Freelander 1 Disaster

[Andy Warren]

Hi all, went to reverse the trusty TD4 auto of the drive this morning & when I selected reverse there was a sort of clunk & now no reverse . After all the money spent over the last 6mths or so I'm gutted. I've got no way of repairing it on my drive so I'm not sure what to do. It's been a great truck so I'll have a ponder. Boo hoo.

 

[kermit_rr]

Oh dear. Do any forward gears work?
It's not a truck

 

[GrumpyGel]

Geepers, the title does sound worryingly apt.

I'll let people more experienced with the Jatco box discuss this with you - but good luck, hope its not a box out/replacement.

 

[GrumpyGel]

Oh dear. Do any forward gears work?
It's not a truck

Most definitely is, any 4x4 is a truck over here - mind, I'll usually qualify that as 'little truck' (and often great little truck) when referring to my Freelander

 

[kermit_rr]

Most definitely is, any 4x4 is a truck over here - mind, I'll usually qualify that as 'little truck' (and often great little truck) when referring to my Freelander

they are hippos

 

[Andy Warren]

Oh dear. Do any forward gears work?
It's not a truck

Yeah forward gears are OK , well 1st is moving it on the drive. I'll take it for a spin later & check all the forward gears work.

 

[kermit_rr]

Yeah forward gears are OK , well 1st is moving it on the drive. I'll take it for a spin later & check all the forward gears work.

dunno if that will do more damage, or if damage is already done?
assume you've checked the oil level?

 

[Andy Warren]

dunno if that will do more damage, or if damage is already done?
assume you've checked the oil level?

Changed it 3,000 miles ago then another last week before I went on holiday to the New Forest done about 400 miles. Used ATF -U that @Nodge68 recommended.

 

[Andy Warren]

dunno if that will do more damage, or if damage is already done?
assume you've checked the oil level?

More damage is a good question I will wait & see if @Nodge68 or @andyfreelandy come on & advise against driving it like it is. Good job I've got the D2 & little Mazda to keep me on the road.

 

[kermit_rr]

has you done a search on here? theres other freds about no reverse
eg https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/2002-freelander-automatic-no-reverse-gear.62762/

 

[andyfreelandy]

Sorry to hear your latest woes Andy. Can't come up with an easy fix for this I am afraid.

Mine did same at about 110k miles. If it helps I drove it about 50 miles to an automotive specialist in this condition on their advice.
Mine was a broken reverse band which is a box out and recon repair.

Only other option is a low mileage replacement box. Can be found for a few hundred quid, but, of course, untested.

Have done work on the Jatco but I believe the reverse band is in a bit deep!!

 

[andyfreelandy]

Embarrassingly, mine failed when I swung into next door's drive to turn around then refused to reverse.

Couldn't even push it backwards. 4 x trolley Jacks to move it.

 

[Andy Warren]

Embarrassingly, mine failed when I swung into next door's drive to turn around then refused to reverse.

Couldn't even push it backwards. 4 x trolley Jacks to move it.

Blimey I was going to tow mine up the dive,about 30 ft the push it backwards on to the other bit of the drive so it's not in the way. so are you saying it won't move backwards in N ?

 

[andyfreelandy]

Mine wouldn't push backwards in neutral or any gear I am afraid. You may be lucky but the reverse band jammed mine against going backwards at all.

 

[Andy Warren]

Sorry to hear your latest woes Andy. Can't come up with an easy fix for this I am afraid.

Mine did same at about 110k miles. If it helps I drove it about 50 miles to an automotive specialist in this condition on their advice.
Mine was a broken reverse band which is a box out and recon repair.

Only other option is a low mileage replacement box. Can be found for a few hundred quid, but, of course, untested.

Have done work on the Jatco but I believe the reverse band is in a bit deep!!

Thanks for that I was miffed enough at the air con comp clutch giving up the ghost !
Funny, if I can find somewhere to work on it, I was thinking of asking if I got the g/box to you would you do the work on it.

 

[Andy Warren]

Mine wouldn't push backwards in neutral or any gear I am afraid. You may be lucky but the reverse band jammed mine against going backwards at all.

That's a pain I'll see what happens later but I'll try pushing it first but I'll need some help as it's up hill. I need to move it as it's blocking my Mazda in.

 

[Andy Warren]

has you done a search on here? theres other freds about no reverse
eg https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/2002-freelander-automatic-no-reverse-gear.62762/

It's a pity @jamesmartin hasn't been on for a while, looking at those old posts of his, saying it's the easiest job to do on the Jacto about 6hrs in & out !

 

[Andy Warren]

So with SHMBO steering my Daughter ( I knew all her visits to the gym would come in handy) & I first of all pushed the FL back, we only managed about 3ft due to the gradient. As it went freely with no noises I hitched it to the D2 & manoeuvre it where it won't be in the way.
Tomorrow I'll check the g/box oil level (I did it by the book 3,000 miles ago) but when I changed it before last weeks holiday I just put in exactly the same amount as what came out & covered about 400 miles without issue.
Other than that could one of duty solenoids could be playing up ?

 

[Nodge68]

Sorry to hear about the latest issue. It does sound like the reverse brake band has failed, which can happen on this box unfortunately.
Good luck with getting it repaired.

 

[andyfreelandy]

Glad it moved OK.
Obviously failed in a different way without jaming the whole thing.
Probs best to take to an auto specialist for diagnosis, small chance it is summat less severe but thinking reverse brake band.