Stuck in PARK (300TDi JAP)

Hi, Im in a bit of a pickle.

My Jap 300Tdi Auto is stuck in PARK.

Happened a couple of weeks ago, and I was told to rummage round the brake pedal and pull out the sensor wires and bridge the gap. As it happened I pulled out the vacumn sensor (which I now find is related to the cruise control) I didnt bridge the wires, but it started and I got out of park ok.
Scince then it was fine (apart from the key getting stuck in the barrel ...removed solenoid connection and all was well again)

Last nigh drove to petrol station and got back in to find the same thing had happened...Stuck in Park.
Had a brief look under the steering column and looked at the now loose switch/vacumn hose, but didnt do anything to either. just put it back in a recess and closed the cover.

5 mins later, Turned the key again and it went out of park.
Right.....not going to take any chances I drove back home.

Its now stuck in Park again, and I have tried bridging the gap from the wires connecting into the sensor with the vacumn hose, but nothing.

I also cant see any activity from the brake lights when pedal is depressed or the when sensor plunger is pushed in or out.

Going camping next week and this has got to pull the caravan

Please...any ideas whats going wrong ?

Could the actual gear lever be to blame? (just a coincidence brake lights arent working ??)

I should add, that I cant see a second sensor on the brake pedal but there is a stray 2 wires and a connector. (surely if there was no swithc it would never have worked, ulness the last owner bridged the wires with something crap. Still doesnt explain the ittermittent nature of the problem)

Found switch 2, very wobbly, pulled connector out, and am faced with 4 wires of differing colours. If anyone knows which 2 to bridge it would get me out of immediate worry. Now just got to find a jap spec brake switch in a week

I'm not sure u know what u are doing.
The ignition key when in the switch releases the gear selector inter-lock servo via an interlock relay.
Also with the brake lights being on will again release the servo via an interlock relay.

The ABS brake-light switch has 2 circuits, 4 wires, the switched supply (fuse 4) to the ABS ECU and the other the switched supply (fuse 1) to the brake lights.

So no brake lights also means no operation of the interlocking servo, so get the lights working.
Maybe a good idear to electrically disconnect the interlocking servo at some time unless u like this function..

Im quite sure i dont know what im doing !!

I had to get that key out of the lock whatever happened...
I can reconnect it easily enough.

There probably is a symptomatic reason for all these events but im not clever enough to figure it out, and find a solution quick.

check the fuse for the brake lights, had this problem on my old jap 300tdi, was a brake light wire shorting out

Had the same problem in my 1996 jap 300Tdi auto.
Definitely the brake switch. Pull the switch off and bridge the connections with a paper clip. This will let you pull out of P.
DO NOT USE PARK AGAIN AT MOMENT> use the handbrake.
you can drive the car but your brake lights will come on permanently till a new switch is fitted.
Switch no AMR2010 which I got at "SHOP4AUTOPARTS" and cost in 2011 £8.46 plus vat and post.
Awkward job but at 70 yrs old I managed it.
good luck and come back and let us know how you get on.

Jim A
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1996 300Tdi auto(Jap reimport)

Thanks Razor, yeah tried all the fuses.

Have ordered new switch Jim, at very least it will close that avenue of investigation down. Would explain the intermittent nature of it

Jim, the switch has 4 holes. Which 2 do I bridge ?

can't remember, just use one as a main and try each one separate till it works.
try google for "Discovery stuck in park"
I got the information from an American land rover forum.

cheers

jim A
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1996 300Tdi auto(Jap reimport)

Right.... quick update
New switch (LR005794) fitted, and all is working !
Camping trip back on.

Thanks for all the advice.

Happened again. My advice would be to carry a spare. This happening at night or somewhere remote would be a right pain (although you could drive home with the brake lights permanently on)
Only £7