Dashboard flashing lights & transmission problem

**marcschepp** · 25th February 2019, 04:39 PM

hey guys,
i got a long story with my disco 2 td5. First of all, we broke down, the engine was running, the car could rev but no power came to the wheels. the underbody was covered in oil. after an odyssey we got our drive and flex plate repaired, but now the car is only driving around 20 km/h max, it is probably stuck in first gear and there is like 40 percent of the power.
in the dashboard are the "M" & "S" Lights flashing, also the "D" for drive in the display and in the gear selector the 2 red lights for D are also flashing.
Our mechanic told us it would be something electrical and not the transmission, he said he found burned wires under the engine, a 100 amp blown fuse (replacing didnt help) and that there would be a third wire that goes into the alternator that shouldnt be there.
so i got a car that is stuck in first gear, has 50 percent of the power (or it is just slow and i forgot how slow it is after 1 month not driving). D, M, and S is flashing in the dashboard aswell as the D in the drive selector.
Any guys any answers, possible solutions or just a quick tip?

thank you so much

cheers marc

**JimDAUS** · 25th February 2019, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by marcschepp

...so i got a car that is stuck in first gear, has 50 percent of the power (or it is just slow and i forgot how slow it is after 1 month not driving). D, M, and S is flashing in the dashboard aswell as the D in the drive selector.
Any guys any answers, possible solutions or just a quick tip?

thank you so much

cheers marc

wow, that certainly sounds electrical ... where are you based?

Perhaps one or more of us can help you in further diagnosis...

**discorevy** · 25th February 2019, 05:19 PM

with those lights flashing it will be stuck in 3rd gear, check battery is good , alternator is charging but I suspect if the transmission has been removed / replaced that they haven't aligned the selector cable into the xyz ( inhibitor switch ) properly, check by making sure the selected gear correlates to the dash displayed gear, and find the reason for the oil loss and make sure the level is correct ( engine running with trans temp 35-40 degrees c

**marcschepp** · 25th February 2019, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by JimDAUS

wow, that certainly sounds electrical ... where are you based?

Perhaps one or more of us can help you in further diagnosis...

i am located in orbost, Victoria. at the caravan park.

**marcschepp** · 25th February 2019, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by discorevy

with those lights flashing it will be stuck in 3rd gear, check battery is good , alternator is charging but I suspect if the transmission has been removed / replaced that they haven't aligned the selector cable into the xyz ( inhibitor switch ) properly, check by making sure the selected gear correlates to the dash displayed gear, and find the reason for the oil loss and make sure the level is correct ( engine running with trans temp 35-40 degrees c

the selected gear is the same as shown in the dash. i will now use my friend google to gind the inhibitor Switch and the selector cable and check that. that sounds pretty good fitting for my problem

**DeanoH** · 25th February 2019, 06:03 PM

As discorevy says, check the inhibitor switch. With a bit of luck it hasn't been aligned properly with the work you've had done.

Deano

**discorevy** · 25th February 2019, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by marcschepp

the selected gear is the same as shown in the dash. i will now use my friend google to gind the inhibitor Switch and the selector cable and check that. that sounds pretty good fitting for my problem

If the selected gear is the same as dash with no blanks on dash then it should be aligned , the trans ecu needs enough volts otherwise you will get m and s lights flashing , do the lights flash while still in park or only when you select a gear?, where did the oil come from? , you may need someone around the area to read the fault codes

**marcschepp** · 25th February 2019, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by discorevy

If the selected gear is the same as dash with no blanks on dash then it should be aligned , the trans ecu needs enough volts otherwise you will get m and s lights flashing , do the lights flash while still in park or only when you select a gear?, where did the oil come from? , you may need someone around the area to read the fault codes

what is the trans 'ecu'?
the lights also Flash in Park
we are not sure about the oil leak, everything is oily, including the red connection thing to the acu. this plug was oily inside

**JimDAUS** · 26th February 2019, 05:45 AM

Originally Posted by marcschepp

everything is oily, including the red connection thing to the acu. this plug was oily inside

Is the oil engine oil or transmission oil ?

If not sure, take out the dipstick from the engine and smell that, and then wipe the oil off the trans with a rag and smell that, if they smell almost the same, then its engine oil, auto oil smells very different to engine.

Unfortunately I'm in Sydney, so unable to help, even if I had a clue what is going on ...

**TWL** · 28th February 2019, 01:21 PM

Wow- I've just come from a similar problem - but my M&S lights were flashing as the starter motor had completely failed.

[Yes- I changed the contacts and got her going for a day- then complete failure of the starter and M&S flashing. Upon opening the starter if was full of dried oil and dirt- it was amazing it was going at all! After a DIY overhaul I managed to get it going for another 2 weeks - which was plenty of time to get another starter]

As soon as a working starter was in the M&S lights cleared.

Is your D2 starting well? Or taking a couple of turns to start?

M&S lights can be related to low power [or a bad circuit as per my failed starter!]. XYZ switch failure is another cause [hopefully not- its a pain to access!]

Cheers,

TL

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