Thread: Defender 90 (2012) Clutch / Gerar Box noise

Mine was exactly the same. Landrover who had been doing the maintenance said it required a new clutch and quoted $3600(not in warranty 2008 model 150k on the clock). I was getting tired of landrovers poor quality workmanship having to continually return the vehicle. The maintenance through them was a remnant of the lease. At that cost I got a second opinion from a friend who is a local mechanic and 4wd enthusiast. He tested the clutch by driving costing then let the clutch out with a few extra revs. He then pushed the lever nearly into gear without use of the clutch and the noise all but subsided. He determined that the noise was more likely from the gearbox. I think later models such as yours had heavier duty springs in the clutch plate.
So in offering the work to him he said don't worry about it for the moment the clutch still has a bit of life in it. That was over a year ago. The gear box has continued to get noisier though still operates fine. The rattle is more pronounced at idle than any other time.
If under warranty I am sure they will replace the clutch, though I would be questioning the gearbox as a lead into any post work you may not be happy with if as I suspect the some noise could remain in the same circumstances.

I'm a member of the Land Rover Register of South Australia and a few people have also told me that my model should have the heavier duty clutch fitted. My mechanic (PCB Land Rover) unfortunately is not authorized to do warranty work so I have to rely on Solitaire Automotive to do the right thing which concerns me a bit after my first and only experience with them about 12 months ago. The warranty in still valid till February 2015 so hopefully I can get it sorted out by then. Thanks for the information you provided.

Originally Posted by Defender90007

I've got a 2012 Defender 90 (still under warranty) I've noticed over the last 1 - 2 weeks that when it's idling (foot off the clutch) it sounds like a cold rattly diesel motor from the 70's however, when I put my foot on the clutch it sounds like it should, as quiet as a diesel motor can be. Any ideas what could be causing all the noise ?
It doesn't seem to matter if the motor is cold or normal operating temperature, the noise is still there. The fact that putting my foot on the clutch stops the excess noise would suggest the noise is clutch related wouldn't it ?
I'm no mechanic and it is going in to be looked at but just wondering if anyone else had experiencing anything similar with a model around the same age ?

I am not a mechanic but this sounds like a 'Clutch Release Bearing'.

As the ball bearings in the bearing housing wear, they sometimes begin to rattle and thats the noise you can hear. It goes away when you push the clutch in as you are now loading the bearing surface.

Nothing really to worry about, it will just get noisier. Not sure however if in a LR this may mean the bearing is breaking up so obviously get your mechanic to check it out.

Cheers, Pete

I probably should mention it hasn't done 50K km's yet and just for the record, "No" I don't ride the clutch, being an "Ex Truckie" I'd like to think I know how to change gears.
Thanks again for all the feedback.

Hi, sounds like the clutch throw bearing. Heavy duty on highway trucks make a similar noise where they rattle big time, put your foot on the clutch just to add a small amount of pressure and the noise will stop.
If the clutch doesn't slip then the plates are ok. If when releasing the clutch the vehicle does not shudder then the flywheel is ok and doesn't need skimming.
It is under warranty so request your local Landrover dealer fix it because it is not normal. Probably won't let you down but suggest get the throw out bearing replaced.

Regards

I have a 2.2 TDCI with 40k and it started rattling a few weeks ago, exactly as you describe. Sometimes it sounds normal on startup, but once I press down on the clutch and release it, the rattle is there and it's getting progressively louder. The LR mechanic went for a drive with me and also recorded the changes in sound. I'm pleased that he did because it's going to be fixed under warranty. I get the feeling that this is not an uncommon issue. Land Rover have supplied the necessary parts to the dealer and the Defender is booked in for the 4th and 5th December, a week after my warranty has expired. Here's hoping that it's only the release bearing and nothing down the line in the gearbox.

Hi 85county, let me know the outcome after your cars been in for repair.

Usually replacing that good old Puma clutch will fix that noise,

I have done a few now with that same fault, the torsional vibration through the friction plate centre and damper springs cause the mainshaft to 'clack' at idle, new upgraded clutch solved the problem. The transmission in these vehicles rarely gives any issues at all.

I wish I could get away with charging $3600 though!!!

About half that was the last one I did from memory, and that was using AP or similar decent quality clutch kit, and a new slave cylinder/ throwout bearing assembly. (these DO NOT come in the clutch 'kit' )

JC