Disco 3 (LR3) Juddering 30mph+

Good evening

I'm new to the site, I've just purchased me second Land Rover, Firstly being a Range Rover sport, which I had endless faults with,

I've now gone for the discovery 3 on 2008 plate, having getting the car home and starting to potter about localy, i noticed the rev counter was bouncing about up and down, almost as if I was flicking the throttle peddle on and off.

I noticed at about 30mph whilst keeping a constant speed, this was causing the judering almost like a kangarooing and again rev counter needle bouncing about.

I took it to my local garage who's owner luckily has a discovery 3 same as mine. He states it's a issue with the gearbox needle ( what ever that's is)
He says it's a box ontop of the gerbox that needs attention, ( his disco did the exact same thing apparently) 12 hour job apparently.

I tried with changing auto gearbox oil to no avail didn't even cure it 1 bit. The cars done 121k and has very good service history.

I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar to my issues? Is this a common fault? Just another quick note flicking it onto sport mode it dosnt seem to do it !

Kind regards

Jamie

Appreciate any help/advice

Almost certainly the torque convertor on its way out, do a google search not unusual at them sort of miles.
Well worth checking rear prop centre bearing as the rubber collapses
Mine has been a bit iffy for the last year, 2 oil changes has kept it going, but last couple of weeks Ive noticed more vibes, decreased mpg and when coming to a stop on my driveway a little judder, Im probably going to get it done, but wife thinks I should bin it and get newer BUT that could also have the same issues!
I also updated the gearbox software vie the IID tool to stop transmissions shunt and this also gave it smoother gear changes, but ultimately Im just buying more time.

Rev counter surging at idle can also be the engine oil temp sender located in the side of the sump.

How did you check the gearbox oil level? as its super critical to get the level spot on and at the right temperature, also needs to be right spec oil.

Have a look at the D3 forum at the top theres a bit marked wiki most of the common ailments/fixes are there.

Ho thanks for the reply.

I took it to my local Land Rover specialist he said to start with the gearbox oil change as t may cure it. But didn't. Just to mention the revs idle ok when the cars not moving it ticks over fine, it's just when I'm accelerating and keeping a constant speed' that's when the cars jerking about and I see the rev needle bouncing about' once I accelerate again it's ok , it's a tricky one

Mine did exactly the same, approx 30mph needle bounced, had auto box rebuilt, it had a partially collapsed bearing, new torque converter fitted, new bearings in transfer box and a rear prop, luckily my warranty company picked up a large chunk of the £3k+ bill.
But it drives really smooth now

Jesus mate that's a hell of a big repair. It's so frustrating when it can many things causing it. It seems so hard to pinpoint. Bit process of elimination can get extremely expensive. I was going to let my merchanic drop the box next week and replace the gearbox board which is located ontop of the box apparently. He seen 99% sure that will solve the issue, I do kind of trust him knowing he had the same vehicle and his did the exact same thing I was describing .
But on the other hand if he's dropping mounts to lower engine and box he may as well pop box off and swap my torque converter as mentioned above. He told me the initial works to just lower engine and box to swap the gearbox board would be around 12 hours labour. I could maybe pick a second hand torque converter up and have it poped in at same time .

Appreciate all the replies above thanks

Been paying more attention when out in mine today and its as you say quite noticeable when accelerating at when at 30mph, I said to the wife can you feel the vibrations and got the usual you are a **** look!
Look on ebay quite a few prices for torque convertors

I’ve literally just come racing my dogs ! I said to my mate can you feel Car juddering he said no lol. He said it drives smooth! But it deffinetly dosnt , I text my mechanic to day and said can you sort me a torque converter ! He said he’s got one bit assures me it isn’t that! He said it’s the solonoid board that’s causing it! ( he’s has same issue on his own disco3 and claimed to have curred it by replacing the gearbox board) so it’s going Monday ! So bare with me and I’ll keep you updated

jamie capuano said:

I’ve literally just come racing my dogs ! I said to my mate can you feel Car juddering he said no lol. He said it drives smooth! But it deffinetly dosnt , I text my mechanic to day and said can you sort me a torque converter ! He said he’s got one bit assures me it isn’t that! He said it’s the solonoid board that’s causing it! ( he’s has same issue on his own disco3 and claimed to have curred it by replacing the gearbox board) so it’s going Monday ! So bare with me and I’ll keep you updated

Click to expand...

Be good to know how you get on, have read quite a few posts on the D3 forum where people have had the judders, then had a gearbox flush,for some it cured the judder and lasted for tens of thousands of miles, for other its was only a temporary respite before the judders came back big time.

Hi guys sorry for the delay!

So yesterday I got the disco back! And touch wood it seems good as new! My mate mechanic charged me £210 labour to replace the gearbox valve ( with he was adamant it was) so thanks to trusting him And a spare gearbox valve he had the disco is now sorted! Gear changes are smooth with no juddering! Pulls uphill well! And no longer judders at 30mph! I was adament on changing the torque converter I’m now glad I didn’t push to have that replaced!

I asked what the valve does and he basically said it controlles the gear change so basically what was happening before was the revs at 30mph was in between gears and that’s what causing the revs to bounce. With the new valvle it’s basiclly the brain of the gearbox, the Car now changes gear well before 30mph resulting in no juddering or rev bouncing,

I hope this can help anyone else out,

The garage I used is new houghton mot and test centre in new houghton mansfield (Nottinghamshire) tel:01623 819725 derek

Cheers

Jamie

Thats good to know, I could be mistaken but think the gearbox brain/valve block is in the bottom of the gearbox itself?

lynall said:

Thats good to know, I could be mistaken but think the gearbox brain/valve block is in the bottom of the gearbox itself?

Click to expand...

From what I understood I might be wrong the unit is sat ontop of the gearbox , I don’t think the gearbox itself has to be opened . I’m seeing him again today I’ll ask exactly what was involved! It was a big job getting to it . I think he dropped the engine mounts to gain access to top of box

lynall said:

Thats good to know, I could be mistaken but think the gearbox brain/valve block is in the bottom of the gearbox itself?

Click to expand...

hi mate

is that the mechatronic unit ???

Yes mate that’s it!

jamie capuano said:

Yes mate that’s it!

Click to expand...

apologies , i meant to put ur name in the thread, doh, lol

how’s it going now, all ok i hope

there’s a few of us now that have D3 and sharing the annoying faults,

It’s definitely made a difference! It no longer judders kangaroos, and gearchanges are really smooth! But the Rev counter does still bounce a little bit ( that’s a bit annoying) but I’m wondering if that’s how these are? As I’ve never had one before so I don’t no!

jamie capuano said:

It’s definitely made a difference! It no longer judders kangaroos, and gearchanges are really smooth! But the Rev counter does still bounce a little bit ( that’s a bit annoying) but I’m wondering if that’s how these are? As I’ve never had one before so I don’t no!

Click to expand...

good to hear it’s a lot better

the mechatronic unit sits at the bottom but the cross member is in the way so that’s why it has to be dropped , in order to get it out

maybe the gearbox and transfer needs reflashing , u saying the rev counter bounces , does it feel like there’s slack in the driveshafts as u out ur foot on and off the accelerator

assume the torque converter is all ok

here u go @jamie capuano

this is what u had replaced

https://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/al...stic_drains_mechatronic_replacement_hints.pdf

gstuart said:

here u go @jamie capuano

this is what u had replaced

https://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/al...stic_drains_mechatronic_replacement_hints.pdf

Click to expand...

Yes mate that’s it!

Yea do that rev counter bouncing! Almost as if my flicking accelerator pedal down on and off! But soon as you rev a little past 30mph and gear changes it seems ok! It’s reqlly weird! I did say to the guy whilst gearbox is in you’re face why don’t we change torque converter! He assured me that wasn’t the issue but the part you listed above was. And it has cured the juddering but it’s the rev needle bouncing that’s annoying now!

Revs bouncing due to worn torque converter

jamie capuano said:

Yes mate that’s it!

Yea do that rev counter bouncing! Almost as if my flicking accelerator pedal down on and off! But soon as you rev a little past 30mph and gear changes it seems ok! It’s reqlly weird! I did say to the guy whilst gearbox is in you’re face why don’t we change torque converter! He assured me that wasn’t the issue but the part you listed above was. And it has cured the juddering but it’s the rev needle bouncing that’s annoying now!

Click to expand...

on reading other posts ref the bouncing rev counter it’s been the torque converter

however some have had the gearbox flushed and added some Dr tranny , some have cured the issue some haven’t