QuestionQUESTION: My '02 disco recently developed a problem where the shifter would not fully engage in the "P" (park) mode and the key remained stuck in the ignition. This could only be removed by forcing the shifter towards the "P" position with engine off resulting in a momentary flash of the P icon on the gage panel along with the LED lights on the shifter panel. What could be the problem?
ANSWER: Hi Lloyd,
could be the brake pedal switch, the park/neutral switch or a circlip within the shifter console.
The easiest to repair is the brake pedal switch: to test for this, look up under your dash - above the brake pedal. There you will find the small switch (plonger type) that activates your brake lights and tells the system you have depressed the brake.
There is a known problem with a small clip coming loose within the shifter console. If it is this problem, you would have to dismantle the shifter console and look for a small circlip or replace it.
The best suggestion is for you to go to www.discoweb.org and visit the Discovery bulletin board section. There you could search for "stuck in park" and find hundreds of threads on the subject. It is a very common problem for LR's.
Best of luck,
JohnMc
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QUESTION: '02 LR Discovery cabin heater runs while vehicle is operational and A/C Heater control is in the Off position. Hot air flows through the dash vents. The driver side footwell as well as the steering column cover/ lower dash panel becomes uncomfortably warm even with open windows. I am forced to run the A/C constantly, a very expensive option ( even on barely warm days) . What could be the cause?
AnswerHi Lloyd,
this problem has to do with either your heater assembly, air circulation control or heater matrix. I suspect heated air is being allowed to circulate because the distribution flap is faulty. The matrix itself may not allow coolant to return back to the radiator, perhaps a blockage of some sort. Do you hear any water sloshing noises around behind your dash? I suspect it could also be a problem with the heat adjustment cable (1 of 3 cables) that regulate heated air within the vehicle.
An experienced LR mechanic should know where to look to fix this problem. I know there are two hoses that enter the matrix, an inlet and outlet hose. IF the outlet hose is cooler than the inlet, you know the coolant is being trapped. IF it's the matrix, it is located behind your dash and it takes quite a few hours to remove and replace. The hoses are in the engine compartment and run into the engine firewall. IF the problem is the heater assembly, this again requires the dash to be removed and is very labour intensive. A DIY'er will have their hands full doing this repair so it may be best to have someone experienced take over this job. The ECU and body control module may also play a role in this problem.
You can also check the following site to see if other Disco owners have had the same problem:
www.discoweb.org
It would be nice if you could have the coolant by-pass the matrix and remain within the engine compartment but that is a feature that does not exist. Wishful thinking on my part.
Best of luck,
JohnMc
Best of luck with this,
JohnMc
