P38a "Select Neutral" - what to do next?

So I have the common problem of flashing symbols down the side of the selector and select neutral warning on the dash, I have changed the motor and put in a new ECU but have not fixed the fault.

So what do I do next?

Jonnnythreesheds said:

So I have the common problem of flashing symbols down the side of the selector and select neutral warning on the dash, I have changed the motor and put in a new ECU but have not fixed the fault.

So what do I do next?

Click to expand...

assume its for the auto box?

climb underneath unbolt slector switch after taking note of its position,
strip it and clean it, you will find then the tracks are all gunged up and not sending a clean signal to the ecu.reassemble and put it back on, some may need careful alignment but usually the original postion is good

I have changed the ECU for transfer box. Not the transmission ECU should I have swapped this one as well?

thanks for the advise

Jonnnythreesheds said:

I have changed the ECU for transfer box. Not the transmission ECU should I have swapped this one as well?

thanks for the advise

Click to expand...

The select neutral message is there to tell you you have tried to select a drive gear whilst the transfer box is still changing ratio and you should wait until the ratio change is completed...

The Ratio position is monitored by a set of 4(?) switches built into the transfer motor that give different open/close signals depending on its position.

When you changed the motor, I assume to lined it up correctly (read RAVE as I am not sure how that is done) so the motor, ECU and box all know where they are....

Also it is not uncommon for the wiring to break or the plugs to get cruddy giving a wrong position (or no position) signal to the ECU....

If you are getting the message yet still have drive, my thoughts would be to the position of the TB motor or crap in the wiring.

Saint.V8 said:

The select neutral message is there to tell you you have tried to select a drive gear whilst the transfer box is still changing ratio and you should wait until the ratio change is completed...

The Ratio position is monitored by a set of 4(?) switches built into the transfer motor that give different open/close signals depending on its position.

When you changed the motor, I assume to lined it up correctly (read RAVE as I am not sure how that is done) so the motor, ECU and box all know where they are....

Also it is not uncommon for the wiring to break or the plugs to get cruddy giving a wrong position (or no position) signal to the ECU....

If you are getting the message yet still have drive, my thoughts would be to the position of the TB motor or crap in the wiring.

Click to expand...

Or you have tried to select low range with the car still in gear.

Datatek said:

Or you have tried to select low range with the car still in gear.

Click to expand...

That too -

I was going to have another go of fitting the motor, but the rain has stooped play. That said the bible doesn't give any guidance on how to get the correct alignment, a little percussion engineering might be required.

Refitted motor and had the ecu checked, all is now working fine, thanks for the advise, just glad I didn't have to strip the selector switch.

rangerovertoy said:

assume its for the auto box?

climb underneath unbolt slector switch after taking note of its position,
strip it and clean it, you will find then the tracks are all gunged up and not sending a clean signal to the ecu.reassemble and put it back on, some may need careful alignment but usually the original postion is good

Click to expand...

Yep this is correct had the same problem with my 1998, 2.5 DSE. The LCD on dash was saying all the wrong gear selections. Took it off cleaned all the contacts and ha ha all good so far.
Considering a new switch is around £250 it's well worth having a go at cleaning up the old one.:rolly:

Well when I said it was working fine, I lied. When I move the Gear leaver across to low neutral, no buzzer sounds, though the red lights flash for a while before going on constant. no obviouse noise of box transfer. Dosn't seem to go into low when I drive it, presume it would be easy to tell your in low. Any suggestions on where to go from here?

Jonnnythreesheds said:

Well when I said it was working fine, I lied. When I move the Gear leaver across to low neutral, no buzzer sounds, though the red lights flash for a while before going on constant. no obviouse noise of box transfer. Dosn't seem to go into low when I drive it, presume it would be easy to tell your in low. Any suggestions on where to go from here?

Click to expand...

Yep, slow and the gear changes are a bit harsher....

The usually is no discernable noise as such maybe a whir if anything.

Jonnnythreesheds said:

Well when I said it was working fine, I lied. When I move the Gear leaver across to low neutral, no buzzer sounds, though the red lights flash for a while before going on constant. no obviouse noise of box transfer. Dosn't seem to go into low when I drive it, presume it would be easy to tell your in low. Any suggestions on where to go from here?

Click to expand...

Do you get 'bleeps' from the dashboard for anything else?
Some people have disconnected the sounder behind the dials, usually if they have a fault that they want to ignore.

Jonnnythreesheds said:

So I have the common problem of flashing symbols down the side of the selector and select neutral warning on the dash, I have changed the motor and put in a new ECU but have not fixed the fault.

So what do I do next?

Click to expand...

I have the same issue and changed the same as you without success. I have also lost the ticking on the indicator flasher unit. Have no sport mode/will not engage and cruise control will not work. I think all these faults are connected. As already mentioned in this thread I intend to climb under the car next and clean all connections on the transfer box and see it that works. I will let you know, failing that I am running out of ideas.

Had a bit of time today, still no buzzer sound, but it does seem to move n low after all, even had a clunk. I do get other alarms ie lights left on, but am happy to go with out when changing ratio. sorry lady and gents false alarm

Arrows said:

I have the same issue and changed the same as you without success. I have also lost the ticking on the indicator flasher unit. Have no sport mode/will not engage and cruise control will not work. I think all these faults are connected. As already mentioned in this thread I intend to climb under the car next and clean all connections on the transfer box and see it that works. I will let you know, failing that I am running out of ideas.

Click to expand...

Take the transfer box ECU out, take the lid off and look for burnt transistors etc.

Datatek said:

Take the transfer box ECU out, take the lid off and look for burnt transistors etc.

Click to expand...

Done that and all is ok, even swapped the ECU but still the same

Arrows I don't think that your problems are connected. If changing the ecu dosn't work, you will have to change the transfer motor. He sports mode/manual should come back online once the ecu/transfer motor is done. I have looked in RAVE and can see no connection between the indicators and the gearbox. As for you cruise control, the connection that I can see is the speed sensor with provides a feed.

Select neutral Problem finnaly FIXED & I have got my indicator ticking back. In the end I found that it was the ECU that was at fault. When I changed the ECU the first time I didn't realise that there was a second ECU behind it, (under the passenger seat). After taking off the transfer box motor (several times) stripping it down and cleaning it, cleaning all the electrical connections and putting it back on. I traced the wires to see if I could find a break in the wiring and found another ECU. The sports mode/manual now engages but I haven't checked the cruise control yet but see no reason why it won't work.
JONNYTHREESHEDS & DATATEK thanks for your help. I have also downloaded RAVE but for some reason my computer doesn't want to open the file and can't read the program.

Arrows said:

I have also downloaded RAVE but for some reason my computer doesn't want to open the file and can't read the program.

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You have probably downloaded an ISO file, you need to convert it using a program like alcohol 120% or try Wammers link in the "How To" section.
If you are really stuck with it I can do you a CD

Thanks, I am a bit better with a spanner that a computer, but I am persistent.