Hello all been reading through the site for a long time thought about time registered and made a post. As this problem has me stumped.

Problem is sports button sometimes works sometimes doesn't pot luck. Next to gear shift doesn't light up sports but when it works it shows in the dials sports or the S.

There's no gear selector red dot light to show what gear your in at all also the gear indication lights go out when the headlights are switched on. Hi and low range switches between each is ok dash beeps to say its in hi or low and you can feel it engage no gearbox errors or select neutral fault displays.

Also just noticed it will go from drive to 3rd without pressing the trigger on the shifter just slides back.


Any help advice to this most welcome as has me stumped



Things I've tried so far is check all the connections to the transfer box under the car cleaned them.. no change.

Taken the gear selector surround out cleaned contacts don't know how to test it or what wire does what but no change after cleaning.

Unplugged the inputs to the bcem and made sure were clean and dry, same with the ecu under passenger seat no change.


Thanks all for taking the time to read this

Bulb gone??

Sounds stupid, but yer never know....

Also, Going from D to 3 without the locking lever is normal by the way!!

As for the Sport button....does it always show S on the dash even though the lamp isn't lit? If so, again dodgy or loose lamp connection could be at fault!

All the lights on the low side light when in low, and in high only the green lights come on but all go off when the headlights are turned on.
The red dot lights that show what gear don't come at all, the sports light doesn't come on at the gear lever but when it does work it only shows in the dials.

But its pot luck to when it will let sports mode work at all. I've read on here about select neutral showing or not going into low range I've got none these issues, same when driving it changes through the gears ok and kicks down as should.

Hope this makes sense.

I'd say you only have a bulb issue...

Grab a copy of RAVE and start reading....should be a lamp that illuminates the gear selection red dot, and as for the Sport button, it could be dicky and failing (afterall it is only a mechanical switch - which are prone to failure at some point!)

I would say from your description you have no major issue, as the box changes gear fine and the low/high ratio changes occur as they should....

Thank you for the quick reply, re downloading the RAVE manual now.

Was thinking of getting a replacement gear selector unit to try it.


This is my third p38 seems to be an addiction for them to keep going back to them

emcm0034 said:

Thank you for the quick reply, re downloading the RAVE manual now.

Was thinking of getting a replacement gear selector unit to try it.


This is my third p38 seems to be an addiction for them to keep going back to them

Click to expand...

They truly are an addictive car....

As can be seen from my signature image, I have had 4 P38's, 2 Classics and now we have the L322, a 4.0 P38 (soon to go) and a Ninety Truck Cab.....we must be crazy!!

Out of my 3 this one has been a learning curve it's all stock bar an lpg conversion but paying for uncareful previous owners..

sold a perfect good v8 grand cherokee to go back to a p38 when they work its a joy when they break you end up bald and broke.


will post results of what happens as so many post that i've read on here just end with no follow up

Just an update to the selection lights and sports button not working a faulty selector panel, went through the rave manual and decided to change the gear selector panel as seemed a cheap option sure enough new panel from ebay and lights all working as should aswell as sports button..

So to anyone whos gear selection lights don't light next to the shifter or sports button stops working lighting upor the lights turn off when headlights are on then try replacing the selector panel.


Thanks for the advice saint.v


Now how the heck do you get new bump stops to fit on anyone got advice on that?

[/quote]sold a perfect good v8 grand cherokee to go back to a p38 when they work its a joy when they break you end up bald and broke.[/quote]

I too sold a perfectly good Grand Cherokee, but as I'm already bald and broke, a P38 seemed the ideal way forward