Auto gearbox problem

[Alastairmac]

Hi All
Advice required
My 98 Disco 300td (auto trans) 140,000K and has until now been running extremely well.
Over the past few days it has occasionally stuck in drive when stopping and trying to move out of drive into neutral. Once out of drive (a few minutes of gentle persuasion) the stick moves easily though all positions.

Questions
Is this a known quirk of this gearbox
Is there a more sinister problem that I should worry about
What should I be looking at to identify and fix the problem.
Are there any work arounds

The car moves easly in and out of diff lock and the light is off.
The transmission is as quiet as it should be and there are no oil leaks (honestly).

I'm a bit concerned, as I am about to make a journey out west past Quilpie and will be well off the beaten track for almost a week on a remote property. I don't want to get stranded with a jammed gearbox.

Ideas and advice welcome
Thanks Alastair

[Blknight.aus]

from memory that should have the cable select for getting your choice from the handle to the box, sounds like the cable shroud has become damaged or fouled in some manner and its gripping it just enough.

[mcrover]

As always Dave is spot on.

Nothing much other than the cable to do that unless.............It could be the detent ball jamming in the selector shaft but it isnt comon as far as I know.

I dont think that all of them have the detent or if they just get jammed in the off possy as mine doesnt seem to have it but I have seen others that do.