Possible front diff failure

**86mud** · 6th August 2021, 09:34 AM

Hi all

Here I am again having another bun fight with a Landrover dealer in Brisbane. Car is a 2014 Sport SDV8 HSE DYNAMIC 4.4L T/D Auto with 145,000kms on the clock. This car does city driving only. Never towed anything and only been on smooth dirt roads (has done less then 100kms on dirt in it's life). One owner since new.

I was driving it to the dealer to have another oil leak fixed - the oil level sensor (which was only replaced earlier in May) and on the way, the dash threw up a e-diff warning light. Never seen it before and thankfully I took a photo of it as the warning light disappeared after driving further.

Left car at dealers. Get a phone call in the afternoon saying that the computer is saying "E-Diff not available due to overheating, diff front pinion seal leaking could be overheating due to low oil level or poor oil quality. Recommend front pinion seal replaced if not at least recommend oil change." They provided me a crappy photos of the front diff, but the photo does not show any oil residue. There has been no sign of diff oil on the garage floor...only engine oil.

So the dealer sent a quote for $1800 just to change the front diff oil. They have not even dropped the oil at yet to make a proper diagnosis.

I asked them to send me better photos of the pinion seal, the breather and the sump plug (looking for signs of metal fines) plus a photo of the amount of oil in the diff. This was on Tuesday...today is Friday and I have not heard from them.

So has anyone had a similar issue with a front diff on this model? Is this the same diff as a D4?

Note - the only reason this car goes back to a dealer is that there are lingering issues under the extended warranty that they keep stuffing up. The oil level sensor is being replaced for free. (quote was $3000 just to replace this!)

Thanks

**101RRS** · 6th August 2021, 09:40 AM

Sorry a bit confused - you getting e diff faults but they have issues with the front diff not the e-diff - what have I missed.

**Tote** · 6th August 2021, 10:02 AM

Garry is correct, the E diff will either be he centre diff or the rear e diff (if fitted) I had a D3 where the rear e diff locked up, an oil change on the rear diff fixed it but I didn't have any warning lights.

Regards,
Tote

**SBD4** · 6th August 2021, 11:00 AM

Yep the boys are correct. E-Diff will refer to the rear diff not the front. I thought you may have just typed it incorrectly "of the front diff" rather than "the front of the (rear) diff".

Re the oil level sensor/leak (assuming similarities with the SDV6), from what I understand, the sensor is inside the sump with a wiring loom from that to a connector on the side of the block(immersed in hot oil). There was a failure mode with the earlier looms where capillary action would draw oil out to the connector causing a leak. There was a revision to the loom to prevent this. So 3 things can fail, the sensor itself, the loom coming lose in the sump and the loom drawing oil. The fixes, new sensor, a metal plate to lock the loom into the sensor and the updated loom. There may be a kit for this.

This failure is a major issue with these ford engines as the sum has to come off which requires a lot of ancillary work to get to it. It's quoted at something like 10 hours. not cheap. These sensors are actually designed be bolted into the sump from the outside. which is how most manufactures integrate them into their engines. This is obviously not a good idea for a vehicle that goes off road but, you would think they could come up with a way to protect it.

I would check if they replaced the loom and installed the plate when they replace the sensor previously and it wouldn't hurt to replace the oil in both diffs.

EDIT: Went and found this link which documents the sensor issues with good pics:

fullfatrr.com - View topic - Engine Oil Level - Not Available [4.4 SDV8]

Also, a correction to what I wrote... connection is on the side of the sump, not the block.

**Graeme** · 6th August 2021, 11:50 AM

If the problem is only oil migrating along the loom from the level sensor then there is no need to replace anything inside the sump as the cure is to fit a short migration prevention loom between the sump connector and the original plug - campaign N375. The fix is applicable to all SDV8s but if the turbo electronics have been affected by oil then a new turbo is also required.

PS As for the e-diff, if the dealer hasn't ever changed the oil then no wonder it's low.

**Gregz** · 6th August 2021, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Graeme

PS As for the e-diff, if the dealer hasn't ever changed the oil then no wonder it's low.

Also re e-diff , there is a not uncommon issue with the pinion seal. Search pinion seal on rrsport.co.uk L494 general forum.

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 7th August 2021, 08:06 AM

just adding info, my (2016) similar spec car had a 70K 60month dealer service last week and one item is the change of e-diff fluid,

**86mud** · 9th August 2021, 07:32 AM

Thanks everyone for the advice.... all this electronic stuff is driving me insane.....defender is much easier to work on and understand.

so just to clarify...E-diff (locking diff) is only on the back diff.

Will be interesting conversation with Landrover today

Thanks

**Geedublya** · 9th August 2021, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by 86mud

Thanks everyone for the advice.... all this electronic stuff is driving me insane.....defender is much easier to work on and understand.

so just to clarify...E-diff (locking diff) is only on the back diff.

Will be interesting conversation with Landrover today

Thanks

Yes E-diff is only in the back. Front diff on all late model Landrovers is open.

**86mud** · 10th August 2021, 11:40 AM

Thanks everyone.

Was a bun fight just for them to acknowledge that there was nothing wrong with the front diff, and that the rear is at fault. They have acknowledged that the repairs will be done under warranty, however I am tired of taking the car back there for the same re-occuring issues.

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