I just got this Discovery II and it won't go into low range. It goes in and out of lock pretty well (though back out again sometimes I have to go reverse and forward again to make the light go off). However It will not go into low. It just makes a clicky sound.

Climbing under it I can see exactly what the problem is but I've no idea how to address it. There appears to be a solenoid that will not allow the switch to move forward. I'm guessing that this solenoid should retract but it doesn't seem to ever, as the gear switch just rocks back and forth against it.

Has anyone else had this problem? Is it an electrical issue? Is there any way to go about fixing it myself?

I attached a picture of the solenoid in question.

 

Do you have the transmission shifter in neutral when trying to move the transfer case shifter?

Perhaps the solenoid in the t/c shifter is bad. If so, you can probably get one from a 2003 shifter that someone has swapped out for a 2004 or a d1 shifter. Or you could probably just remove the solenoid. Most of countries didn't require it in the D2.

 

Putting the transmission in neutral doesn't really have an affect. I think the selonoid is just busted. What is the purpose of it anyway? To ensure neutral transmission state?

The vehicle is from the states, originally sold in Florida I believe.

 

Are there any guides on removing this little bugger?

 

The solenoid is held in by a snap ring underneath a layer of silicone sealant. The sealant will peel off pretty easily, then you remove the snap ring. There is a harness running into the back side of the solenoid on the opposite side of the shifter. If you're just going to remove and discard the solenoid you can just cut the wires to make removal easier, then unplug the other end of the harness and discard it as well.


The solenoid is there to prevent the transfer case from being put into neutral while the car is parked and unattended (could allow the car to roll away downhill etc). And to prevent shifting into low range while the car is in drive.

 

Thanks Kenso and jafir. Y'all have been quite helpful. So I've gotten up in there (had to take the front propshaft off so I insert grubby hands). In watching the motion of the solenoid, it didn't move at all when the car was put in park/neutral. Then after manually pushing it in while in neutral, it started going in and out, albeit rather lethargically. I've sprayed it down with some lubricating oil and hopefully that will help it move more freely. We'll see after it soaks in a bit.

After clearing the solenoid, I can't tell if it's gone all the way in low or not, as the "neutral" warning light is on and the warning charm is sounding. (in the attachment it's the light in the upper left)

And now that I have the front propshaft off I think I'll just be rebuilding it.

 

Alright, just for reference for anyone stumbling upon this thread in the future. After cleaning and lubing the crap out of the solenoid it activates reliably when putting the transmission in neutral and now I have low range. Wrok!