Freelander 1 Auto won’t move backwards

Hi folks
My 02 freelander auto won’t move backwards.
I’ve removed the propshaft just to rule out the rear end and can turn the rear wheels forward and backwards.
With the front jacked up I can move the front wheels forward but not backwards with it in neutral..
Start it up and put it in reverse and you feel it select the gear try to pull away and the engine labours to move it but you feel no movement at all. Tried to tow it backwards in neutral handbrake off and it won’t budge.
Goes forwards fine but is about to hit the fence ‍
Any ideas (apart from take the fence down).
Cheers Warren

Reverse brake band has broken. Happens after about 120k miles.

You will have to lift the front wheels off the ground to move it backwards as it is locking the drive even in neutral.

Refurb or recon box or get band replaced is the solution.

Cheers Andy
At 230,000 it didn’t do to bad then. Thanks

wozza64 said:

Tried to tow it backwards in neutral handbrake off and it won’t budge.

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I'd say the IRD has failed myself. Have you been maintaining the correct tyres on the vehicle, as per the owners handbook?

Exact same thing happened to my auto, it was the reverse brake band, locked in neutral was a symptom too.
OP has VCU off currently. What would stop the IRD turning one way only??
Is there an easy check??

andyfreelandy said:

Exact same thing happened to my auto, it was the reverse brake band, locked in neutral was a symptom too

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Interesting Andy.
I've come across slipping in reverse and no reverse, but no movement in reverse, other than then engagement thump is an odd one.

Nodge68 said:

I'd say the IRD has failed myself. Have you been maintaining the correct tyres on the vehicle, as per the owners handbook?

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Yes same tyres in the same condition all round

Any more thoughts. Just jacked the front of the floor ( no rear prop) if I turn either wheel forwards the other doesn’t move but the prop shaft output on the transfer box turns. If I turn either front wheel backwards the opposite front goes forwards but the prop shaft output doesn’t move. With the front wheels of the floor I can turn the transfer output one way only. Does this make any sense to anyone. Cheers warren.
This is with the auto box in neutral

Also with the front off the floor engine running in drive one wheel drives and the prop output shaft. If I put resistance on the driving wheel to stop it the opposite one drives. Put it in reverse no movement from output shaft or wheels but can turn the wheels manually , turn one forwards the other goes back and vice versa. Cheers warren.

It's beginning to sound like the IRD output pinion as coming out of mesh and jamming. I'd take the output pinion off the IRD and do your wheel up tests again, if no gear damage is obvious.

Ok Nodge68
Thanks for that. I am hoping it’s not the gearbox. I think that would push it into the spares or repair category.

wozza64 said:

Thanks for that. I am hoping it’s not the gearbox. I think that would push it into the spares or repair category.

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If it was the gearbox, then putting it in park should solve a no reverse issue, but it's not, which leads me to suspect it's something IRD side of the gearbox.

Cheers. let’s see what the weekend throws up

Ok so I checked all the solenoids all ok changed the atf which smells burnt. ( only about 3.5 litres ) now I have reverse again but 3rd gear has gone and the three amigos have pitched up and occasionally F4. Fault code for air sensor and cruse control switch. Any more thoughts ? Cheers Warren

wozza64 said:

Ok so I checked all the solenoids all ok changed the atf which smells burnt. ( only about 3.5 litres ) now I have reverse again but 3rd gear has gone and the three amigos have pitched up and occasionally F4. Fault code for air sensor and cruse control switch. Any more thoughts ? Cheers Warren

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What do you mean by 3rd gear gone? Does it have no drive in 3rd?

I find the box takes just under 4 Litres on a change, but if you only put in 3.5L, it suggests the level wasn't checked with the engine running, or it wasn't empty.

The TCM is in communication with the ABS module, so gearbox errors will often give ABS system errors too.
When my auto plays up, it puts the HDC failure light on.

I can drive in 1st and 2nd in drive but it won’t change into 3rd so I switch to sport mode change up 3 appears in the gear select window But remains in second. At 25 mph I can change up and it goes into 4th.

the oil change was drained when gearbox was hot Refilled same amount that came out ran engine for half hour to heat atf. Don’t know what temperature it was at. Went through the gears and topped to the overflow.