The battery was drained this morning due to cold weather and I couldn't start it.

Was parked too far away from my other car to use jump cables. Put it in "Neutral" and towed it 3 meters to get closer. Back in "Park" and now I can't turn the ignition key at all.

The left parking light was on for a short while even though everything was off.

Is it some kind of emergency program and what do I do? Regards,

Peter

'04 Range Rover TD6

Are you certain the batery is now fully charged? The key wont turn if there is no charge left in the battery because there wont be enough juice to power the key lock. 

The batteri is absolutely drained. Will I be able to turn the key if I attach jump cables from another car? Regards,

Peter

'04 Range Rover TD6

Yes.

If you have left the battery completely flat then you will probably require a new battery by now. I would also recommend against towing it any more, selecting Neutral with the gear lever does not select true neutral. 

I thought the gear selector was locked until the key was in... more I think about it more I confuse myself and I got up too early today to go back out and check again.

I have a vision of selecting neutral involving some kind of brutality when there is no power.... or is it not the case? 2010 Disco XS TDV6, 2009 Freelander 2 GS

Previous Landrover products -1990 110 TDI CSW, 2003 TD6 Vogue - RRC TD Vogue, RRC v8 Fleetline, Disco ES V8 LPG, 101 Ambulance "Morph", 1964 SIIa Auto Powered by Jag 4.2 Lump - "Percy".

He put the car in N first, its only now that the battery is completely flat he cant get the key to turn.

To put the car into neutral you need to put a fuse into position 37 on the fuse board. 

I get what your saying Dan.... but why would putting a fuse in make and difference if the battery were dead

PS... I drove over 500 miles towing with the fuse in position number 37. My Friendly French Garage forgot to tell me they had put it in. It wasn't in neutral ... only visible difference was I couldn't select Low ratio and a message on the dash... which I've now forgotten it was so long back. 2010 Disco XS TDV6, 2009 Freelander 2 GS

Previous Landrover products -1990 110 TDI CSW, 2003 TD6 Vogue - RRC TD Vogue, RRC v8 Fleetline, Disco ES V8 LPG, 101 Ambulance "Morph", 1964 SIIa Auto Powered by Jag 4.2 Lump - "Percy".

elpeede wrote:

I get what your saying Dan.... but why would putting a fuse in make and difference if the battery were dead

What I'm trying to get at is Do Not Tow the car without following this procedure to get the transfer box into neutral.

If you cannot do this because there is no power then do not tow the car. The cost of a new transfer box greatly outweighs agro of running an extension lead to the car. Although in reality the chances of causing damage over a short distance is negligible. 

Absolutely agree about the transfer box.

For the gear selector if you pop the surround off (the foundry grey bit with either the low range/hdc buttons or the terrain response dial)

There is a lever on the right of the gear selector which unlocks it and allows you to select neutral.

Useless info aside charge or change the battery!

Good luck, hope you get it sorted as cheaply as possible.

One learns something new every day!

So even with a completely flat battery you can still get her into Neutral? Good to know!

 

I'm not sure if there is one on modern Range Rovers, but the old style mechanical steering lock hasn't engaged has it as if it has then the key won't turn and the steering wheel won't turn either. 2018 Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 PHEV in Melting Silver - it’s whisper quiet in EV and polluter modes

I got the car running again late last night. Had to buy longer jump start cables first and needed a bit of help from my neighbours Volvo. He really had to floor it to generate enough power to get her up and running

I bought a new batteri 12 month ago. Strange if I need to buy a new one this soon. I put 30.000 miles on the car each year at least. Usually trips of 70 miles.

Anyone got the exact specs of a new batteri? Regards,

Peter

'04 Range Rover TD6

Peter, there have been a lot of posts about flattening batteries and replacement batteries recently - IIRC Fox bought and fitted a Varta or a Bosch - if you use the search then you may find it turns up a lot of recommendations about what the battery specs are and which ones people have found best. 2018 Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 PHEV in Melting Silver - it’s whisper quiet in EV and polluter modes

Battery short code for diesel is I1 - Varta of Bosch are excellent.