For a while (almost a year) I have been experiencing a fault when driving the big girl and thought I would let it be until something happened as most advice received was about the same from garages. Even the dealer wasn't sure if it was worth opening up as they would charge an arm and a leg and said "just drive it till something goes wrong".

I will try describe the situation as best as I can, will probably be shi£!@! but bare with me please. As I drive off normally, 1st gear and also 2nd gear (sometimes just the 3rd gear) I feel a few "Thuds"; normal acceleration. I can mainly the thuds in the drive train, transmission and propeller shaft areas. Another way to describe it is imagine trying to walk forward while someone has you tied to a rope, not pulling but very gently nudging onto the rope, so it does not make you stop but causes an odd contraction, which forms a sound like someone slapping a couch 3 to 4 times in a row consistently, slowly or quickly.

I reached home yesterday after carrying a bit of weight, stones in bags about 15 of them; 200 Pounds. As I went to unload I smelt a clutch burn (similar to when one first drive a manual and delayed lifting off the clutch late causing that similar clutch burn smell). About 30 minutes later, I went for a drive and that thud noise referred to above was fairly clear at this stage. About an hour later reached home, I usually reverse the car into the parking spot and immediately noticed as I shifted to (R) the throttle was not responsive, I shifted to (D), same, no throttle response. I switched off and then tried to switch back on but key would not turn. I then removed the key and wait for 10 mins, then switched car back on, it worked, as I shifted from P to D, I felt a huge thud but this time it was clunky, and also gave the big girl quiet a nudge forward (D) or backwards (R). I very carefully moved a few meters (throttle response was very poor as well) and parked the car.

Codes:

- Right Yellow Light Came On (Just under the temp. gauge)
- HDC Fault System not available
- Transmission Fault, Limited Gears Only

Note: Coincidentally, I recently serviced the big girl and the mechanic when test driving the car with advised that it sounds like the clutch is wearing off and pointed to the transmission.

Is it the clutch or am I off? Anything else I can do to see what needs to be done? Is this a job for the dealer only or a specialist garage? I hope its not another brand new transmission?

As always, thanks for the support!

There isn’t a clutch as such in an auto gearbox as the drive is taken up by the transmission fluid in the torque converter. So the burning smell could be the fluid getting too hot.

The first thing i would check is the transmission’s fluid level. If it’s too low it could account for slippage, clunking and overheating. If your car has done more than 80,000 miles then, despite what LR claim, you’d be well advised to flush and replace the fluid anyway. Not saying this will definitely cure your particular problem but, in general, it’s a good place to start.

There’s more info in the Wiki and also this thread https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic47231-30.html

A diagnostic tool such as the IID Tool is very helpful in diagnosing faults and will also give you live values of gearbox temperatures. 2006MY 4.2 SC
BMW R1250 GSA Rallye TE
Triumph Tiger 1050 (sold)
1979 Pontiac Trans Am (sold)

And your radiator (main coolant one) could be blocked / sludged up at the bottom preventing cooling to the gearbox oil cooler behind it.
And the gearbox oil cooler could be blocked up. .
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