Having just returned from touring Germany with my caravan ( 1500 kg ) in my 14 my SD4 ,now with 8000 miles on the clock,
Fuel consumption was Appalling, over 2,500 miles I averaged 25 mpg ! towing
this was between a low of 18 mpg & a high of 23 mpg !

The auto box was changing gear like a fiddlers elbow, The slightest hill pomps it to change gear...and a steep hill will see it revving up to 3/4,000 rpm its also dropping too low Below 1500 rpm at low speeds...not very clever when you are towing ! Its already been back to the local dealers twice for poor fuel consumption, & all they do is change the speed at which it changes gear.... Having tried using the command shift which improves things a little.....But what the point of a auto when you have to use command shift !!

Is this a common problem....or is it me ?.....Problem with the Auto ecu ?
One very unhappy owner !!  14my,SD4 Auto XS Mauritius Blue, , Arm Rests, Privacy Glass,rear camera,

Triumph Tiger Sport 1050, 2013 from new

It has been commented on here previously that by adding the additional ground/earth strap/lead between the battery negative terminal and a suitable point next to or near the gearbox or starter motor that the auto box behaves much better...

I'm sure other more knowledgeable members will perhaps correct me if I'm wrong... I think there was also some chatter a while ago about a software upgrade too... 2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

That puts me off buying a new one! I get between 26 and 28 mpg out of mine when towing through England and Europe! 1998 300TDi Auto Disco, never to be forgotten.
2008 Auto TD4 Freelander2, now gone?
2013 Auto SD4 Freelander!
A proud member of Landytown.com
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My 14 reg sd4 is utterly useless in auto mode, like yours it just revs high and farts around with the gears. I use command shift and I achieve 4mpg more, now get 28mpg when towing and have 4000 miles on clock. You should get more than 25mpg as that is quite pants.

I did not know the dealer could change the gear change points, I may look into this as my normal auto mode even when not towing is rubbish.

You may want to get your electronic handbrake checked as they can stick on which may be affecting your car. I was told the electronic handbrake is a ball ache by my dealer, they reset my handbrake module due to it failing to release properly.

Don't quite understand why you leave it in Drive, when on m/ways or autoroutes I just shove it in 6th, if the revs drop to below 1500rpm, I knock it down one and again if needed, shove it back up again when able. never let it scream, no need, gives me 24-26mpg, but there again I cruise at 60 -65mph, You use the tools the car has  my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

Didn't know they could change the gear change points, as the gearbox is adaptive it learns your style, but at 60mph in sixth it will change down your only doing about 1800 rpm. Many have said put in 5th it pulls better and can improve the mpg.
Your mpg towing is no different to mine was, but the gearbox was fine, couldn't fault it for towing.

Last edited by ad210358 on 12th Aug 2014 8:13 pm. Edited 1 time in total

just ditch the dreaded van

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/column...nning.html At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

We'll I'm who would have thought that pulling a van could increase your fuel consumption

yes and they also wreck your tyres, suspension diff gearbox,(clutch) and engine At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

You want to stop blocking the roads towing trailers behind your tractors, the same could happen to you

My question was daft .. Sorry

Last edited by Purplemadboy on 12th Aug 2014 10:23 pm. Edited 1 time in total

I get 23mpg with out towing

And about the same when I am  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Cheers for the response gents, Looks like I'm going too give my local dealer a good reaming !!....Again
Or take it to a auto specialist.....who know what they are doing !! 14my,SD4 Auto XS Mauritius Blue, , Arm Rests, Privacy Glass,rear camera,

Triumph Tiger Sport 1050, 2013 from new

If you want my honest opinion Colin, there is nothing wrong with your car.

I have just come back and covered 1500 miles across France with my van, which is 1600kg's. We averaged between 21 and 25mpg when towing on cruise at 70mph. (2013MY SD4 Auto)

What do you expect when towing? Mine also changes gear quite often, depending on the hills etc. If your using genuine electrics, the gearbox adapts the gear change to keep the engine in the optimum torque band.

Mine also hung on to 3/4000 rpm at times.

I really don't know what people expect from mpg when pulling a ton and a half box! Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

23mpg is 12.3l/100kms. I don't think that is too bad especially at 70mph. Anyone towing out here would love to be getting that on their trip around Australia. Most sit on 50mph because they are dragging 3 tonne vans and getting half your economy.
A bloke named Liam, (Yorkie...you can guess where he's from ), is currently driving his old Disco around the block with his family. He got 20mpg plodding across the Nullabor. You might enjoy reading about it....

http://mercertravels.blogspot.com.au/2013_12_01_archive.html

I'm having fun keeping up with him