ok have an interesting one for everyone. 99' disco that shifts into all the gears however, on the dash it will not show that I am in "R" "N" or "3" I cant not go into low gear because of this and I believe I may hit limp mode aka I have no power on the highway in 3rd gear. I recently had the "M&S" lights go on but charged my battery and they went away. The truck WILL reverse and go into other gears but won't show on the dash. Any ideas? My initial thoughts are bad battery, xyz, switch or a bad connection somewhere. I already tried switching out the gear selector plate that lights up (the plastic pice) and it does the same thing. I know the positive connector on my batter is loose but it still seems to have power could this cause it? The battery is only 2 years old. Thank you in advance

 

A loose battery clamp may diminish power and cause problems even though the truck starts, the lights come on, the radio works, etc. Try shimming the loose clamp. I've even used a toothpick to do this. Another option is to drill a small hole into the crack between the post and the clamp and then insert a small screw to shim the clamp.

Otherwise, the problem with the gear indicators not displaying correctly points to the XYZ switch. You could try adjusting it before removing it to replace or refurbish.

It's best to get the transmission codes read but I understand that either costs money or is inconvenient, or both. There are 14 different faults that can cause the M&S lights to come on. Perhaps someone near you in North Suburban Chicago with an appropriate scanner will read this and offer to check the codes for you.

 

thank you for the insight, the battery terminal should be easy to fix as for the xyz switch that's another story. I know where it is so I may just grab another one and swap them. From your experience is it easier to go in through the top by taking off the center console (if possible) or do you have to go in from the bottom?

 

Replacing the xyz switch is from the bottom. Very tight down there but it can be done. I had to move or bend the insulation just to get it off. You can loosen it first and try moving it and check if your back on gears and had to be aligned properly. If its not properly aligned, the truck wont start as well.

 

got it! Thanks

 

Here are a few tips from a post I shared a couple years ago.

Here are a few tips from my experience changing...

 

Thanks! I got it out no problem today and now just waiting for the new switch. I have a feeling my old one was fine because I took the whole thing apart and it was spotless inside. My guess is it needed to be adjusted like you had in your write up. Can you explain the adjusting a little more? So once I have it bolted back on (partially) and have the cable bracket attached what do I move from here and how do I move it? My truck doesn't show R,N, or 3 like you know.

 

never mind you explained it pretty we'll in the other write up. I just can't remember being able to rotate it. The holes my bolts were in didn't allow for rotation however then holes next to it were longer

 

Hey guys I replaced the xyz switch and the truck still isn't showing the correct gear up on the dash and will not light up on the shifter. Could this be a bad battery or bad alternator or even something with the ecu? Clearly the computer isn't getting the info of what gear it is in but the xyz is good. Any ideas?

 

There is a very small adjustment by pushing the switch up and down until you get the sweet spot. But you have to allign it first upon intallation