Transfer box Problem at 19k miles 55 reg

[dmmoorhouse]

Hi,

Hello to everyone on the forum, look forward to spending time on here.

I would welcome a view from the forum on my chance of getting a goodwill settlement from land rover UK for my gearbox problem. I have a 55 plate standard 90 Defender that we have had since brand new. The vehicle only has 19k miles on the clock and has developed a very serious bang in the drivetrain.

It usually happens in third gear, and is a sudden one off large bang that makes the whole landy shudder. The high / low range lever will engage / disengage diff lock, but seems frozen in high box, it wont offer to go in low box.

Our local garage has advised it is a transfer box problem, and refered us to the local main dealers to get the work done there.

So the question is, whats my chances of getting some help with the cost of the parts / repair?

Cheers

[Retroanaconda]

Well, they may contribute to the cost, but if it's out of warranty they'll likely try to avoid doing so.

The people to speak to about the problem itself are Ashcroft Transmissions:

http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/

Very well regarded, they can supply re-built gear and transfer boxes, and there is a fitting service too. If Land Rover won't help you out with the price, and you have to fork out to have the work done, I'd take it to them.

[FridgeFreezer]

If you can't get it done under warranty I'd buy a good used one for ~£100 and either fit it yourself or find an independent LR specialist to do it. They don't usually go wrong. Or take it to Ashcroft, although that will likely cost you more and involve a bit of a trip.

[Happyoldgit]

Unless you have been keeping up with an extended warranty I reckon your chances are slim. They are bad enough with newish vehicles still in warranty let alone something that has potentially been out of warranty for two years.

Ashcrofts should be your second port of call, unless your local garage knows the marque they may well have missed something as simple as loose prop bolts.

[tweetyduck]

i'd take em to court if they don't fix it. If you're a road user (or light user) and its only done 19k its not of merchantable quality. Costs almost nothing through small claims. They won't even turn up to the case and you'll likely win even if they do. It will cost them at least £8000 to get a brief involved. Word of advice don't threaten to do it. Just do it once you've been rejected officially by the normal (polite) means. The trans box should last way longer then that!

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/claims/index.htm

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

Showing you have attempted to argue your case before taking legal action is always a good start. Everything in writing.

A specialist will be able to do you a report and send this to LR. Show them you're serious.

[dmmoorhouse]

Thanks for the responses.

So no one has had much luck with goodwill then?

Is it surprising that this has happen on a newish box? We do tow a 12foot ifor trailer which can be up to max weight now and again, but have never really had it in low much.

[jad]

Just wondering if you have tried draining the fluid to see if you get a chunk of something out.

Is it possible a tooth of one of the gears has broken off and occasionaly gets pulled round the transfer box?

Obviously still want to get it fixed but this might stop the bang and shudder from happening in the mean time.

Mind you i have never heard of this before, its just a wild guess.

[Dave W]

Does the bang happen when you're going in a straight line or when rounding a corner ?

As for warranty, it depend really. I've only had a major claim on a vehicle that was just out of warranty by 6 months and Land Rover were very good about it and replaced an engine FOC even though the vehicle had done 8000 miles more than the 60000 warranty and was over the 3 years as well.

Your vehicle, OTOH is 5 years old but if you can show that you've had it serviced to their spec. every 6 or 12 months (or whatever the intervals are for your vehicle) then they might consider it, the Land rover dealership that does the work will need to make your case to Land Rover though, you can't do it yourself.

Transfer boxes are normally pretty bullet proof but the diff is weak and will fail if you spin the wheels for a sustained period without locking the diff. If this sounds like something you may have done then that would point towards the problem. Having said that though, if it really only does it in 3rd gear then that can't be transfer box related.