 | Home > Faults & Fixes (L663) > 25MY Defender Gearbox Engagement Delay |
 
|
|
|
| Flinders Member Since: 17 Feb 2024 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 52  
|
This was one of the many issues I had with my recently rejected D350. I likened it to when I was a new driver many years ago with my fiesta and a dodgy clutch!
The first technician couldn’t find a problem, the second, more experienced technician who was trying to solve the rolling back in ‘d’ issue resolved the dodgy gear change by reprogramming each gear one by one. Not sure how he did this but he said it took hours. It did actually solve the poor gear changes! Shame they couldn’t fix the rolling back so I still rejected the car. MY25 Defender 90 D350 X Dynamic HSE - REJECTED 
MY18 Discovery 5 3.0ltr TD6 HSE Lux - Derek |
||
23rd Dec 2024 3:00pm |
|
| LandyLover1107 Member Since: 23 Dec 2024 Location: Western Cape Posts: 8 
|
Interesting…
I have searched far and wide but could not find a single complaint about this issue. Have you posted your experience on other platforms/forums perhaps? I’m trying to gather as many people as possible with the same complaint. It’s funny to me that this isn’t bigger than it is because as far as I know, it’s an issue on all new 25MY Defenders between D250 and D350. The fact that these pass through quality control at JLR is mind boggling… |
||
|
23rd Dec 2024 6:19pm |
|
| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2865 
|
My 2022 D250 has always done this to an extent. l think it's due to the gearbox software disengaging drive when it thinks it isn't needed.
l find it's better in the "grass gravel snow" setting ! Although that's obviously not ideal. Not sure if there's a solution. l've driven a BMW fitted with the same gearbox, and also a Grenadier. They were both similar. It's worth checking the oil level in the transmission as l believe sometimes it's a little low from the factory (what l was told by a LR independent specialist) Sadly checking the transmission oil level isn't straightforward but they said if the level is a bit low it can cause slight delay in drive take-up. |
||
|
23rd Dec 2024 6:39pm |
|
| LandyLover1107 Member Since: 23 Dec 2024 Location: Western Cape Posts: 8
|
What year model is yours lightning?
I’ve also driven all models of the Grenadier and just had an LCI BMW X5 on test for a weekend. None of them do anything close to what the 25MY Defender does. It’s so bad in the Defender that I’ve actually once nearly hit a wall with the spare wheel because the car rolled back when I was trying to set off. My immediate instinct was to look down to confirm I was actually in Drive, which of course I was. Yes all these cars are fitted with the 8spd ZF transmission, which is probably the best auto box in the market, but something with the calibration or engagement programming in the new Defenders is completely off. What irritates me the most is the fact that 24MY Defenders were perfect! |
||
|
23rd Dec 2024 6:51pm |
|
| LandyLover1107 Member Since: 23 Dec 2024 Location: Western Cape Posts: 8
|
Sorry I somehow missed the very first words in your post stating 2022🫣.
Thanks for the tip on the grass gravel snow mode, I’ll give it a try for interest sake and also have the dealer check the transmission oil level. Much appreciated |
||
|
23rd Dec 2024 6:53pm |
|
| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2865
|
Mine is a 2022
Once it had done some miles (around 3,000 from new) the gear shift and engagement became a lot smoother. l've now done 17,000 miles and don't find it a problem at all. But when it was new, you'd slow down for instance for traffic and then when you came to accelerate the engine revs shoot up followed by a lurch as the transmission suddenly engaged. |
||
|
23rd Dec 2024 6:55pm |
|
| LandyLover1107 Member Since: 23 Dec 2024 Location: Western Cape Posts: 8
|
Yes! I’ve had the same happen a couple of times.
Maybe some mileage will sort it out over time like you say. I guess the more technologically advanced these cars become, the more things are bound to be a little funky or different. Still not ideal in an almost 2 million Rand car (where I’m from) . |
||
|
23rd Dec 2024 7:01pm |
|
| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2865
|
The transmission oil level has to be checked with the engine running. lf you take out the fill plug with the engine not running you'll find that oil pours out! That's because when the engine is running the oil is drawn into the torque converter from the transmission oil sump.
|
||
|
23rd Dec 2024 8:45pm |
|
| Flinders Member Since: 17 Feb 2024 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 52
|
I’ve had the issues from day one and posted on here and Facebook groups but I felt I was an outlier as no one else seemed to have a problem! I’ve searched on the internet before rejection in the hope I could find a solution but advice was press the auto brake hold button and it’ll stop you rolling back.
The gearbox programming did stop the rough drive but not the rolling. Seems velar had a problem in the 2018 onwards from the forums I found. MY25 Defender 90 D350 X Dynamic HSE - REJECTED
MY18 Discovery 5 3.0ltr TD6 HSE Lux - Derek |
||
|
23rd Dec 2024 8:58pm |
|
| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2865
|
Rolling back? I don't think l have had that happen, when did it happen on yours. Was it when you stopped on a hill and took your foot off the gas?
l've tried the auto brake hold on occasion but it makes it difficult to parallel park as the brakes keep coming on. So l don't use it. |
||
|
23rd Dec 2024 9:31pm |
|
| Flinders Member Since: 17 Feb 2024 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 52
|
It was on hills and as soon as took foot off the brake to move to accelerator it rolled back in Drive and reverse camera would come on. The Hill Start Assist should kick in on a gradient and hold the car for approx 3 seconds to allow you to move off but it never kicked in. MY25 Defender 90 D350 X Dynamic HSE - REJECTED
MY18 Discovery 5 3.0ltr TD6 HSE Lux - Derek |
||
|
23rd Dec 2024 11:01pm |
|
| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2865
|
That definitely sounds like a fault. Mine has never done that.
Last edited by lightning on 24th Dec 2024 8:43am. Edited 1 time in total |
||
|
23rd Dec 2024 11:50pm |
|
| LandyLover1107 Member Since: 23 Dec 2024 Location: Western Cape Posts: 8
|
Yes no it's definitely a fault that started with the very first 25MY. What Flinders is saying is exactly what I've been experiencing apart from the rear camera coming on - that must be in extreme cases where the car PDC sensors start to panic and engages the camera - a sign that this is not normal!
To describe exactly and in more detail: At a stand-still, in Drive and with the brake applied, you release the brake and press the accelerator - there is a build up of revs but the car does not move (and on an incline rolls backwards) the car physically acts like it is in neutral for a second and then suddenly the gearbox/torque converter engages causing a surge forward - very unnatural and sometimes unnerving. Some noteworthy mentiones: if you let go of the break and give the car a second or two before applying throttle, it seems to be enough time to allow the gearbox to engage - then it at least does not surge but will still roll back on an incline. The "HOLD" function does stop it from rolling because it holds the brake for you, but will still jolt forward upon acceleration, |
||
|
24th Dec 2024 7:42am |
|
| Flinders Member Since: 17 Feb 2024 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 52
|
Landylover1107 that is very much how mine felt when it was rolling back! As a woman I also felt when trying to describe what it was doing that I wasn’t listened to and looked upon like it must be something I was doing wrong …….until I showed the technician exactly what it was doing! Although they still never solved it!
I just hope my replacement I’ve ordered does do the same! I need for towing horses so you can imagine what that would be like with 2 tonne on the back! lol! MY25 Defender 90 D350 X Dynamic HSE - REJECTED
MY18 Discovery 5 3.0ltr TD6 HSE Lux - Derek |
||
|
24th Dec 2024 10:39am |
|
|
|
| All times are GMT |
< Previous Topic | Next Topic > |
Posting Rules
|
Site Copyright © 2006-2025 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
