Freelander 1 Steptronic problem

The details of my Freelander are:

• Date of manufacture: 2003. It was first registered on 22/11/2003.
• Make / model: Land Rover Freelander TD4
• VIN number: SALLNABE23A280066
• Engine: Turbo diesel
• capacity: 1951cc

Can you help? A garage fitted two new shock absorbers. When I got the vehicle back I was told that because the battery had been disconnected for a long time the steptronic gearbox had lost its memory and had to be rebooted, so I might experience some jolts from the gearbox as it changed gears, until it sorted itself out. The gear changes felt as if the car had been hit by another car from the back and after a few minutes the steep hill descent warning light came on and the gearbox locked into fourth gear ‘get you home’ mode. This behaviour persisted, so I took the car back to the garage. The garage explained that the gearbox itself was OK, but some electronic components were not communicating with each other as they are meant to. The garage has spent five weeks swapping components to find out what the problem is. At no time, before taking the Freelander to the garage, did we have any problems, strange noises, or unusual behaviour from the gearbox.

Front or rear shocks? Must say sounds a load of ballony you've beeen told!! If front then they have probs damaged auto box ecu or broken wiring or connector. As this would have needed removing to do work. Never heard of rebooting an auto box on a 2003 car!! Anyone?!??!?

jimbernice said:

Can you help? A garage fitted two new shock absorbers.

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So they removed the ECU's environmental enclosure then.

jimbernice said:

When I got the vehicle back I was told that because the battery had been disconnected for a long time the steptronic gearbox had lost its memory

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That's crap.

jimbernice said:

and had to be rebooted, so I might experience some jolts from the gearbox as it changed gears, until it sorted itself out.

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What tosh. The TCM (gearbox ECU) is a dumb unit, that doesn't need to learn the gearbox settings to work correctly. It has a small ability to "tweek" (known as adaptive values) it's settings slightly over time, but this is virtually unnoticeable, and not erased due in power down. The TCM is totally powered down the whole time the ignition is off anyway, so any adaptations are stored in non volatile (permanent) memory.

jimbernice said:

The gear changes felt as if the car had been hit by another car from the back and after a few minutes the steep hill descent warning light came on and the gearbox locked into fourth gear ‘get you home’ mode. This behaviour persisted, so I took the car back to the garage.

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Did they damage a wire while doing the shocks? They shouldn't have done, as a shock charge on the TD4 is straightforward and nothing from the gearbox needs touching.

jimbernice said:

The garage has spent five weeks swapping components to find out what the problem is. At no time, before taking the Freelander to the garage, did we have any problems, strange noises, or unusual behaviour from the gearbox.

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The symptoms you have are similar to the ones my own box was suffering, which came about soon after a fluid change. Replacing the control solenoids was the cure for mine.

We need to name and shame this appalling type of garage. Names of person telling such stories and locations. Makes my blood boil. Need to zap the forecourt with couple of hundred Freelanders demanding a refund for Jim.

Did yer get this resolved?

No. I guess the garage ought to take my Freelander to a main dealer to be fixed, because the garage is obviously incompetent in this area.

jimbernice said:

No. I guess the garage ought to take my Freelander to a main dealer to be fixed, because the garage is obviously incompetent in this area.

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Oh yes. The garage that did the shocks is incompetent and should be named and shamed.

You need to get the error codes read for the gearbox. I'm guessing a control solenoid has failed, most likely the 2/4 duty solenoid.

Get it done soon too, as driving it with the box slamming does long term damage to the entire drive train.

Incidentally. I've got a video on YouTube of how to repair gearbox solenoids but you need to get them out the gearbox first.

Changing the shocks requires you to work in the area near the wiring loom between the auto gearbox itself and where the auto gearbox computer lives, if you want easy access.

Checking the wiring harness for damage is easy to do and the first thing to look at. If they have taken the auto gearbox computer out, or disconnected the harness to it then this needs checked anorl. Also check the barrel connectors.


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The biggest problem you have is getting the garage to fix it. I can't see them paying to send it elsewhere for repair. It sounds like they're well on their way to fob you off with the suggestions they have given. I'm assuming they're not into repiaring this sort of fault. How long have they had it since it's gone back to them and what type of garage is it? Tyre, brake, oil service etc... quick repairs only or do they do everything.

A video of how to check the wiring harness:

Freelander 1 v6 Jatco Auto Gearbox - Measuring the Solenoid and Sensor Resistances