Recently purchased an 62 plate SD4 it has just shy of 100,000 miles on the clock, my initial joy has been dulled somewhat by the lumpy gear change and what turned out to be a faulty haldex control board (this was expertly fixed by Warren and crew at muddy mods).

However the gear change remains an issue especially when I've been driving for a while (every now and then i get a noticeable thump (almost as if the engine is going to stall, if you get me) and i have to select N when in standing traffic. other than this everything works as it should and no faults are showing up on diagnostics (unfortunately it's now out of warranty, so repairs are down to me )

so question's:

1, is a noticeable gear change on the auto normal ? (i'm comparing it to my Range Rover)
2, is there a recommended interval for oil & filter change on the gearbox ?
3, do you think just a oil/filter change will help ?

Cheers

Definitely not normal and an oil change may well help.

A 12 year old car might well have 12 year old gearbox fluid. I’d change it or get it changed.

Has it had the gearbox software update?

Thanks all,

i don't believe it has had the software update (nothing on the service record but not sure if there would be)

there is an automatic gearbox specialist here in Nottingham who can do the fluid change and possibly the software as well, so it maybe off to them in the very near future

Even the LR official Service Schedule says that at 10 years you need your ATF changed, and they are not too keen on over-servicing the car. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 82k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

cheers, looks like its well overdue for a fluid change.

I'd normally do all service things myself but i'm too fat to get under a Freelander (the range rover goes to off road height on the air suspension & the discovery two had a suspension lift so there was plenty of room underneath)

I think that after 12 years the autobox needs a thorough change of ATF.

its a bit of a PITA to DIY the ATF change as you can only drain out around 3L of the 7L inside simply bt removing the drain plug.

A flushing machine would be a good idea. Jules

I think you're looking at 2 problems here,

Quote:

1, is a noticeable gear change on the auto normal ? (i'm comparing it to my Range Rover)

Quote:

especially when I've been driving for a while (every now and then i get a noticeable thump (almost as if the engine is going to stall, if you get me) and i have to select N when in standing traffic.

I agree there should be no reason to select N as the FL2 transmission is designed to hold on footbrake, the Gearbox will automatically select a 'false' neutral until you release the footbrake.
Other functions like 'Hill Hold' rely on you driving like this.

As said above the FL2 should 'Creep' when footbrake is released. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 82k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

I recently had both egr and gearbox issues.
Egr valve and cooler were changed but lumpy shuddering which turned out to be transmission related remained. Indy reflashed the gearbox software which made no difference at all. I then did an autobox oil change using the gibbons method which improved the gear change a lot. I added a tube of Dr Tranny shudder fix which seemed to have cured the problem for a while but this last week I have noticed a little shuddering return.
I'll give it another shot of Dr Tranny and keep an eye on it.
I'm towing the caravan 120 miles next week so I'd imagine that will give the engine and box a good workout, certainly gets it hot enough for a dpf regen!
If the problem returns I guess I'm looking at a torque converter replacement at a minimum. 😖 Given the age of the car, it's mileage and value I'm starting to question the economics of this and wondering should I be considering moving on to something newer. Then again I do love the Freelander, I know it's been looked after and it's just like an old comfortable pair of shoes, that and the crazy cost of newer cars has me in two minds. There's also very little out there I'm actually liking the look of as a replacement. It's for mot end of this month, will see how it fares then although I don't anticipate any big issues. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

Thanks for all the input,

I've booked it for a gearbox flush etc with muddy mods so that's the first step.

re the thump the only way i can describe it is it feels like you've been rear ended by a car! but it's so intermittent it's hard to diagnose.

i was thinking about the EGR valve and was looking to taking it off for a clean which i did in my disco & the range rover but it appears to be in a right ball ache location. it may yet go to terraclean for an egr system clean.

lets see how the gearbox flush/new fluid goes first....fingers crossed Range Rover L322 (the current posh one)
Discovery 2 (just gone)
Discovery 1 (long gone)