Low Range weirdness

[kermac]

This is a question which can only be answered (if at all) by a subset of a subset of that exclusive band of allroad owners... I have a 2001 2.7T 6-speed manual (first subset) which is fitted with low range (second...) A couple of times recently, low range has spontaneously engaged whilst I was at the traffic lights. At first you think, My goodness what amazing acceleration this car has...but wait a minute - why am I changing gear so early??? Then it wouldn't respond to a press of the button to disengage low range, in fact to several increasingly panic-stricken presses as the cars behind began to honk their horns. Finally, she lost drive altogether and was in neither low range nor high range. And then after just a few seconds everything is back to normal. This has happened twice in a week and I think the appropriate expression is wtf??? This is not one of the (extensive) range of common problems I've read about in relation to the allroad. Anyone else heard about it? Thanks

[PaperToast]

not sure if you will get an answer to that here.
98% of us are in north america and have no access to an ar with low range

however from what you describe, it sounds like the tranny fluid might be low and that's why it couldn't change. that's my guess from the little i know of how trannys work

[kermac]

My information is that about 10 per cent of allroads in North America are manuals. I wasn't aware no low range models were sold there. There wouldn't be a lot in Australia either. It's a fairly rare beast.

I guess low tranny fluid might be a factor, but that wouldn't normally be the cause of low range spontaneously engaging would it? Nor of both ranges failing to engage at the same time? It's electronically controlled of course (for those who have experience of manual engagement in older Land Rovers, Land Cruisers etc). You go back far enough and you had to step out of the car and engage the spline locks in the centre of each front wheel...