Thread: 2002 Freelander 1 SE V6 Auto gearbox problem

It's going to be hard to sell as is.

Without repairing it, your best option might be to trade it in if that's an option.

Otherwise you're going to have to spend a lot of $$ unless it's something simple. Some gearboxes don't like low battery voltage so I wonder if that was having an effect - for the sake of $100 or so, it may be worth trying.

The car isn't going to be worth much as a non runner, even a trade will get some crossed fingers like they are looking at Dracula!

The Jatco transmission is electronically controlled by ECM with a mechanical overide and control by you in the cockpit.

When the "jerk" occurred did the car stop completely, or did the transmission just give up the ghost and you lost the drive?

If the engine was dead after the jerk incident (wouldn't start) then my first thought goes to the crank sensor, if it was a engine runner or could be a runner (after getting the battery charged) but won't drive, see if you can get it on a scanner.
You will need to use/find someone with an LR dedicated scan tool like an Autologic/Testbook to interrogate the transmission. (I use Autologic)

These cars do have a lot of expensive faults/ repair options by a sudden failure is less of an option from my experience than loss of speeds and slipping which throws codes. Lights come on and you get check engine, ABS and downhills decent lights on for the most part.

Might be worth a second look and opinion before you give it the heave ho!
I work on these a lot so if you have any more questions just ask.
Cheers Dennis

Just say when I am try to go over 50 km/h by stepping on the accelerator the FL1 just revs up but the speed doesn't change at all to anything higher. Sometimes when it gives a jerk its possible to drive the vehicle for about half an hour but the problem returns. This has been going on for a while now so I just don't bother using the FL1. Since the past 3 months its been parked inside the garage and nobody has touched it.

The car dealers don't show much interest in trading in either as I tried that already. Could you please let me know a decent mechanic that is willing to diagnose and fix the problem. Also please tell me how much I will have to spend for a gearbox (obviously the cheaper the better - i don't mind if it a second hand gearbox even)?

G'Day, sorry to hear the bad news and I can only sympathise. I had a 2001 KV6 FL1 which I bought in 2009 with only 80,000k's on it. The vehicle was in immaculate condition and it came with the normal three months warranty. You wouldn't believe it, but 6 weeks after the warranty expired the auto tranny cooler unit cracked and allowed coolant into the Auto box (a Jatco unit). I had it rebuilt at the cost of around $5,000, we decided not to replace the solenoids as the technician said they should be OK and that would keep costs from blowing out.

Just after that the roof lining sagged, which we replaced then the coolant overflow tank cracked and then the Camshaft Position Sensor decided to call it a day, more dollars spent!

Then about three months ago we had the same problem as you are now having, a strong thud as the gearbox changed from second gear to third gear, it was that bad that the vehicle was undrivable. We rang the technician who said that by the sound of it the Solenoid has gone!, cost ....between $1500 to $2,500. depending!!

I said "that's it, I have had a gutfull of this vehicle" and we traded it in on a new hatchback. The thing is, we are sorry to see the FL1 go as it was a great car when it was going well, it suited us and the wife loved it!!

I can understand when a car is over ten years old repairs are part and parcel of the deal, but when you spend BIG DOLLARS on a transmission rebuild only for it to fail again is too much.

That's my sad story and I wish you well in your situation, my advice.......get rid of it!!!!!!!

Sounds like a speed sensor issue. Here is a link to test resistances on sensors ans solenoids.

http://www.drivehq.com/web/jfenley/T...out_JF506E.pdf

Some of the sensors can be changed with out removing the gearbox, some cant. the solenoids can be replaced without removing the gearbox.

If you were a bit closer I would be happy to look at it.