Brake light switch - fixed - thanks Mike!
 

A few weeks ago my 03 LRD2 wouldn't go into gear - transmission stuck in park. I was stranded.
A search on my phone found that the likely issue was the brake light switch. I found the post from Mike where you can override the brake light pedal switch by wiring a bypass from the rear window defroster to the third brake light. I was on a job site and stripped a piece of romex for the job. Worked perfectly - simply ran wire from the rear window defrost connector to the top connector on the upper third brake light. To shift out of park, turn on the rear defroster, shift, and turn defroster off.
Super grateful to Mike for the hack.

Ordered a new switch on rockauto.com (because they ship priority mail to the VI) and installed. To install I opened the hinged panel beneath the steering wheel. Removed the metal plate (4 x 8mm 12pt). Half turn of the switch to vertical and pull out. Disconnect wiring. Connect wiring to replacement switch. Insert vertically (bit tricky) pushing all the way in until you can make the half turn clockwise to lock in place. Reinstall metal plate and close hinged cover. Quick fix.

Thanks again to Mike for the brake light wiring bypass hack - a real lifesaver if anyone ever has this problem out on the road.

The other hack is to remove the cover that surrounds the gear shifter and press the solenoid button manually. That will get you shifting, but your brake lights still wont work.

stxscott,

You get at least an A in forum search.

Thanks for you post.
......

Here's the 2009 post by Disco Mike that helped stxscott. This thread made me curious so I went looking for it. Certainly out of the box thinking.

https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...517/#post93337

X1 ............ clever instant fix, well done that man! I must remember this one, I presume it's an electronic/electrical safety interlock between the brake system and the autobox operation.