My new to me P 38 DSE

Hello every body I’ve got a 1997 P38 Diesel manual DSE . I have had it about 3 months Drives well but, there are issues with it, I’m certain they aren’t serious, someone may know better. The number plate lights don’t work, I have fitted new bulbs. The windscreen washers don’t work I think that may be just wanting new pumps fitting (it is 20 years old) and it won’t shift down to low range, when I try It says select neutral even tho it is in neutral, could it just be the motor. All suggestions gratefully accepted, and no I’m not sellin it, Thanks Hot wasp

Hotwasp said:

Hello every body I’ve got a 1997 P38 Diesel manual DSE . I have had it about 3 months Drives well but, there are issues with it, I’m certain they aren’t serious, someone may know better. The number plate lights don’t work, I have fitted new bulbs. The windscreen washers don’t work I think that may be just wanting new pumps fitting (it is 20 years old) and it won’t shift down to low range, when I try It says select neutral even tho it is in neutral, could it just be the motor. All suggestions gratefully accepted, and no I’m not sellin it, Thanks Hot wasp

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Welcome to the mad house.
Number plate lights, possibly a broken wire where it flexes between the hatch & the body.
Pumps are fine on my 21 year old. Check the connector for corrosion at the pump. The wires to the stalk have also known to break where they flex.at the column.
Low range is either a corroded connector at the motor, or the motor itself seized. As most owners never use low range, the motor does tend to lock up. Easy to remove, less easy to refit and get the timing right.
Check under the carpet in drivers footwell (RHD) for dampness. If wet it will cause all manner of problems.
If it's still riding on air, check the condition of the airsprings, they have a design life of 7/8 years and if they are leaking the compressor will soon fail.

It’s running on springs so no problems there I will check the other bits over the next couple of days . What’s easiest way to get at the washer bottle

Hotwasp said:

It’s running on springs so no problems there I will check the other bits over the next couple of days . What’s easiest way to get at the washer bottle

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Lay on your back under the front bumper drivers side (RHD) and you will see 2 or 3 pumps, windscreen, rear screen and headlights if wipers are fitted.
On springs? Shame on you, put it back on air, it's the cars best feature.
Download the workshop manual called RAVE from the technical section, you will need it.

The other cause of select neutral if the shift motor is ok is the switch on the selector there is a nylon bit clipped to the rod that moves or breaks so the switch is not telling the ecu its in neutral, it was in a tech bulletin, the easy way to test and fix is pull the connector off the switch and bridge it out with a loop of wire with spade connectors on this will make it think its in neutral.
I had to do this to mine and its been fine ever since, I have got a new switch and nylon bit ready to go in some time.
you could try the wire bridge first easier than messing with the shift motor.