I have an issue with my recently purchased '99 Disco II. The mode switch seems to do nothing (the M & S lights do not light up even on startup) and the gear position indicator on the instrument panel LCD doesn't show anything. It drives fine so I wasn't too concerned. Now I found that the transfer case wont shift out of high range. I was trinking it could be a faulty gear position switch.

Would failure to sense the transmission is in neutral cause the solenoid on the transfer case to lock up?

Would it cause the mode switch to become ineffective?

 

This sounds like a bad XYZ switch in the trans.
It can be rebuilt, a new one is about $600.

 

Rockauto sometimes has them in the 200-300 range. They had just one the last time I looked. I thought about getting it, but figured it would be mean to someone who might actually need one now.

 

have you pulled the shifter cover to see if the switch is disconnected?
Have you tried shifting the transfer case in park?
you say the M & S lights do not light up whe you turn the key to ON?

 

No, the M and S lights don't light up even at start up when all the other lights come on. It there a way to test the xyz switch to see if it is faulty? I read that it can be disassembled, cleaned, and re-used.

 

dont go jumping into an xyz switch yet, first of the lights should come on at start-up.

You say the M&S light and the light on the shifter do not light, that is strange as that is the signs that your truck is in limp mode.

Flashing M&S lights and a flashing light on the shifter console, im wondering was it in limp mode so long that the bulbs burned out? or some unplugged something.

Is the : on your instrument cluster flashing?

If you shift the lever into 3,2,&1 does it show on the instument panel or just a D?