Unable to move out of park

[Geedublya]

I had my first problem with the RRS yesterday. I got in as normal started it up, pressed the shift unlock button on the shifter to move from park to drive or reverse and it remained in park. The button felt strange and wasn't out as per normal. Fortunately I was at my office and had access to tools.
A quick google search and I found that I'm not alone and SlimPickins on RANGEROVERS.net had already encountered the problem and devised a solution (https://www.rangerovers.net/forum/43-range-rover-sport-ii-l494/331842-sport-l494-broken-shifter-button-fix-diy.html) I followed his instructions for removal but found it is better to remove the #8 torx first before removing the park button.

Some 5 minute araldite and a stiff piece of wire soon had the broken unlock button working and while the araldite was curing I ordered a new button kit (LR117072) from Advanced Factors (https://www.advancedfactors.co.uk/lr117072-kit---gear-shift-trigger-repair-set-l494-sport-8-speed-1222849-p.asp).

I suspect this part will fail on most vehicles after some use and it makes it undrivable. My repaired button is probably stronger than the original but I'll replace it and keep the repaired one as a spare.

My RRS is at 104K now so if your getting up around the 100K mark it may be worthwhile changing the button out before it maroons you somewhere inconvenient. You could pull the shifter apart and short the switch if you had to, it is just a carbon pad going onto a circuit board but you have to dismantle the whole top of the shifter to access it.

[Graeme]

Expensive enough but at least the repair kit is available rather than having to replace the whole lever assembly.

[Geedublya]

Expensive enough but at least the repair kit is available rather than having to replace the whole lever assembly.


Yes, close to $150 with shipping. I could have gone for the Aliexpress version but decided to go genuine.

[Gregz]

I reversed out of a parking spot in Bunnings, then went to put it in Drive, but no go, button was broken. This was on Sunday. Long story and flatbed later, I acquired the kit LR117072, and put the replacement innards into the gear lever next day at the dealers, after hours. As elsewhere mentioned, when undoing it, best to peel off the plastic piece with the gear letters on it first (which is stuck down rather well), then undo the screw underneath (torx 8). When I put the new piece in, at first it still would not go, "Gearbox Fault"... probably due to me futzing around with things earlier while waiting in Bunnings carpark. Had to go back home again and get my GAP Diagnostic tool, and used it to reset the confused gearbox. All good in the end, but what a kerfuffle, and what a silly design - almost guaranteed to to give you a fail-to-proceed moment some time.

[Graeme]

Does the button exist so that the brake pedal doesn't have to be pressed?

[Gregz]

Does the button exist so that the brake pedal doesn't have to be pressed?
No, the brake pedal must be pressed also to change gears.
The button has a little stalk attached behind it that (when it is not broken) moves another sliding piece inside the gear stick that signals that a gear change is being made. (at least that's how I understand it). So, no stalky, no changey .

[WizudOfOz]

Happened to me yesterday morning. Heard & felt a snap when I shifted into reverse to back out of a carpark to align myself properly. Couldn't then shift into drive. Fortunately was able to roll downhill back into the carpark.

I phoned Land Rover Assist & told them the car needs towing, they arranged for the RAA to come out but I was told a tech would attend first "to diagnose the problem". Tech arrived & faffed about & said needs a tow, which is exactly what I'd LRA now 90 minutes earlier.

To be fair to LRA sending a tech first is probably an RAA thing, but given I'd already determined what had failed it was a waste of time.

Well over two hours after that later a flatbed to dealer & a $500 repair (once the parts arrive from interstate!). Haven't got the time to order the kit & do myself or I would have.

That there is no manual override is ridiculous, especially with the apparent propensity for this part to fail.

The hired MG I'm now driving has a shiftlock override next to the shift lever. That simple solution would not have left me stranded.

Craig

[Geedublya]

Last year I repaired one that failed in the line up at my daughter's school. Th RRS 2 cars in front of my couldn't proceed. I went and had a chat to the lady driving, quickly dismantled the shifter and did an adhoc repair with some super glue and a piece of plastic to get her going. Ironically her husband works for JLR and designs the interiors.