My Discovery is getting more upset with me by the day.

Its had to surrender the garage to a Saab convertible and has been in the cold and snow for the past few weeks.

The first problem was an intermittent windshield wiper problem, another is a squeaking belt/pulley that goes away, but this morning it threw another tantrum.

As I was pulling into work this morning this AM, I did the following in fairly quick sequence: turned off the heater (running at max), turned off the stereo, and shifted to Park. By the time I reached the ignition key to turn my Rover off, I heard a beep and noticed the M and S lamps flashing on the dash and the P lamp was flashing on the shifter.

I turned it off and restarted and the lamps had cleared. Shifting the transmission a few times didn't yield anything unusual. I turned it off and repeated the process but everything's normal.

When I bought the Rover, I had these lights flashing as well. A new battery took care of the problem.

I'm aware that this is a transmission related code, but that an undervoltage condition can trigger it as well. Since this problem seems to have cleared on it's own, am I looking at a battery/connection problem or something more serious?

BTW, I did a complete fluid flush/synthetic replacement last summer.

Thanks.

 

I had the same issue on my 2003 with about the same mileage. I thought it was the battery and replaced it, but it kept doing it and threw a P0705 code. Turns out it was the switch gear position indicator or XYZ switch. Might want to check to see if you have a code. The switch is easy to replace, located on the driver side of the transmission. I did learn that they can get wet and cause this same issue. Hopes this helps

 

The Manual & Sport lights are usually an indication of a battery going south. If it happens while driving the truck wil go into "limp mode" and only go up to 3rd gear. Have the battery and alternator load tested first. I had a friend with the M&S lights and he had corrosion along one of the battery terminals.

 

No engine code.

I'll check for a loose terminal. Since the battery is fairly new and I've no alternator issues that I know of, a loose connection due to cold weather might be a good bet.

 

Had the same (only when cold and transient)- was corrosion on ground side of battery that cleared it up. The real question however is your choice of home! You ousted this fine vehicle for a Saab? I had an "89 9000T auto that needed 5 transmisisons (I'm not a crazy driver), but I was crazy enough to buy a 95 900T and lease a really hot 2003 convertible. Every one of thesevehicles had the stupidest failures thatI've ever experienced - such as C/S wire harness fried underconsole - no apparent reason ($4,000?), wiper stalks falling off, cooling fan failures, belt tensioners (about 15 all told).

They were sure fun to drive though!However, I'm older now and need to be places...

 

On my buddies truck it was the neg cable that was bad too.

 

you have a saab inside? do you have somthing going on for unreliable cars? anyways i would ditch the saab, gm ruined it, as everything else gm buys.

 

Ok, I have to ask, why do yo0u tuen off the heater and radio before you turn the truck off?

Your squeak is probally a bad serpentine belt and it is not charging the battery fully now that it is cold out.
Replace the belt.
The wipers not working is a bad wiper switch, a common problem with DII's.

www.atlanticbritish.com

 

Silly, I suppose....

I've always turned everything off before I exit the car. The rationale is that it's easier on the engine and battery when I start it back up. Less load on the battery/alternator means more juice available to crank it over. At least that's how I've always looked at it.

I'll have to exlpore the serpentine belt idea. It looks new, but I haven't closely checked the underside for cracks.

I knew about the wiper switch but have to do some work on the Saab first. They eventually work, but I have to give the truck 10 minutes to warm up first.

Thanks.

 

I figured that is why you did it, yes it is silly.
All modern cars cut the power to everything except the starter when you are cranking the engine.
Old cars, like from the '70's and older do not.
So unless your headlights are on when you start the truck...all the power is going to the starter.