P38 low range box

Morning all,for some reason this morning I thought I would just shove the old girl into low range and make sure everything is good and nothing happened I checked the book to make sure I was doing it right and still the same,the light on the switch is not coming on when I press it on,no message nothing,I followed what the book says to do,still being a newbe to p38s am I missing something simple or could this be a major problem,luckily it's still under warranty at the garage but I don't want to take it there and look a right tube when it was me and not the motor,there is something to be said for the defender a push and crunch of a lever and it's in,as always any help would be most welcome,all the best lance

It must be a manual box so not sure. It does have to be in neutral and you may have to press the clutch and or brake. Mines an auto so it's simply a matter of pushing the lever across the gate in neutral. Have you looked at the owners manual? If you don't have one download RAVE which includes the owners manual and check the fuses.

when pressing the hi - lo button and nothing is displayed on the dash panel then you have a electrical glitch ! Manual box has to be in neutral and vehicle stationary for motor to engage lo box - and if you are not, the dash tells you to do so.

bmp42 said:

when pressing the hi - lo button and nothing is displayed on the dash panel then you have a electrical glitch ! Manual box has to be in neutral and vehicle stationary for motor to engage lo box - and if you are not, the dash tells you to do so.

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I agree , message centre tells you to select neutral,

Thanks for your replys,I should of said that it is a manual sorry,I have checked the owners hand book again just to make sure I'm not missing anything and I'm doing it according to there instructions,If it's a fuse or something simple like that wouldn't I be getting a message up on the dash?

Landy lance said:

Thanks for your replys,I should of said that it is a manual sorry,I have checked the owners hand book again just to make sure I'm not missing anything and I'm doing it according to there instructions,If it's a fuse or something simple like that wouldn't I be getting a message up on the dash?

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I had made the mistake once of not being about to drive my manual P38, only to realise that I had swapped an important fuse (meant for towing purposes only) that fixes the vehicle in permanent neutral. So would suggest you look for that fuse and see if it is in...

Good luck...

I have just checked the fuses and there all good,the pastic panel that holds the switches for the cruise control,hi low box,front spots and rear fogs,how does that come away I don't want to be to heavy handed and damage it,I'm thinking that it could be a problem with the connection at the switch,at least I could check power going in and out of the switch it's self

Fuse 11 under the drivers seat incase you weren't aware....

Ok I found the time to get the switch panel of and sorted one problem with the rear fogs not working the plug at the back of the switch wasn't in properly but the problem with the low range box is even more confusing,the switch on the panel is there but no multiple pin plug is present I've had a good poke around and is no sign of it also no sign of bogging or wires cut or taped up,nothing!!!this might sound silly but was there a model for the euro market that didn't have a transfer box fitted,I am really scatching my head here!

nope, all have low box

Sounds like you will have to have a bit more of a dig around....there must be a plug to fit the transfer switch in there somewhere....

Take a gander under the passanger seat for the transfer box ECU, take a look at what the loom looks like, size colour etc, and see if you can trace it back to the various locations....

All P38's have a High-Low transfer box, the auto is switched using the H gate arrangement, and the manuals have a ratio change switch on the centre dash switch panel....

Thinking totally outside the box, take a good look around the whole dash area and the panel underneath it....maybe, just maybe the original owner moved the wiring to a new switch somewhere for either convinience or a bodge....you never know, but it has been known for others to buy a vehicle with switches added all over the place...!!

Just had another look and there is no sign of the wiring for the switch!!!!!

Have just taken out glove box so I can get right in and underneath and still nothing,back to the dealer I think and see what he has to say

Take a look under tha passenger seat for the Transfer Case ECU....make sure it is there!!

If it is, I guess it is a case of tracing the loom to all the various locations (off top of head: Neutral switch, Transfer Motor, Speed Sensor, BeCM, Transfer Motor and of course the Transfer Switch)

Aslong as the ECU is there and the loom too, the next thing is to trace it all.

Is the transfer ecu a separate item and does it say anything on it to make it a bit easier to see

As attached....

Ok found it under drivers seat(left hand drive)with big multi pin plug coming out of it,so everything seems to be there,so why isn't there wiring to the switch?and to be honest it looks like there never was but none of this makes any sense,on the bright side though I'm learning a lot more about my range rover

Download the RAVE (Rover Automotive Vehicle Encylopedia - or something like that) from here land rover service factory manual RAVE download land rover resource, service manual, workshop factory manual, download, rave, vehicles including discovery, series, defender, range rover, freelander, LR3, Handbooks, Catalog, Catalogue, Land Rover Inte and grab a cup of tea for a good night time read....

RAVE will contain the Workshop manuals, Electrical troubleshooting manuals, owners manuals and Overhaul manuals....

Indispensible for the P38 owner

I have got the rave cd and just started feeling my way around it,it's a good bit of kit and I can see it coming in very handy in the future