2012 Defender must be a 'real' Land Rover... Or my bad luck simply continues

[wannabeexplorer]

The past 6 months felt like 6 years; then I finally got the call to collect my new doublecab Tuesday gone past, but I didn't go home with the flowers...

There was an issue uploading the Aussie software version and wouldn't be resolved by the end of the day and considering the following day was Anzac day, nobody would be working late, so I went home with a demo from the dealership instead.

I waited so long for the damn thing I wasn't even upset about the news and anyway 2 sleeps will go by quick. By midday Thursday I got the OK to come get the beauty, this time taking the whole family with to share in the joys. My little boy just couldn't stop talking (more the he usually does when he's excited), but my little baby girl was either hungry or didn't like it and cried the whole way home.(She must have been hungry!) Not quite the first drive I had imagined...

The following day I had to drive about 60 km to get milk, because all the shops near me ran out of course! That's when I noticed a worrying noise, which to me sounds like the diff :( It's more apparent when I slow down braking in neutral or simply slowing down without breaks, it stutters as if it's in gear and the engine about to stop.
Back to the dealership with a mechanic driving along to confirm the noise "isn't normal" and a quick visual inspection reveals nothing, so will have the "axels dropped" on Tuesday to hopefully find and rectify the issue.

Issues before I got the keys and more aches after only being 96km old, I hope this isn't signs of what's to come, spending more time at the dealers workshop than on the tracks.
Another opertunity to get out there gone by, not wanting to take a chance and possibly get towed home; maybe next weekend hey?

[justinc]

What a pain!:(

It sounds more like a sticking park brake to me,chattering as you are coming to a stop like the clutch is still engaged. If so, an easy fix, and most likely an over exuberant human adjusting it too far.

JC

[Sue]

It's disappointing I know, but try to look on the bright side; they will work out what is wrong with it, fix it, return it and you'll soon have your beautiful new car back... :)

[Fluids]

Better to have the issues crop up early, get them all sorted ASAP, and then you'll have better un-interupted play time ! :)

[PAT303]

My moneys on the handbrake being adjusted too tight. Pat

[dullbird]

The past 6 months felt like 6 years; then I finally got the call to collect my new doublecab Tuesday gone past, but I didn't go home with the flowers...

There was an issue uploading the Aussie software version and wouldn't be resolved by the end of the day and considering the following day was Anzac day, nobody would be working late, so I went home with a demo from the dealership instead.

I waited so long for the damn thing I wasn't even upset about the news and anyway 2 sleeps will go by quick. By midday Thursday I got the OK to come get the beauty, this time taking the whole family with to share in the joys. My little boy just couldn't stop talking (more the he usually does when he's excited), but my little baby girl was either hungry or didn't like it and cried the whole way home.(She must have been hungry!) Not quite the first drive I had imagined...


The following day I had to drive about 60 km to get milk, because all the shops near me ran out of course! That's when I noticed a worrying noise, which to me sounds like the diff :( It's more apparent when I slow down braking in neutral or simply slowing down without breaks, it stutters as if it's in gear and the engine about to stop.
Back to the dealership with a mechanic driving along to confirm the noise "isn't normal" and a quick visual inspection reveals nothing, so will have the "axels dropped" on Tuesday to hopefully find and rectify the issue.

Issues before I got the keys and more aches after only being 96km old, I hope this isn't signs of what's to come, spending more time at the dealers workshop than on the tracks.
Another opertunity to get out there gone by, not wanting to take a chance and possibly get towed home; maybe next weekend hey?

Did it only do it once the car was warm? I will back pat up sounds like a dragging handbrake if it did

[wrinklearthur]

Handbrake adjustment first, then, is the pinion bearing preload too tight?
.

[Chops]

Mine used to run rough at idle at the lights every now and then, so when it went in for its first service, I tell them,,
Two weeks later I get the car back,, new ECU, and new injectors (because they could'nt reprogram the originals),, runs well now :) but seems to be using more juice than normal, :(
They can check this at the next service,, :mad: (and I dont want a Volvo as a loaner,,- how embaressing,,:eek:)
Hopefully its something easy for you,, but as said, better now than when the warranty's over.

Chops

[wannabeexplorer]

Thanks for all the replies guys, I will certainly relay the suspicion of the handbrake.

There are some gravel roads around the corner from me, so I took the landy there to play with the short stick to see if there was any difference when the diff was locked and then locked low range, and I couldn't hear the noise anymore, and is wasn't jerking when slowing down or braking... (probably just coincidence rather than anything todo with the 'short stick'?)

I was only doing short little runs to the local shop and started to think that if the noise aint there, how would the poor mechanic isolate the problem never mind fix it... So I went on a longer drive (about 50km) yesterday and on the way home I started noticing it again. So it does seem like it starts when driving some distance, but it hasn't been as bad as the first time I noticed it.

[Sue]

: (and I dont want a Volvo as a loaner,,- how embaressing,,:eek:)

Chops

Lmao!!! Very good! :D

[cal415]

does it have LR HD suspension? my money is on the front tailshaft, i had similar with my 130 from day one, as the suspension settled and i put a front bar on it settled down a little, check out the uni on the TC end and see if you can see any rub marks. You may not have noticed it with a car full of people as it might have been sitting a little lower.

[Grappler]

Ive done 4000km in my new 130. The rear diff has been changed out to stop growling when backing off at speed, front swivel(CV) housing and hub assembly changed out to solve grease escaping, coolant tank lid and tank changed out to solve coolant leak. The dealer was great resolving these problems under warranty.
Similar to discussion in thread, my 130 has a shudder as the vehicle slows to a stop (especially after a long run). The dealer identified this as the the transmission hand brake dragging. Adjustments to the brake have failed the stop the shuddering. Will be interested in the solution

[wannabeexplorer]

@cal415 I'm not sure if it has the HD suspension, how can I verify that?
I believe it's only the 130's and the 110 single cab pickups that come with the HD suspension as standard

Will let you guys know what it turned out to be tonight (if I get my car back today, fingers grossed)

[wannabeexplorer]

No courtesy car, $75 cab ride home and then got the dreaded call from the dealer saying that they traced the fault to the rear diff, but will only get my car back on Thursday! Too upset to ask about the detail of the issue / cause...

It's difficult to find any positive to this, but I guess it rather happen now (under warranty) and close to home than on a trip in remote country...

[Judo]

No courtesy car, $75 cab ride home and then got the dreaded call from the dealer saying that they traced the fault to the rear diff, but will only get my car back on Thursday! Too upset to ask about the detail of the issue / cause...

It's difficult to find any positive to this, but I guess it rather happen now (under warranty) and close to home than on a trip in remote country...
Exactly... could be a lot worse. If it makes you feel any better, my last breakdown was 5 hours away from home and I had to leave the Disco at the local garage for a week.... It was a sad week. Your scenario sounds much nicer! ;)

[dullbird]

if its doing it after long runs I reckon it would be the hand brake for sure...used to happen to mine a lot and only ever happened on long runs once everything got hot...
it was a distinctive knocking

it actually sounds quite bad when it happens..

could be diff I guess but strange you dont hear that on the shorter runs...because if a diff is crook its crook, and yes you generally hear it more on the higher higway speeds but you still hear it at the lower stuff too just not as bad

good luck with what ever it is though :)

[pureredcordial]

My MY2012 has the shudder when stopping when hot. Dealer mechanic diagnosed as dragging handbrake and backed it off a little. It still does it but now takes a longer drive to get it happen (doesn't happen around town too much).

To me it would seem everything expands when hot and the shoes just start to grab a little as the drum is probably not perfectly round. If I deliberately leave the handbrake on a little so it constantly drags then there is no shudder. I meant to back the hand brake right off as a test but haven't got around to it.

But I have been driving a Jeep Wrangler with dual detroit lockers everyday for 10 years...which makes everything about the Defender smoooooooth :)

[justinc]

The most likely suspect if it is the park brake dragging is the main output shaft nut coming loose and oil leaking onto the shoes, this was the subject of a service action IIRC and I have rectified many also. It will cause the same symptoms as a tight dragging parkbrake, a noisy and chattering shudder as you are slowing down. A bit late now but if you could've reached under the vehicle and felt if the park brake drum is cool or hot it would've been a dead giveaway.

Hope it gets fixed ASAP.

JC

[wannabeexplorer]

The rear diff was replaced since that's where it sounded like the noise came from, but turned out not to be the issue, so they proceeded to look at transfer case and found some moulding sand in the bottom!

Full marks to the dealership for keeping me informed and resolving the issue; they have also given me a demo Freelander to drive around in until I get the truck back...

[wrinklearthur]

----, so they proceeded to look at transfer case and found some moulding sand in the bottom!

Well that's a new one ! I'm please to read that the dealer is looking after you.

That sand shouldn't worry the gears much but the bearings will need to be replaced.
I have seen sand in the bottom of gearboxes of tractors that has caused no real damage, but in your situation with the transmission binding, it is highly probable then the bearings are already marked.

A completely new transfer box fitted under warranty would now be the long term answer to this situation, as it is definitely a manufacturing fault this time.
.

[Scouse]

The rear diff was replaced since that's where it sounded like the noise came from, but turned out not to be the issue, That'll make for an interesting warranty claim.......which dealer did you say..... :angel:

[wagoo]

:(
It's disappointing I know, but try to look on the bright side; they will work out what is wrong with it, fix it, return it and you'll soon have your beautiful new car back... :)

I was breaking in a new laptop when I came across your post with my mouth full of coffee . Now the keypad's a mess and the mouse has a mind of its own.:mad:
Bill.

[justinc]

The rear diff was replaced since that's where it sounded like the noise came from, but turned out not to be the issue, so they proceeded to look at transfer case and found some moulding sand in the bottom!

Full marks to the dealership for keeping me informed and resolving the issue; they have also given me a demo Freelander to drive around in until I get the truck back...

Sand in the transfer case. Moulding sand. That is just so wrong.

That is a new low.

JC

[Sue]

:(

I was breaking in a new laptop when I came across your post with my mouth full of coffee . Now the keypad's a mess and the mouse has a mind of its own.:mad:
Bill.

Is it under warranty?.. :p