I just bought an 04 disco II for my son. one of the issues it had was that it wont go into low range. I assume its the neutral lockout solenoid. I have read on changing the solenoid, but found some contradictory information i was hoping on some clarification. I have read that the assembly is on the shiftier on the 04..
trying to confirm the location of what i need to remove. I already have the center console out. Were running new amp wires, and installing a new stereo/speakers/amps... so going in from the top would be the logical choice.

if someone could clarify where it is located on the 04 that would be awesome

 

Item number 4 is the solenoid, the little pin in the red circle is what does the inhibiting. It is easily visible from under the truck on the passenger side. Once you identify it you'll have an easier time dealing with it from above. You may try lubing the pivot points of the cable (#2) in case it's simply frozen. Mine was a bear to get in and out of low from disuse when I first got the truck. Don't forget, the transmission has to be in Neutral.

 

 

 

 

Try this

• Find a nice quiet stretch of flat road big parking lot works
• get the Disco moving at walking speed
• pop into neutral while still moving - do not brake
• try a good clean push to low - firm but not stupid hard
• if it goes in pop back out to high
• get some good penetrating lubricant and spray the crap out of the cable etc.
• Move in and out of high to neutral, diff lock and unlock a few times
• Then try low stationary

 

Mine goes into low better from reverse than forward. May wanna try that too

 

Once you can see the solenoid from below (as suggested by ahab) you could try watching it as the truck is put into neutral with the ignition switch in Position II (not rolling!) to see whether or not the solenoid pin retracts.

You could also try unplugging the solenoid and applying 12 volts to the connector to diagnose whether the problem is the solenoid itself or upstream of it. The connector is not easy to reach, especially with the shifter installed, but if you were going to replace the solenoid you'd need to do it anyway.

I too couldn't get my truck to go into Low for several weeks earlier this year, and a week or two I tried again and it worked just fine. Another Rover mystery.

Pro tip - the electrical connector for the solenoid is released by raising the tab on the underside of it, not by pressing on the tab as is often the case.

 

 

You've gotta be rolling a 1-2mph for it to engage gear right. Sounds like you've got a dead short in the solenoid, or a wiring issue. Time to get the center console out and pull that shifter assembly!