Hi guys, well 2 days into my FL2 ownership, the first fault has reared its head!

I have searched the forums and I can't seem to find anyone with exactly the same symptoms as me so I would like to pick your brains.

Yesterday my good lady went out on the school run. It started from cold fine, reversed off the drive, put it in drive and after about 30 seconds it started with symptoms that were like a clutch slipping. The revs were rising but speed was not really increasing. She stopped, called me and I dismissed it as her doing 'something daft' after telling her to start it and everything going back to normal.

Same story this morning, exactly the same symptoms.

I took it out tonight and it did the same again, except this time I got a beep, the yellow warning triangle with a circular arrow above it then the message "HDC FAULT SYSTEM NOT AVAILABLE", then "SPECIAL PROGRAMS OFF". I stopped the car, turned it off and back on again and everything went back to normal, although there was a bit of a clunk and jolt when I put it into drive.

I bought it from a local trader who seems like a nice genuine guy and he has agreed to sort it, but is there anything I should be wary of and are there any "temporary bodges" that could mask a more serious fault until it is out of its warranty period?

I managed to video it as it was happening (I was driving on a very quiet industrial estate ) and if anyone wants to or would be so good to look at it I can let you have it. That is unless there is a way of posting video clips on here?

Thanks

Andy 2007 FL2 TD4 XS AUTO IZMIR BLUE

Last edited by andyhart21 on 26th Apr 2017 9:19 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Put on utube and post link should work.

Read up on what Honest John (on web) says about rejecting a used car as you only have a limited time to do so if the problem persists. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Thanks for that Bob, I'll have a read.

One thing I forgot to say is that I tried putting the auto box in manual, and it wouldn't change up or down any gears while the error was present (can be seen in the second video). All working fine once stopped and restarted

I have uploaded the videos to YouTube (sorry for the terrible camerawork!)



 2007 FL2 TD4 XS AUTO IZMIR BLUE

There is a problem with one (or more) of the valves in the autobox valve block. Therefore it can't engage gear(s) properly and it switches to emergency mode. The emergency mode implies selecting 3rd gear, but it seems that just one of those elements involved in selecting the 3rd gear are with problems.
Don't stress that box anymore like that. Get it fixed.

That's great Alex thanks. Is it definitely more likely to be the valve block and not just an oil change required? The only reason I ask, is because an oil change is what the seller is proposing to do first I believe. How big/expensive a job is it to have the valve block replaced or repaired?

Andy 2007 FL2 TD4 XS AUTO IZMIR BLUE

i have/had the same problem but without the warnings just the failure to rev, read somewhere that auto boxes on cold days don't like going downhill until warm, yes I know that sounds crazy, so what I did on cold mornings was to start off in manual until at the bottom of the hill and then put it into auto, worked fine. Common sense isn't very common.
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2007 Land Rover Freelander2 I6 hse Auto

I thought it might be that with how the other half described the symptoms, but when it is happening you cannot select any other gears in manual and it won't change in auto. To me, it sounds exactly like what Alex says in that it is coming out of one gear but unable to select the next, which points to the hydraulic valve block 2007 FL2 TD4 XS AUTO IZMIR BLUE

My wife's petrol auto car won't change up above 2nd until warm and is designed like that but I think its a nonsense as you can still rev the bullocks off it in 2nd gear. Would make far more sense to have restricted the revs as well.

So back to car in hand, I don't have the auto so listen to Alex.

I would be asking for an exchange box from a reputable company being fitted (then you should get a reasonable warranty) as any old tom dick and harry will struggle with a auto box in depth repair or just bail out ASAP. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

andyhart21 wrote:

Is it definitely more likely to be the valve block and not just an oil change required? The only reason I ask, is because an oil change is what the seller is proposing to do first I believe. How big/expensive a job is it to have the valve block replaced or repaired?

That's not as expensive as I was fearing Alex. Do you have to remove the gearbox to replace the valve block or can it be done in situ? I assume you also have to drop the ATF out when replacing the block too?

Andy 2007 FL2 TD4 XS AUTO IZMIR BLUE

In my driving career I have had quite a few different cars with auto boxes and only one developed a problem at about 70k miles. It was a company car so it was taken away to the dealer who sent it off to a specialist who stripped the gearbox down. The car was never really sorted and by rights the gearbox should have been replaced. As it was a company car on lease it was moved on at 80k. I suppose my message is that you need to press hard on getting a warranty out of the dealer on any repairs to the box. For it to happen so quickly in your ownership it is clear that this car was "moved on" for a reason and that is the risk that the dealer has taken on by selling it. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

may be worth reading this !

http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic8757.html

I had issue's on start up with HDC disabled and all terrain system not available frequently and auto box slipping between gears and pulling away in 2nd rather than 1st so it really struggled.
For mine after 3 years of going to and fro to the dealer ( should of backed it after week 6) it was a corroded earth strap causing excessive voltage drop at start-up causing all the warnings and throwing the autobox into a frenzy Jaguar x-type sport gone
Jaguar x-type 2.2d sport one of my best cars ever sadly gone
Freelander 2 GS auto 2008 most unreliable ever ! gladly gone
Freelander 2 GS manual 2013 only time will tell !

Thanks for that. I'll look into it when I get the car back, the dealer collected it this morning so I should hopefully have more info on the fault later today. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come though  2007 FL2 TD4 XS AUTO IZMIR BLUE

Hi Andy

Also have a read here as I had a similar issue to you

http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic28838.html

You have a lot more protection these days thanks to the consumer rights act 2015, if a fault occurs within the first 6 months then it is assumed the fault was present at the time of purchase and it is down to the seller to prove that the fault wasn't, that's very difficult and expensive for them to do so.

Have a read on here too as it will give you a better idea of what your rights are

http://www.consumerrightsexpert.co.uk/buyi...ights.html

Apologies for the lack of updates on this issue, but I wanted to let the problem run it's full course before posting anything online.

The course of events since I last posted are as follows:

The dealer came to collect the car on the Friday morning for the proposed gearbox oil change, where it stopped selecting any gears whatsoever, and displayed a 'Transmission Failure' message on the display. He then had the AA recover it back to his garage, where the mechanic changed the gearbox oil. This made no difference at all, and when he called me he said the oil was black and smelled 'extremely burnt'. He then had it taken to a local auto gearbox specialist (E J Rose in Mansfield, Notts), who I subsequently found has an excellent reputation locally. After a few days he had stripped the box down and determined that it needed a full rebuild! The work was done and the car delivered back to me last Thursday (there was a delay in obtaining parts), where I found it had also had a new torque converter fitted. The total cost for the work came in at £1980, and the dealer was good to his word and sorted it without any hassle to myself (aside from being without the car for a few weeks). I cannot speak highly enough about the way he dealt with the problem, despite my earlier reservations regarding him proposing to just change the oil. The car now drives like new, but has already developed its next fault - a power steering fluid leak from the pressure pipe just behind the engine, above the offside front wishbone. I am having this sorted myself, I didn't have the heart to take it back to the dealer again! He is a very small outfit that trades from his home, and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending him.

His name is Richard Hill, and the company is Trade Zone Cars based in Bolsover, Derbyshire. I have no affiliation with him at all, just my personal experience of purchasing the car from him.

The only other car I have owned that developed this many faults in as short a space of time was an Alfa Romeo 156. I have everything crossed that this is not a sign of things to come, and the comparisons with the Alfa end there! I have undertaken some preventative maintenance at the weekend and fitted a large (2AWG) negative cable from the starter motor bolt back to the battery, and I plan on servicing the Haldex unit in the near future.

Cheers 2007 FL2 TD4 XS AUTO IZMIR BLUE