Last week i had problem starting the rover. I checked the starter and the relay and was hoping that it could be one or the other. But this week i noticed that the transmission shifter lights that are in the speedometer tend to come and go. It would show parking sometimes and then it wouldn't show anything and the rover wouldn't start.When the light all show in the speedometer it starts. i played with the shifter and sometimes the parking "P" light would comeback and when i try to started i would hear a click from the starter. Also want to add that when the lights are gone "P R N D" you can't even hear the starter click.I also realized that when you turn the key to start position you could move the shifter out from the parking without even applying to the brake pedal. I started the starter with just a wire strait from the battery it starts, so i know it's not the starter for sure. After play with the shifter for a while all the shifter lights went away and the rover wouldn't start. I think it has something to do with transmission because when i started the car with the wire it shifted very rough. Can anyone help me with this weird problem? Last chance before i take it to the dealer which i know it's going to cost me an arm and a leg.

 

Sounds like a neutral safety switch issue.
Prevents the starter from engaging in anything but P or N. Which explains the starter not engaging along with the indicator lights
Will it start in neutral? If you apply forward pressure to the shifter in park will it start?

 

I tried in neutral and tried the pressure to the shifter but it still won't start. I noticed when i took the bezel off from around the shifter, there was a piece of cloth stack in the shifter path. The cloth came from the wires you probably noticed that the wires are wrapped with cloth type materal. I think it damaged something within the shifter.

 

Yeah I think we are saying the same thing here.

You think it's the shifter, but I'll bet that the NSS is incorporated into the shifter.
I do think it's safe to say it's not your tranny or starter.
Let us know what you find

 

thanks for your help. I will let you know when i find out.

 

either the xyz switch on the transmission or the shifter. replaced a few on the bmw motors. mostly the switches. the shifter was because of corrosion from coffee and water from the sunroof.

 

I finally found the problem today. The xyz switch wire was loose. All it took was to tight the wire conection which is on the top near the engine. thanks everyone for your help.

 

can you be more specific about the wire location, what was exactly loose
thanks glad your up and running

 

Open the hood, in front of you above the engine there is a vent below the windshield. 2 nuts hold it in place, remove those nuts, it's one on each side. Remove those nuts and a weather strip that goes from the top and pull the vent out. Shine the flashlight behind the engine you will see the wire it connects with plastic round shape connector and it gets tight like a nut. The wire comes from the transmission's xyz switch.The wire that gets connected with car's wire harness was loose. If you still need more help let me know.

 

I am having the same exact issue. Do you by chance have a photo of where this wire connection is located so I can check it as well? Many thanks!