OK, i'm reading with more and more concern about the failing gearboxes on our TD6's as my car seems to be right in the 'fail' range, with 150k km on the clock. What i'd like to know is... am i sitting on a time bomb here, with an inevitable failure just around the corner, or are there many vehicles out there that are still going strong at high mileage. Any experiences you have - with tips for your long-lived boxes would be very interesting.

Mine failed at 70 k but was replaced under warranty. Tip- Get a warranty (warranty direct)

Mine went at 112k miles. PO had it refurbed at a cost of £2k!

2 schools of thought here - either change your gearbox oil & that may postpone any failure or by changing the oil, you may dislodge something that could accelerate its demise.

If you have no symptoms yet (slow to take up drive or jerky changes or won't lock up) then an oil change could be the way ahead?

Personally, I would keep on driving & be prepared for a kick in the nuts when the inevitable comes!  Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

15 MY 110 XS USW

54 FFRR Vogue TD6 Touchscreen - Gone!
56 FFRR TDV8 VSE - Gone!

Mine has just turned 60k and from reading on this forum I have decided, if it ain't broke don't fix it.. Too many stories of faults after oil and filter changes to the gearbox. Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

Thanks guys. I'm also in two minds whether to do the oil change or not. at the moment it feels to run fine, certainly no jerking or failure to take up drive. perhaps the 'if it aint broke....' approach is best option.

Took ownership of mine with 126k on the clock so dropped oil and filter and replaced with genuine filter and fluid. After a further 3 months dropped and changed the fluid again, now got 142k on the clock and shes sweet as a nut Fingers crossed ! I wonder how many miles the Police got out of their TD6 boxes ?

See my previous post about faulty filters But if its good I would just check the oil level if its wear in the valve block changing the oils will not help.

Now a question had a conversation with an ex police mechanic about the gearbox he seems to think that using it in sport a lot can have an affect on its life, I can see where he is coming from as if you are using sport you will presumably be driving harder and it will use different valves in the transmission ( I think) So those with failed boxes grandma or boy racer? Mine was a blue one!

Let's hope so, as I drive mine like an old fart! And I'm young!  Reformed

I went through 5 td6 gearboxes in 120,000 miles.

2 did not last 5000 miles and were faulty!

were these 5 recon or new boxes? there must have been a fault, or they were not installed and filled with oil correctly, for two gearbox's to last 5k miles there is obviously an issue somewhere and I don't think that can be put down to LR. Yes failures at around 100 to 120k miles is well documented, but 5 boxes in the same period is just wrong.

I slot mine into S but use it more like a manual to force 5th and lock up when pootling at about 30-35 where it wouldnt normally allow lockup once you get past 36 in D it locks up nicely but as soon as you drop below it changes down again  FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

Never driven with the S function - I have tried it and it does work though and the vehicles never towed - so that could be the reason why its standing up to the 140k+ mileage

I suspect that a few of the TD6 gearbox issues relate to a driving style that simply cannot be matched by a TD6 gearbox due to the demands put on it by a heavy Range Rover that it was not 100% designed for.

TD6 that have been driven sedately seem to go on and on....

kingpleb wrote:

I slot mine into S but use it more like a manual to force 5th and lock up when pootling at about 30-35 where it wouldnt normally allow lockup once you get past 36 in D it locks up nicely but as soon as you drop below it changes down again

Same here, just why i fitted paddleshift to my SC... Makes it much better to drive and i must be saving at least 30% of gear changes...



Craig

Mine has now done 64K, I bought it 18 months ago with 43K on the clock. So far so good. I drive it very steady and I have never towerd and was told the car was never used to tow by previous owner. Taking these factors into account I am hoping my gearbox goes on and on. That said I am thinking of doing a geabox oil change in the next few months. Still undecided. FFRR TD6 HSE
Adriatic Blue with Parchment leather.