Hey folks, looking for some help. I have a 99 Discovery II. V8, all stock. Has 158k miles. Love it. Here is the issue. Lately, when I go to turn off the truck, I put in park, but I cannot get key out of ignition. If I tap on brakes, sometimes I can cycle the key. But then, I cannot get it out of park or sometimes, even get it in park. Is this a detent switch issue? Grrrrrr frustrating.

 

there is a possibility it could be the brake light switch, iirc the brake-light switch controls the solenoid on the shifter.

 

I had a similar problem with the same exact car earlier this year.
My solution was I disconnected the locking solenoid that prevented the key from being removed. Also make sure PARK is completely engaged.

 

I had this problem 10 years ago and in my case it was the XYZ switch. If the XYZ malfunctions and fails to send the signal to the ECU that the trans is in park the ECU won't allow the key to be removed.

To check for this look and see whether or not the instrument panel display shows P and the red light on the shifter surround is illuminated when the shifter is in Park. If not it's likely the XYZ (which you can sometimes rebuild). If the P and the red light work it's likely something else.

That said I really don't think it's the brake light switch or the shifter solenoid. Faults with those items affect moving the shifter, not the ignition lock. And I personally don't like the idea of disconnecting the locking solenoid. Maybe I'm too much of a purist but I don't like treating the symptom instead of treating the problem.

 

Min01:

What is the XYZ switch? It is exactly like you indicted. If the red light is on when in Park, no problem. But if I put it park and no red light, it takes some fiddling to get it out of park. I need to fix it.

 

The XYZ switch is located on the left side of the transmission. If you get under the truck, follow the cable that connects the shifter down to where it meets the transmission. It looks like this:

Switch Gear Position XYZ (Genuine Part # UHB100190 ) - Land Rover switches/control unit/actuators from Atlantic British

The side facing you will not be metal like in the picture but rather a tan color.

If it turns out you need one, I have good used XYZ's for A LOT less than what they'll cost you new.

 

Paul beat me to it. I was going to suggest you check with Paul to buy the replacement XYZ. It's crazy-expensive new these days ($695.95 from AB). If you have the time you could also try rebuilding yours. If you buy a used one instead it would be a good idea to rebuild the one you remove and have it as a spare, or perhaps even reinstall it since you won't really know how long the used one you buy will last.

The XYZ tells the ECU the position of the transmission input shaft, which indicates which gear is selected. I've had to replace mine twice. The first time, 10 years ago, the switch was something like $250.

Here's a link to my post from last fall with a lot of detail about how to remove and replace the XYZ. I've also attached the relevant page from the RAVE. (RAVE calls the XYZ a starter inhibitor switch.)

Good luck.

 

I have the exact same symptoms. Mine is intermittent, and I just have to reposition the gear selector until the red light comes on and I know the computer recognizes that I am in park. Mine started doing this after I installed a CDL. I think I must have stretched the cable that goes from the shifter to the XYZ during the CDL install.

 

As I think more about it I suppose it is also possible that it is a problem of the adjustment of the XYZ switch. It can be rotated a few degrees left and right (counterclockwise and clockwise) with the two mounting bolts loosened slightly. You could have a helper sit in the drivers seat and move the shifter through its range to see if any of the adjustments make it so that the indicator lights illuminate properly.

Sure doesn't hurt to spend a little bit of time trying out alternatives to confirm the diagnosis before you shell out the cash to buy a replacement part, even it's from Paul Geant.