Hi all,

New to the forum and currently a prospective L322 owner. I appreciate this is another question on the trans failsafe prog error code, but having done some searching, I’m not entirely sure the questions I have have been answered.

So, I viewed a late 2003 4.4 V8 HSE today with 133k miles on it, took it for a test drive, and after about maybe 10 minutes (engine had been running for maybe 15 mins before the drive) a message came up telling me to select neutral followed by the trans failsafe prog message. I was driving at the time, maybe 40mph, and didn’t notice anything change in the driveability of the car. Got back, turned off, turned on and the message had gone. Didn’t have a chance to take it for another drive, but the current owner has taken it out again since and I’m informed that he message hasn’t reappeared. At the time I didn’t have the knowledge or foresight to check if it was held on a particular gear or try all gears in manual, but as said I didn’t notice anything with the driveability.

The car has been sat for a few weeks, was MOTd just before Christmas but then parked and only used once before today. Started up fine but from what I’ve read the battery voltage could still be the root cause here, although in most of those cases the message appears at startup, not 15 mins into a drive.

I’m still keen on the purchase, the car has got a decent history and plenty of receipts covering work over the last 6 years of current ownership and before that too. Currently has 133k miles on it, only covered 4k in the last 12 months, it had a new transfer box at around 100k, there’s been a new radiator during the last few years so unlikely to be the overheating fluid due to blocked radiator. Could of course be the transfer switch motor, again didn’t have the knowledge to check this at the time.

My main questions are:
- has anyone experienced the select neutral message prior to the trans failsafe prog message? None of the threads I’ve read seem to mention this
- what kind of financial mess am I likely to be getting into if I go ahead with the purchase? How much is a replacement transfer switch motor? What about a replacement gearbox? I am pretty competent when it comes to mechanical work so an idea of just how much the parts cost would be great

Thanks in advance,

Paul

The SELECT NEUTRAL message is generally associated with the transfer box range change so I agree that your symptoms may be related to the transfer box shift motor and its potentiometer.

Click image to enlarge

Hi Phil,

Thanks for your response, most helpful.

I've decided to go ahead with the purchase, collecting on Saturday all being well. Current owner has used the car this week for a couple of 30min drives with no issues reported. Given the cost of a new part vs used, I'd be more than happy to risk a used part to resolve the issue, should it persist. I'll get the codes read at the earliest opportunity. I did have a basic code reader with me, Carista, but didn't appear to return anything in detail on it at all. Probably just not compatible with the RR.

Whilst doing some internet prodding following your suggestion of 4x4lro (I had no luck in that regard unfortunately), I came across the following post from another forum. The author of the post has taken the potentiometer apart and noted that the solder joints were cracked, has resoldered them and repaired for free. Has anyone here attempted such a repair with any success?

https://www.rangerovers.net/threads/transf...ix.344673/

Paul