So, I parked my rig today. Got back in, started her up, won't shift out of park. Called the dealership and actually got a mechanic to walk me through pulling the shifter **** and trim to access the magic button to get out of park. He also told me to check to see if my brake lights were working and then something about a fuse. By the time I got home this afternoon, I pretty much forgot what he said, except for checking my brake lights, which indeed do not work. Next move?

 

Sounds like there's an issue with your brake pedal switch. On most automatics, the shift lock is unlocked by depressing the brake pedal. If the switch is malfunctioning, it's not telling the shift lock to let go. I'm not sure of the exact location, but the switch is always somewhere near the top of the brake pedal stem. Also, I would check your fuse box as well for any blown fuses, never hurts.

 

Time for a $24 brake switch and 5 minutes of your time installing it.

 

Thanks Mike. can these be had at an auto parts store, or will it be a dealer or mail order item?

 

Also, does that explain the brake lights not working? Thanks again.

 

The same exact thing happened to us on our disco II. Our brake lights didn't work and it wouldn't shift out of park. After calling around we ended up taking it to a land rover mechanic and he said that there was short in the wiring somewhere that he would have to follow the wires and find it. It ended up being behind the 3rd brake light and once he fixed it everything was fine again.

You might want to check that out that only set us back $90.

 

Yes. The brake lights and the shifter interlock both get their signal from the brake switch. If that's bad then your brake lights don't work, which they aren't, and you can't shift out of park, which you stated you can't.

My problem for this week is the same as last week and the week before, lack of money to fix the stuff I need to on my Rover.

 

The brake light switch is what turns on the brake lights, it also turns off the cruise control and it tells the shift interlock to unlock so that you can shift out of park.
Yes it can be had at a autoparts store or the dealer or on line.

 

Are D2s different than D1s and not use a separate switch to cancel the cruise control? I realize this has nothing to do with the original question but I don't want to mislead someone if this comes up in the future. D1s use a vacuum switch directly above the brake light switch that opens when you hit the brake pedal releasing the vacuum in the system and canceling the cruise control.

 

I do not know AK, I assumed that all cars were the same and that tapping the brake pedal turned off the cruise by a switch not by breaking vacuum.
Although the cruise on a DII is electronic and the cruise on a DI is not.