Hey folks, first post, but long time Land Rover enthusiast. This is my second Discovery and I've loved nearly every moment of ownership and all the repairs that inevitably come with it. I've powered through every repair and a couple upgrades as I've needed to, but I'm stumped on this one. I've tried searching the web and multiple LR forums and, maybe I'm just not searching the right terms but I can't seem to figure this one out wholly before I go taking things apart.

My house has a very steep driveway, this detail might be important. I had parked the Disco in the garage at the top of the driveway and packed it to go off for a weekend of fishing some 70 miles away. My homelink button doesn't work quite right so I reversed the Rover onto the steep driveway and got out to close the garage door and then reversed down the driveway into the road.

When I went to throw it in Drive, the button on the shifter didn't want to press which has never been an issue until now, and I struggled for a moment to move it through Neutral before it finally dropped into Drive, but would go no further. It drove just fine, but I was concerned about not being able to go into my lower gears, so I rolled to 5mph and tried the other 3 settings on the Diff Lock around the block each, and on a whim tried going in reverse for a hundred yards or so, but to this day I can not go into my lower gears on the shifter.

Some additional info: I put in a Terrafirma spring set with 2" lift, and put in Monroe shocks. There is some transfer case whine, and I need to buck up and get a double cardan for the driveshaft. Every now and then there's some rattle, and I did have to replace the U-joint once already so the vibrations are infrequent and not severe like they were. There is a small amount of play in the driveshaft at the tranny. I know I need to put a double cardan on there ASAP, speaking of which, I really can't seem to find somewhere selling the centering ball kit and/ or double cardan joint to modify the original propshaft. So any help there is appreciated too.

Other than the driveshaft problems stemming from (most likely) the 2" lift, I have an intermittent check engine light (can't remember the code) indicating the downstream passenger o2 sensor is running high voltage that only comes on during road trips, and turns off the day after returning each time. I doubt that's related.

I replaced the starter motor about 8 months ago but I doubt that's related.

Replaced fuel pump with an Airtex 3270 which works like a charm, and I doubt is related.

I'd just like to avoid taking it to the shop, as so far I've done all my repairs and I'd like to keep it that way.

Sorry for the long post, and thank you ahead of time for your replies.

 

if the button will not depress it is imo a shifter issue, i would pull the t handle and ring see whats going on in there, might also need to pull console

 

Yeah my 800.00 D1 that I had originally bought to fix up had a horrific shifter. It took everything I had just to get the button to depress, and for me to move it from PRND321 (couldn't get it past 3rd). I had to remove the console to fix some other issues, and when I removed the shifter trim bezel and could look down inside the actual shifter it was gross and completely rusted. I disconnected the electrical connections, and filled that assembly full of penetrating fluid. I let it soak overnight, and I attacked it the next day. I removed all the penetrating fluid with a few rags, and then used a long drill bit to make a small drain hole (vs it holding water). I then lightly lubed it and now it shifts completely smooth thru all the positions. I had also found the original clip holding the button assembly together to be messed up (from previous work I'm guessing) so I replaced it with a C-Clip.

 

Interesting... Sounds like the problem is pretty straightforward, and hoping the problem hasn't escalated to damaging the parts, a fairly simple solution. Thanks!

 

Yeah I even had bought myself a used shifter assembly, but I decided to try soaking it before drilling out rivets and replacing the entire assembly. Worked like a champ and it actually shifts smother than my 98 D/D. I think someone aka previous owner had left a sunroof open or someone spilled a drink into the assembly years before.

 

mine was full of dried sticky soda like most floor shift vehicles i have worked on over the years

 

Have you pulled the trim around the shifter yet? You might have a penny or Jolly Rancher stuck in there not allowing the shifter to be moved any further. You'd be surprised how often this happens.

 

Yeah especially if the shifter film is trashed! On the upside if it's trashed you can spray lube thru the hole lol.

 

dam jolly ranchers anyways.....lol

btdt....

 

Haven't pulled the shifter trim yet, but I have a feeling you all are spot on with this diagnosis. Either something must be lodged or it is rusted. My sunroofs leaked when I first bought the rig, dripping through the sunroof ceiling switches, and onto the center console. Patched up the sunroofs since then, but the shifter film was completely torn out when I bought it and I tend to have various bits and bobs floating around the car so the idea of something being lodged sounds very likely. Especially considering that the shifter is smooth as butter through PRND and feels like the shifter crashes into a brick wall at the end of 'D'.

Thank you all very much, I've found that forums provide the knowledge and experience oftentimes that any of my locals mechanics could not, and it's all due to folks like you!

P.S. Anyone know where to buy a shifter film? Once this '98 is fixed up (less than $1000 in repairs left, yeehaw) I'll be selling it for hopefully a 5-speed '95, but I would hate to sell it without the film as I know that was pretty off-putting when I bought her...