Some of you might have read the terrible story of a little toddler being hit by a runaway Range Rover in the last few days. I read today the initial report by the Coroner that the car was unlocked on a steep drive in PARK and had it's handbrake on.

I am trying to think how this is even possible. ok the handbrake might fail but the trans should lock in park. For both to fail? Chances of that are slim, no? Cheers, Greg
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2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

My thoughts exactly, although with it being a 17 year old car it must be a P38, but if it was in park it should have held. Perhaps it was a weak or faulty gearbox linkage?

and who turns their wheels to the kerb when they park on a hill these days? (I know it was in a driveway but still...) .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

If the transfer box was in neutral then it would just rely on the handbrake alone.


Andy 4.4V8 Petrol Vogue 2002

P38 could well have been manual

The handbrake on the P38a acts on all 4 wheels as it's a drum attached to the transfer box, so considered very safe. The transfer box will only go into neutral if you take out a fuse and follow specific instructions regarding ignition key position etc, so really odd that it managed to roll away on its own... ______________________________
Simon
______________________________

Range Rover Classic 3.5 efi - Gone
Range Rover Classic 3.9 efi - Gone
Range Rover Classic 4.2 LSE - Sadly gone
Land Rover 110 3.5 - Gone
Range Rover P38a 4.0 SE - Pleased it's gone
Range Rover P38a 2.5 DHSE - Just sold
Range Rover L322 4.4 v8 Petrol - Current

The handbrake setup is I think like that on a Defender. Therefore it can act on four wheels, or three, or two, or one. By acting on the prop with open diffs it is relying on the wheels having traction. If they start rolling then all bets are pretty much off. Ed

@Sandyt
News reports said the auto box was in PARK .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Unless he was doing work on the transfer box and had it electronically in neutral then I can't see it as there is no centre diff lock on a P38a. It uses a viscous coupling to lock when needed and obviously only when under motion when the engine is running. ______________________________
Simon
______________________________

Range Rover Classic 3.5 efi - Gone
Range Rover Classic 3.9 efi - Gone
Range Rover Classic 4.2 LSE - Sadly gone
Land Rover 110 3.5 - Gone
Range Rover P38a 4.0 SE - Pleased it's gone
Range Rover P38a 2.5 DHSE - Just sold
Range Rover L322 4.4 v8 Petrol - Current

A P38 transmission has no locking diffs at all, only a viscous coupling in the transfer box. It has a transmission brake which acts on the rear prop shaft. So, if a rear driveshaft spline were to fail and allow the wheel to become disconnected from the drive then all wheels become free. This is the exact reason you never jack anything with a transmission brake unless the wheels are chocked, and it's why defenders, Disco 1 and 2 come with a chock as part of the jacking kit. It's also why transmission brakes are a really bad idea. One brake acting for all 4 wheels is a single point of failure with several scenarios for failure to happen.

As for the autobox being in Park, again, without locking diffs if one wheel can move then so can the other 3.

We had a scare a few years ago while off-road in. One man's very young son got back in his Disco 3 (LR3 around here) at the top of a mountain. He managed the get the thing started before Dad got to him. Like the FFRR, it only needs to be put in gear and the parking brake will release automatically. Fortunately. All ended well.

I understand that the bits in the innards of an auto box associated with park are made of chocolate and you should never rely on park to hold the vehicle at any point. Always use the handbrake. Bish.

2005 110 TD5 CSW
2011 TDV8 Vogue SE (gone)

mzplcg wrote:

A P38 transmission has no locking diffs at all, only a viscous coupling in the transfer box. It has a transmission brake which acts on the rear prop shaft. ............................................

Such a sad story.

Today I am going to adjust my handbrake so it works properly, We have our first child, a daughter, due in two months. 2003 TD6 HSE, Zambezi Silver, Navy Trim.

A very sad story indeed
My drive way to my garage is on a fairly steep incline and I have always had concerns about leaving it parked up on such a steep gradient, as we all know a hand brake can easily fail. I certainly wouldn't rely on the transmission being locked in park neither. As a precaution when parked on my drive I have the two back wheels chocked with 2 heavy duty wheel chocks for peace of mind. I have noticed when I have pulled up after a journey and applied the handbrake & selected park the FFRR still lurches forward or backwards a few inches depending which way parked. I can remember once I applied the handbrake & left the vehicle & when it came to driving off again I had difficulty removing the gear selector from park to reverse due to the car moving slightly after applying the handbrake & selecting park.