Hi Guys

When I picked up this truck it had no battery, and the key would go in and out just fine, and would shift when the key was turned to position 2.

Upon installing a battery, the key would be locked in the ignition until the battery was unhooked.

I tried tightening the nut in the shifter, as well as sliding it hard into park. Neither of these did anything to get the key out.

While using some pliers to move the shifter cable rod with the clip on it up and down (with battery hooked up), I found that:

1. if I pulled it up past a certain point, I could shift (without pressing the button), but not get the key out.

2. if I pushed it down past a certain point, I could get the key out, but the shifter button could not push the shifter rod/clip up. Thus I could get the key out, but no longer shift.


Also, somwhere in the process of troubleshooting this issue, I seem to have lost the capability of the shifter button. I have to use pliers to manipulate the cable rod, as is too stiff/stuck to be raised by the button.



Any help getting this back to normal is very appreciated.

thanks

 

I should also add, it is not brake switch related. The solenoid audibly clicks and unclicks with pedal action.

 

There are two seperate interlocks involved. The one that immobilizes the shifter is in the right side of that piece around the shifter. I would spray all that down good with PB Blaster and if that does not help I would remove that interlock pin, there was a thread a while back that told how to do that.

The key barrel lock is contained with the key barrel, I had trouble with mine and sprayed it real good. I went so far as to remove the plastic housing around my key to expose all that. Keeping it lubed helps, but a bit of fineese is also in order at times.

And you have to hold your mouth just right, say a quick prayer to the Rover Gods, and do not forget an occasional sacrifice involving fire, meat, drink and scantily clad dancing girls.........

 

Thanks for the reply!

Unfortunately, I dont think either interlock is the issue.

If the shifter cable clip/rod is pushed down, the key comes out just fine.

If the shifter cable clip/rod is pulled up, I can shift just fine (when brake pedal is pressed).

Betweeen those findings and the fact that the shifter button cannot raise the clip/rod, I think this has somethign to do with the cable mechanism, but I dont know what...

 

One thing I have seen over the years with any of that type of cable is it can stretch or even bind internally. Lube that things as well. Forcing it one way or the other just manages to move it a little more.

It is part of what I refer to as the interlock. The key itself tends to wear as does the little parts within the key barrel. A little looseness can give you fits. Lube it all up good with the new PB Blaster spray lube and see if that helps. Applying force may get it to work temporarily but that will only add damage eventually and give you a bigger problem when something does break.

 

Are you saying I should yank it up and down in an attempt to loosen, or are you saying that would be bad as it would stretch/bind even worse?

I sprayed the nut and rod with PB. In researching this, I saw that you said your shifter doesnt even have the big nut inside. Can I take it off?

 

Mine has some sort of metal band or clip over the top and no nut to adjust.

I am not saying to yank on anything as that will probably add to the damage and not improve anything. A sheathed cable has a small wire that slides inside the sheath. Apparently when you push on it that overcomes whatever is binding thus allowing the interlock to release. Dirt/corrosion inhibits free movement. So I would spray it all real good, including the ends of the cable. Look to see if it has stretched or if any supports have broken or if the routing has been affected.

I have found finnesse works much better than force. I would spray the entire key mechanisn with either WD40/PB Blaster Lube or CRC contact cleaner. Those key barrels have a lot of little things that can bind as well.

Read up on the various interlocks, shifter interlock and key barrel interlock.

Double check that brake switch as well. It is involved with the shifter interlock and the XYZ switch I think it is called tells it that the tranny is in park to release the key.

 

Paul Grant had a recent reply giving great info on the shifter interlock solenoid. Try a search on it.

 

I couldnt find the post by Paul. However, according to this...

https://landroverforums.com/forum/at...-interlock-pdf

...my shift and ignition interlocks are working properly.


It seems like the button mechanism (button, shift cable) isnt working properly.

The button cannot move the cable up as it is too "tight" (the cable that is...when I move the clip part out of the way the button moves freely).

How easily should the cable/rod be able to move up and down? Is there some sort of conditional lock on it?

 

Ok, I read this thread:

https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...inquery-41453/


He is able to move the rod up and down with his fingers! I guess something is making the rod much more difficult to move than it should be.

If anyone has any ideas Id love to know. In the meantime Ill take the shifter off tonight and see what I can find...