2005 Land Rover LR3

Anyone on here ever do a wire trace from the transfer case module.? Here’s what happened:

A year ago I bought a 05 LR3, and clever took it to a car wash in -30 weather, I know it wasn’t by any means a smart thing to do. . It had significant ice build up in the roof, hood and it took quite a bit of pressure washing to get it all off. Once the vehicle was nice and clean I drove it for about 3km when suddenly I had no gears. Long story short, it threw the transfer case in neutral. Scan it and it couldn’t read the tcm module. I got the transfer case back in hi by running it manually with a 12v cable on the transfer case selector motor. Has been driving it like that for over a year now. I can use my up and down selector but not hi/low or any terrain response. It it gives me a transmission range change not available.

I took out the tcm module and clean it inside with electronic cleaner as well as the contract. From what I can find on google and YouTube I’m pretty sure water got in somewhere but the tcm module looked pretty dry when I took it out. Anyone have a suggestion where I can still look/clean. I bought a used transfer case module from eBay but it give me the same issue and also didn’t read on the Obd scanner.

 

So new t-case module and you removed your wiring work? Are you certain the new module is good? Did you do a calibration? Also when swiping TC modules from another vehicle, you will always get a fault but I think it is something about a VIN mismatch. Any other codes? Also a GAP tool may work better. And as for the TC itself, the solenoid is known to go bad. Have you swapped it? You do not have to drain fluid to replace/service it.

 

Sorry I meant tcm module, not transfer case

 

I guess I am even more confused since terrain response is passive and does not control the transfer case directly so not sure why you would even go into replacing that module. If you are having an issue with the transfer case, why not look at that module instead?

 

That’s what give me the first problem was the transfer case that got thrown into nutral. I was told by a mechanic that it was the module as his scanner could not communicate with the module. When it happened i had the the park break, stability control and break lights on. No gears, it was acting like it was in neutral. Couldn’t change from hi range to low range and no terrain settings. Once the transfer case motor got 12v jumper on it, and went back into high range, the other lights when out. The high range / low range can still not be used and no terrain selection. What should I look at? Please help

 

Well your mechanic is an idiot and probably never worked on Rovers. If there is an issue with the transfer case, then that is where one should look first. Also the terrain module is called a Terrain Response Module, not control. This is why having a proper code reader is important to identify things correctly and not get em messed up. Cause I can see how TCM might look like both "Transfer Case Module" and "Terrain Control Module". or for that matter.... Transmission Control Module or Traction Control Module. (for the record, the transmission control module is inside the transmission itself).

So lets clarity, what exactly did you replace? If it was the module with the rotary dial at the center console, THAT is the Terrain Response Module. If you replaced a computer in the engine bay behind the battery, that is the transfer case module. And that particular module is prone to water issues. So if you have not replaced, examined that, you need to do that first. It is a bit of a pain to get it. Battery comes out and there is a cover that protects a couple computers down there. You need to dig in and see if there is any corrosion. One LR3 I saw never had its battery vented properly (black hose in that area) and the connectors were destroyed almost beyond repair by acid.

 

this is the one I replaced. The old one had a little bit of corrosion on the contacts and inside. I opened it up and cleaned it as well as the contacts, no difference, I got the new one, plugged it in, no difference, still same error messages and same on code reader. This was the one behind the battery. I check all the other modules there as well and no corrosion. And yes, my mechanic never worked on Land Rover. The closest dealer is 2.4 hours from me

 

Dealer sucks anyway, $$$$$. But okay, this is GOOD. Because that is indeed the module of concern, not anything with Terrain Response at this point. Did you also inspect all the wiring and the contacts within the connectors?

Try this. Go under the truck and you will see two connectors for the transfer case. One is small with two wires (if I recall, could be three). The other goes to the transfer case motor. Inspect both wire looms, especially the small one. But also unplug each and plug both back in.

 

Also... I think the transfer case module has two fuses, one being 30amp and the other 5amp, if I recall. Been a long time... but obviously check fuses too.

 

I’ve check them and no corrosion or broken wires