Update:
Brake Light Switch install was successful but didn't resolved the problem.
This was next step...
Disconnect Battery:
I removed the center console which was remarkably easy after looking at some pics I found by a German Poster.
LR3 - Zerlegen Mittelkonsole 06 - Ausbau Mittelkonsole | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
The console removes with two screws and two clips. First screw is visible under Park Brake Lever, and the second screw is in the same spot on the passenger side under the rubber holder.. (Pops right out w a flat-head screw driver). The clips are on the top and as per the photo, lifting up in this spots will free the whole piece.
Even though it will feel "free", Do not lift up too far as there are wires beneath. You have about 10" to work with.
There are THREE harnesses to disconnect underneath.
To remove the shifter, (this is so dumb and surprising), just puch down, and then give a good tug up... no screw, nada. Just pull up.. Removal of this whole console took an alarming 5 minutes.
After removing the console, I took the piece in the house and just cleaned it up and kept it in a warm dry place overnight. I wasn't sure if this was the cause of the problem. Likely NOT as the park brake, suspension control, and terrain response controls all worked after the car was spewing the Transmission Fault. Regardless, it was a great opportunity to clean up the console. (Cigar ashes in the honeycomb under the shifter... all gone. That one piece actually can be taken apart into three separate pieces... the trim (including the park brake), the terrain response module, and the honeycomb the shifter goes through... with just some simply clips. No tools required.
When you remove the console, there are 4 or 5 more harnesses. I disconnected all of them. There was about an inches of water below. I took a towel and soaked most of it up. I had limited space to work with so it took like 30 minutes to do this with my fat hands. I then took a hair dryer, and dried out any sign of moister. I was obviously careful to not fry any wires.
I used a pink hair dryer and sat out in the parking lot (live in a condo) for an hour last night (Christmas Eve). Man. Hear me roar.
I then let the car sit overnight, battery cable still disconnected.
This morning I went out, reconnected everything, attached Battery cable and started her up.
First, i was disappointed because the Check Engine light came on and stayed on... however, the "Transmission Fault. Limited Gears Available" was gone. I went to see if the shifter would move out of park, and it did. GREAT SUCCESS! I took her for a drive and she's driving just fine.
So, at MINIMUM, I can drive the car to the dealership at this point, but I am curious if the Check Engine light wouldn't clear itself if the problem were solved. Anyone know?
Can I buy a $80 obd II code reader and clear the light? The Transmission Fault and the Check Engine light came on from the same event, presumably. (or I hope). Otherwise, would have been an incredible coincidence.
Merry Christmas.
LR3 - Wont Move out of park
