Hello all!

I’ve just purchased my first ever L322. It’s a high (ish) mileage (just shy of 140k) 5.0 SC Autobiography, Santorini black with rare tan interior, and the exterior design kit that appears to have been added at a later date, not from factory. Currently has L320 RR Sport alloy wheels with good Scorpion all season tyres fitted. Chain and tensioners and water pump changed at LR in 2020, 40k miles ago. Engine sounds sweet.

The only thing so far I have noticed is a “rumble strip” style vibration (could also describe as a light “juddering” or light oscillating vibration) under light load. This happens only when applying light throttle at between 1-2k RPMs. Sometimes it’s incredibly subtle, other times it’s very noticeable, however, I wouldn’t describe this as horrific. On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being a rough road service and 10 being driving with 4 flat tyres, it’s typically a 3/10 but sometimes up to 5/10 in terms of strength. It’s also intermittent - it doesn’t do it all the time. I’m very used to horrific vibrations from my (pictured) XJ Cherokee, so am not overly sensitive to it. Just want to make sure I’m not sitting on something that’ll end up causing problems if not addressed early.

Any help on identifying this? I don’t think it’ll be the tyres causing this, which is what the bloke who sold it to me mentioned can cause some vibrations. My first thought was the torque converter, and I truly hope it is not that. Your expertise is appreciated!

Tom

On the straight or on a bend, or both?
Have you tried it in low box, should tell if it's speed or revs related? Pete
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2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Hi Haylands,

Thanks for your quick reply!

Hard to say re straight or bends. There aren’t many longer bends near me where you’d keep your foot in long enough to tell. I’ve noticed it only going straight as a result but could easily be both.

Good shout - hadn’t tried it in low box. Will do that this evening and see. I did put it into sport mode and hold the revs at certain points, however, it’s intermittent and I couldn’t replicate it every single time.

Does it do it in every gear? May be related to the torque converter which can often cause juddering. My understanding is that gears 1-3 this will be worse, then 4th gear upwards it is locked. Search the forum and there's quite a bit of info on here, look for info from 'RRPhil' as the resident gearbox guru. Can normally feel it worse when going up an incline too.

Assuming this was bought from a dealer as the spec sounds like one I saw for sale recently, have you spoken to them about it?

Hi Parallel,

You’re right - much more noticeable in 1st-3rd gear. I’ll search up RRPhil’s posts and see if I can find any useful info.

Yes, purchased from Auto Bahn/Barn. I spoke briefly to them about it which is when they mentioned it could be caused by tyres. At that point, it’d only done it once or twice and not badly enough to think otherwise. Might give a call back as I can be almost certain it’s not the tyres.

Worst case scenario, do you know what it could set me back for a new TC?

Tom

Welcome to the shudder club same thing has happened to me with my new purchase.
Have a look in search loads on here about the shudder...it's not tyres.
I'm in the process of flushing the gearbox I'm 2 flushes in plus pan/filter come thursdsy I'm dropping the metatronics unit and replacing the bridge and tube seals.
If I still have an issue it will be new solinoids after that new torque converter.oh the joy

Have a look at your rev counter on a steady run see if it's bouncing a little

Please keep me updated with your progress Dave!

Had it up on ramp this eve. No play in prop, ruled that out. On a positive, looks great underneath - only issue is some surface rust (NO rot at all!) and a light misting of oil on sump, no drips.

Rev counter stays pretty true on a steady run, however not managed to catch it when shuddering occurs as it’s incredibly brief and inconsistent - 2 secs a time at most. Couldn’t replicate in low box. Didn’t notice it being worse going uphill, either.

When you're on the motorway, stick the cruise control on at 70 and see if the revs stay solid or if they fluctuate.

I had a similar issue in my car last year and after doing some fault finding it turned out to be the torque converter lock up solenoid in the gearbox.

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic68557.html

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

Thanks David, I’ll give this a try. If it turns out to be the same issue, is this something a typical garage could fix or would I be best off with a specialist?

https://www.automatic-gearbox.co.uk/land-rover-gearboxes/
Been researching the same…….what is it with these 5.0s at the moment 😂. Have mine booked into an indie on Monday. (Booking made before this developed) I thought it was just misfiring until reading dhallworth’s posts. No codes on GAP tool either. 2010 Supercharged

Let me know how you get on Alex - hopefully easily sorted for you.

Update for me: took down to my local indie. They diagnosed/road tested and confirmed TC likely the issue. Spoke to the dealer that I bought it from and they confirmed they’ll collect it and get it looked at for me under warranty. His gearbox specialist has recommended a gearbox fluid change initially to see if that helps, as sometimes the wrong fluids are used and can cause similar symptoms apparently. Gearbox fluids were last changed 35k and 4 years ago.

Will keep updated.

Well bridge seal and tube seals replaced today dispite the on and off drizzle.
The tube seals were very bad. I have not reset adaptations due to the collective wisdom on here advising against that unless swopping the solenoids.

Only a quick round the block test drive it's still shuddering I'm not expecting things to improve further but I will give it a few days to see if it "relearns" good behaviour and I need to get it on the motorway at 70 with the cruise control on and see what the rev counter is doing.

Looks like it's solenoids next . good news is getting the mechatronics unit off is pretty simple.

Last edited by Gsxr1250dave on 20th Feb 2025 7:49pm. Edited 1 time in total

Thanks for the update Dave. Sorry to hear no immediate improvement but hope it settles down over time!

I’m booked in to go back to dealer, who will be having a ZF specialist have a look and flush. Will take it from there.

I was ready to rip the torque converter out of mine but did some tests with the IID tool and with the advice of RRPhil the gearbox guru I swapped the solenoids on mine.

A doddle to do and much easier then removing the torque converter. My 5.0 SC has been perfect for over a year now since I did it. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

Thanks for the insight! I’ll forward this information over to the bloke who’ll be taking a look at it in case it’s useful. Will keep updated here. Fingers crossed not the TC!