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Moo

Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1404

Low gearbox oil!

Since I picked the my Defender up in October, I've had an issue with the gear changes, particularly up and down hills. It got to a point where it was unpleasant to drive.

The car has been in my local dealer this week , Dick Lovett in Melksham who have been excellent, for this and other warranty work.

Other than some software upgrades on the gearbox, what really surprised me was that it needed 0.7l of oil. There is no leak so the only conclusion was that it wasn't filled correctly when it was built.

Click image to enlarge

Should I be concerned? Will there have been lasting damage to the gearbox?

Anyway, drove it around Bath this morning and it seems to be a different car. Hopefully it will stay that way!

24th Mar 2023 10:10am

TexasRover

Member Since: 24 Nov 2022
Location: Paris
Posts: 1086

2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Chawton White

Since this is an automatic transmission the amount of fluid will be quite a lot and 0.7L is not much compared to the total.

From what I understand it was keeping low gears so not shifting? The way to damage an automatic transmission is when the gears are slipping, not really by not having the ideal shift pattern (wrong gear selection).

I would think if the problem is now solved it is more likely to be the software update that solved it rather than topping up the oil.

Possibly they all come out of the factory with 0.7L short, which would be a big cost saving if you add all the cars they make up.

24th Mar 2023 10:19am

Moo

Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1404

Interesting. Hopefully its all sorted, but it really was horrible to drive.

All that's left are the remaining missing parts, the repairs to the damaged roof and the money the dealer owes me (not Dick Lovett).

24th Mar 2023 11:03am

lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2850

My gearbox isn't the best, it can be jerky in slow moving traffic.

lt feels exactly like my Porsche 928 S4 when the gearbox oil level was low. l keep meaning to check the oil level, but it's not straightforward.

ls yours better since the oil was added?

25th Mar 2023 9:46am

Moo

Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1404

Mines not been jerky. It is better since the software and oil fill. I need to drive it more but so far I'm happy.

25th Mar 2023 2:08pm

lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2850

Mine feels like it changes to neutral once it gets to idle speed, so mainly in slow moving traffic, or if you've slowed for traffic lights and they change to green as you reach them.

Then when you put your foot on the gas, the RPM shoot up instantly and then the transmission engages with a "thud"

lt's actually improved with mileage (now on 3,000)
There's a lot of similar complaints over on the BMW forum where the same transmission is used on some BMW's

I've not seen a solution offered. Some have had a "gearbox parameters reset" with mixed results

25th Mar 2023 4:50pm

whiterdesign

Member Since: 10 Jun 2021
Location: Preston
Posts: 269

I wonder if there is a way to reset the gearbox parameters yourself. My last car a Volvo XC60 you put it into off-road mode which raised the suspension and changed the driving mode. you then drove it until due to speed etc it changed itself back to normal mode.This then reset the gearbox and it would then have to relearn. 110 XS 250 MY 23 Gondwana Stone, Cold climate pack and towbar

25th Mar 2023 6:15pm

lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2850

l am sure the gearbox alters its programming continuously. So it doesn't "learn" and then stay with the settings?

So if you reset it, won't it eventually end up the same as it was before?

27th Mar 2023 8:00am

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