So, my new to me 2007 TDV8 had a series of problems that I only spotted when I got it home. How I wish I had looked underneath it properly when I viewed it.... Two new tyres, a load of rear suspension bits and CV boots... All fixed now by the local garage which is unusual for me but I just didnt have time to do it all myself....

So, first long run today from Cornwall to Hertfordshire. Driving along at 70 with the cruise control on, I realised that it was sat in 5th gear on the flat. Moved it to manual select and it shifted to 6th fine. I shifted it back to auto and carried on, but after changing down again on a hill (cruise still on set to 70), it didnt revert to 6th once back on the flat.

So I turned the cruise off and had a play. Put your foot down and it kicks down as expected but seems to hang in fourth and sometimes gets stuck there unless you switch to manual and shift it back up to 5th and 6th yourself.

It seems most common if you kickdown from 60 up to 70 or just over and it just wont shift back up to 6th. If you do this at a slightly faster speed it will shift as expected.

I stopped and plugged in my Hawkeye. No fault codes, gearbox temp was 89C (I think), I reset the transmission adaptations but thats made no difference.

The rev counter needle doesnt appear to be surging at all, it doesnt rev up or anything weird, just hangs on to the lower gears after a kickdown and seems reluctant to change back up to 5th and more frequently 6th.

I am really regretting buying this car... the work above wasnt cheap and I should have spotted more of what was needed and walked away from the sale. If it has a gearbox problem too then I will really feel like a mug. This isnt apparent at all on local town driving - it shifts around as expected so would never have picked this up on a test drive.

Any thoughts on what to do next? A mate has offered to lend me their IID, but there are no fault codes showing on Hawkeye so not sure what to do next.

Thanks in advance

Be careful resetting the gearbox adaptions - it can cause problems with the gearbox.

I had gearbox issues on mine last year and read that resetting the adaptions when the box has done a fair mileage can cause problems as you basically erase it’s memory. Over the miles it’s done it’s learned to adapt gradually to wear in the components.

Resetting the adaptions basically sets the memory to what it was when it was new meaning that it’ll be trying to shift as if the box and all it’s components were new and not accounting for any of the wear and tear that’s accumulated as it’s gotten older.

After you’ve reset the adaptions there’s a specific drive cycle that they recommend carrying out and you’re not meant to use kick down either from what I’ve read.

Be nice to it whilst it relearns its adaptions and don’t keep erasing them during your fault finding

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory 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 read that this evening too when I got home, after I had done it!! Aarrgh! I will be gentle from now on! I've probably broken it more now! I wont reset them again!

First call would be either a gearbox oil & filter change or a mega flush on the gearbox unless there’s any proof of servicing?
Persevere with the girl, don’t get despondent she’ll come good in the end. 2012 Orkney Grey Westminster 4.4TDV8 with Ivory interior.........nice!
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Just one Montesa now, 349 White Wonder
Austin A40 Farina MK2
1975 Morris Marina 1.8TC

An automatic gearbox specialist will be able to diagnose the fault. Don't blow money on an oil and filter change just yet least of all a megaflush. How many miles has it got and is it on standard size tyres/wheels? 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Firstly, from my research dhallworth seems to be spot on about resetting the adaptations, so do treat the cat gently for now.

Secondly, if you use the search function and type in RRphil, there are a LOT of threads to read, relevant to gearbox / torque converter issues. RRphil is an expert and well respected on this site. You may well find some info in one of these threads that can help you, before you spend money at a specialist.

Hope this helps

Thanks chaps.

I have had a good search through RRPhils posts but not found this particular situation yet... Some of the RRSport forums report this behaviour if the front wheels are mismatched (i.e. a different size spare on with a different circumference).

That comes on to Jays points... the PO put L405 20 inch wheels on the car and these are fitted with 255/55 R20 Pirelli Scorpions.

Looking at the pressure data plate on the B pillar, it appears that 255/50 R20 was the tyre size for 20" alloys on the L322. Will this make any difference??

The front pressures are both the same at around 31psi - for the 20 inch tyres on the L322 (albeit 255/50 R20, rather than the 255/55 R20 fitted to mine) should be 36psi.

Will the tyre sizes or pressures as above create an issue like this?? I am not sure what pressure to go for on these tyres on the front as they apparently arent a standard fitment to this model. Its a 127.5mm vs 140.5mm side wall height so could be quite a difference??

A larger diameter tyre than stock is essentially a higher final drive ratio so the gearbox ecu may just be sensing more load and deciding it shouldn't change up a gear. I run these on mine and I've often wondered if it contributes to it holding gears longer than it should going up hills but it's fine on the flat. I run mine 33 front and 36 rear. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Oh, and I get the message about the adaptations. I wrongly thought it was a 'car learns driving style thing' I only read RRPhils posts about what the box is really learning when I got home after I had done it so will take it easy on the drive.

As you say, 255x50x20 are the standard. For your model year. I,and others, have fitted 255x55x20 with no problems. I have found the most comfortable pressures are 33 psi front and 36 psi rear. Jaygee beat me to it 😊

I have since reverted to 255x50x20 but that is because of handling of the spare.🥴 Same tyre pressures. John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

That's useful info Weegie and Jay. Thanks.

Weegie - i was just hypothesising as to whether it might cause an issue but interesting to hear that a number of you run that size without issue.

Hills, I could understand, but its this reluctance to shift back up to 5th and 6th on the flat that's worrying me. I have a D3 as well and just thought hmmm those revs seem high for 70 in 6th compared to the D3 - that's when I found it was driving along in 5th instead with the cruise on on the flat. That's when I started fiddling and discovered further issues with it hanging on to fourth after a kick down. E Clutch issues seem to affect fourth as well from what I have read?

The pressures are useful - I will adjust them to match but not sure a few PSI will make a difference here...

I just logged into the RR Sport forum and noticed this post at the top of the page:

https://www.rrsport.co.uk/forum/topic35871.html

It's the same gearbox in the sport and from reading it sounds like the symptoms are the same as yours so I'd be checking closely to make sure all your tyres are definitely the same size, the right size for the car and similar tread depths

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory 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. Yes, very similar indeed. That one was hanging in third, mines 4th, but other than that, very similar symptoms.

Just checked and my tyres are all the same make and size. I would say slight depth wear difference between the front two but nothing major.

Some observations... it seems fine when cold pootling round town and just outside at up to 50. The changes are just as you would expect. Slowly and briefly got to 70 earlier and it shifted to 6th itself fine. It wont have got hot today if that means anything.

Honestly you best bet is to get it booked into an auto gearbox specialist. A diagnosis won’t be much and it probably needs a service anyway. Also get the fluid in the diff’s and transfer box done at the same time. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Thanks Jay. Just trying to get an idea of whats going on before I spend more money on this thing! At this rate it will get shut up in the shed where I cant see it and can forget about it!