[Toad]

I have recently been looking around for a replacement 300Tdi and the first one I came across was in very nice nick, but it has a problem with its gears. I took it out for a test drive and found that although I could select gears ok on the way up through them, when it came to changing down I struggled on 3 occasions dropping through 5th to 4th and 4th to 3rd.

Is this likely to be a serious problem or is it something that could be corrected quite easily. It obviously makes a difference as to whether I take another look at it. The car has 100,000 on the clock so compared to my existing one it has done low mileage!

Any advice appreciated.

 

[CharlesY]

Probably a slightly dragging clutch coupled perhaps with weak-ish 100k miles synchromesh.

If you buy it you'll be fitting a new clutch cover / plate / release bearing anyway ... right?

CharlesY

 

[Toad]

CharlesY

Thanks for your reply. I have owned my present Discovery for the past 2 years and have had very few problems with it so really know very little mechanically about it. Therefore I'm not sure whether I would be replacing the clutch cover etc or not should I buy this other machine. I assume that you would think it a good idea to do so? If so do you feel this may put the problem right?

 

[CharlesY]

Long distance diagnosis is fraught with dangers, BUT ..... if the gearbox pulls in all the gears with no horrible noises, then chances are the diagnosis is sound - clutch.

Now it might only be low in fluid - or soggy seals in a slave cylinder, or some other basic ailment so beloved of LandRovers!

Just so long as the gearbox gives the impression of not being wrecked inside, it is probably worth a go.

When you next see it, have a small bottle of brake fuid with you.
Bonnet up, lid off master cylinder, and fill it to the brim.
If it was very low it will work its way in soon enough.

CharlesY

 

[Toad]

Thanks for your input CharlesY. The gears did indeed pull ok throughout the range without any nasty noises. It still leaves me just a little unsure about the car. The car has been looked after like a baby in all other respects so can't imagine the gearbox has been abused in any way. The diff lock selected absolutely beautifully whereas my exsisting one I have to wrestle with slightly. The person selling it allowed me to tow a large horsebox that I have that weighs just short of 2 tons empty and it did it without a problem, that is until I started mising gears going up hill. Of course finding gears on hills is pretty critical with that sort weight on board.

I'll still have to think seriously about it as I don't want to buy a white elephant, but your comments do re-assure me to a degree. Would you happen to know what it would cost to replace a clutch?

 

[Jason2]

Thanks for your input CharlesY. The gears did indeed pull ok throughout the range without any nasty noises. It still leaves me just a little unsure about the car. The car has been looked after like a baby in all other respects so can't imagine the gearbox has been abused in any way. The diff lock selected absolutely beautifully whereas my exsisting one I have to wrestle with slightly. The person selling it allowed me to tow a large horsebox that I have that weighs just short of 2 tons empty and it did it without a problem, that is until I started mising gears going up hill. Of course finding gears on hills is pretty critical with that sort weight on board.

I'll still have to think seriously about it as I don't want to buy a white elephant, but your comments do re-assure me to a degree. Would you happen to know what it would cost to replace a clutch?

The R380 gearbox is prone to trashing syncros & main bearings!!! When I bought mine with 117k 1st to 2nd (which is a common problem) crunched if you changed to quickly, at 127k the whole lot went bang-£700 for a new box, clutch and all the bit's no labour as I did it mi sen!

I know for a fact that previose owner never changed gearbox oil in 70k/8 years!!!!!!!!!

It's for you to decide!

 

[TheMunster]

I know for a fact that previose owner never changed gearbox oil in 70k/8 years!!!!!!!!!

tell me about it! the drain plug on my r380 is soooo tight i think i'm gonna have to do something pretty special to remove it, obviously hasent been touched in a long time.

took the filler out and got some oil out on my finger tip - black as engine oil, dont think thats EVER been changed - so its a job for this weekend, if i can fine me 32mm ring spanner...dont think me fan spanner will stay straight enough heh

 

[Chimpy]

Hi Toad - hope you're keeping well

having bought a new gearbox + clutch this year for £1150 inc vat & fitting.. i'd have to say the only symptom of failure a week before 'black wednesday' was a reluctance to shift from 5th to 4th and then 4th to 3rd.
box fluid was recent and levelled. no excess noise. a bit of baulk 1st to second but nothing major.

having had landy's for yonks i thought 'OK' and just changed from 5th-3rd-to 4th for clean downshift under load (hope that makes sense) thinking the synchro was just getting worn.

50 miles later, the box turned into a national lottery ball machine

.....if you want a second opinion, feel free to pm me. if the rest is clean esp. underneath it may be a worthy investment for a few years trucking.. that's the opinion i (had to) take. a box is easier to have done by a garage than new sills/floors/crossmembers...

 

[Dave 2000]

Out on a limb here, my LT77 gearbox was awkward to select the gears, it was as if two people were trying to change the gears at the same time normally ending up with the wrong gear. Now my imaginary friend was at home so I know it was not him, anyway it turns out that a bias spring that presses on the gearlever had broken, a couple of quid and half an hour to replace from inside the car and all was well, for what its worth I ordered both springs as they are different rather than strip and find I had the wrong one. It takes longer to get the console out than to fix the problem, having said (typed) that the R380 gearbox may not be the same.

regards

Dave