The switch is on the gear surround (as you know!!), so I popped off the gear surround to check that the connectors underneath were connected ok, and all was fine.

The other switch on the surround (hill descent) works absolutely fine. But when I move the low gear switch it does not light up the light on the dashboard, and does not do anything.

So I checked the manual to see if the low gear setting had a fuse - but it does not!!! (?)

The gear surround is only around a year or so old as I had it replaced shortly after getting the car as the old one was a bit tatty. never had to use low gear until a couple of months back in the snow, but of course it would not work!

I have no idea what to check next. Has anyone here experienced this issue themselves, or have any clue how I should investigate it further or what could be causing this??

There are no warnings or odd messages, so everything seems to be fine with the car.

Please help!!!

Many thanks

Lion Heart

I have had the same problem, but it was just after having a new transfer box fitted. It turned out that the stupid git at the garage had forgotten to re-plug the High/Low switch connector to the transfer box.

Might be worth taking a look to see if yours has so how become disconnected.

sorry to sound condesending but have you got the vehicle in neutral before putting it in to low?

johnsteele said:

sorry to sound condesending but have you got the vehicle in neutral before putting it in to low?

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Even when the cars not in neutral and you select low range it will ask you to put into neutral then it goes into low range.

If your getting no lights or any signs of you trying to put it in low range check the connector on the low range transfer motor as they can become corroded up

Also low range usually don't get used by the mums on school runs lol
So they tend to get sticky
This is what happened to mine and once I got it working
I make sure I try to use the low range once in a while to keep the motor from stiffening up

Good luck

I play with mine whenever I'm outside Tesco waiting for SWMBO.

and I check the low range as well

just to check that it's still working.

When you select the low range you should hear a small wooshing sound as the box is selected. You can select low range whilst in gear but not above 35mph - a move not recommended unless you are fully aware of what happens when you do!

Hi there

There is no noise, so it's definitely not engaging.

If the unit itself were faulty, would it not come up with a warning on the dash?

I also tried resetting the transfer ECU by following this:

1. Turn the ignition key to the on (first) (not start) position.
2. Press the gas pedal to the floor and hold for five seconds.
3. Turn the key to the "off" position (don't remove the key), then release the gas pedal.
4. Wait at least two minutes for ECU to reset.
5. This clear the Potentiometer settings and typically allow you to go into low range. If this works, then you need to go between low and high range 3 times. The first is from a dead stop and the second two are while moving around 5-10 miles an hour (you still need to shift into neutral and drive which moving.

But this did not work either.

Lion Heart said:

Hi there

There is no noise, so it's definitely not engaging.

If the unit itself were faulty, would it not come up with a warning on the dash?

I also tried resetting the transfer ECU by following this:

1. Turn the ignition key to the on (first) (not start) position.
2. Press the gas pedal to the floor and hold for five seconds.
3. Turn the key to the "off" position (don't remove the key), then release the gas pedal.
4. Wait at least two minutes for ECU to reset.
5. This clear the Potentiometer settings and typically allow you to go into low range. If this works, then you need to go between low and high range 3 times. The first is from a dead stop and the second two are while moving around 5-10 miles an hour (you still need to shift into neutral and drive which moving.

But this did not work either.

Click to expand...

Never heard of this procedure before !

If the motors not engaging at all then no it won't necessarily throw up a message
Like I said before check connections too transfer shift motor as they get dirty