2000 Discovery II
153K miles

Symptoms:
1) Won't shift from park, even with brake depressed.
2) Brake lights on even with ignition off.
3) Have to take foot off of brake to stop engine.
4) With car off, when brake is depressed the dash panel lights ups as if attempting to start.
5) Will start without issue.

Attempted solutions
1) Disconnect, wait, reconnect battery. No fix.
2) Brake pedal switch (Brake Light Switch & Wiring Assembly Kit (Genuine Part # XKB500120 ) - Land Rover switches from Atlantic British) removed and tested. No fix.
3) All fuses examined. No issues/no fix.


I'm stumped here. Partially by the problem/symptoms in general, and mostly by not knowing enough about automotive electrical systems to know the next steps in the diagnostic process.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Ken W. Alger

 

It could be the shifter solenoid. If you step on the brake pedal you should be able to feel it release with your hand on the shifter. If that is your problem you can remove the shifter and shifter cover on the console to bypass or solenoid.

 

How does one check for a faulty shifter solenoid and what is the standard replacement procedure?

 

God is that brake light switch OVERPRICED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can get the exact same switch at any Auto Zone for 12.00!!!!

You would certainly hear a click or feel the shifter thump if the solenoid was retracting when you push the brake pedal. If it isn't retracting you can simply remove the shifter bezel find the solenoid nipple and push it back out of the way and shift it once the LR is running.

People act like it's a nightmare if the solenoid acts up and they swear to always carry a spare brake switch (good for having working brake lights, but not needed in order to shift)... I guess they've never seen other vehicles where the darn solenoid is so far buried deep down inside the center console it requires like 2HR just to tear it down and find it... On a D2 it's like a 2min from start to finish job and that's taking your time.

Also you said the brake switch was moved and tested? Did you actually replace it? Is it the old style or identical to the newer design that you linked to? The old style usually broke a contact inside which rendered it useless. I haven't seen any newer designed ones fail like that.

 

Best4x4;

No, the switch I have currently is SWITCH BRAKE LIGHTS P38A, DISCOVERY II & FREELNDR, RNL115, XKB100170 - Rovers North - Classic Land Rover Parts

Any recommendations on how to proceed would be great.

Would the switch replacement solve the solenoid problem? What about the funky situation with the engine shut off and the console panel lights turning on simply by depressing the brakes?

Thanks a ton for your input, knowledge, and advice.

 

Go to Auto Zone & grab a new style one for 12.95, then report back.

 

Best bet with your limited knowledge/experience is to follow the other easy recommendations on brake switch and solenoid. Neither should cause all your issues but with these vehicles much is possible. x,y,z switch could be a culprit as well due to interface with reverse lights?

 

Just do this. Stop overthinking it. I don't know what you did when you say you tested your existing brake light switch but odds are that is the problem.

 

Put new switch in. All symptoms still exist.

Since this is... was?... my wife's daily driver, the idea of having the gear shift mechanism open for her to depress the solenoid is somewhat less than desirable just to get around town. The fact that the brake lights stay on even when the car is off is a problematic long term issue as well.

Suggestions for the next troubleshooting step?

Thanks,
Ken

 

Is P light illuminated on gear selector and P indicated on dash?
......