Member Since: 06 May 2006
Location: Halewood
Posts: 298
Front wheel judder - on holiday towing in Italian Alps
Guys, I'm on holiday in the Italian Alps, with the caravan (1.6 tonnes) due to cross back 25 September. I will be moving once to another camping site next Saturday for a week then returning home via 2 x 1500 meter passes through Austria and back across Germany.
I have noticed a couple of times now that when moving off with the caravan on my front wheels judder or slap the road surface just as if I had tried to accelerate a front wheel drive car too much.
My Disco has now done 112K.
Looking through the threads on here the following could be issues:
1. Gearbox oil needs changing (never be done to my knowledge).
2. Torque convertor issues (oil change or worse).
3. Centre propshaft bearing.
The big issue for me is whether it would stupid to attempt to drive home or whether I should have something done here and if so, what.
Would appreciate any advice as I feel I am between a rock and a hard place.2008 D3 HSE Stornoway Grey with Ebony Leather, towing a Coachman VIP 575
Some Dr Tranny might improve it in the short term, but it sounds like your torque convertor is on its way out.
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5th Sep 2016 9:40 am
Panoramix
Member Since: 16 Dec 2008
Location: Milan Area
Posts: 3249
Hi Dixie Dean.
I had the same problem in my last holidays in Bretagne, France with my caravan.
I have not completely solved, but I'm able to return home without difficulty
I'm in Milan Area, where are you?
do you have a DrTranny whit you? If you want tomorrow I can ship one in your camping
Discovery 3 "Tank", 2.7 TDV6 - Fully Land Rover Passion edition
LR4 "Enterprise", 5.0 V8 Petrol: now factory style but it will be like that for a long time
L322 "Centurion 3.6 TDV8", Land Rover Passion edition in progress
5th Sep 2016 10:00 am
pgerman
Member Since: 16 Jun 2008
Location: Milton Keynes
Posts: 68
I had the same problem when we were in Italy a few years ago and had to drive the car home. We have a large twin axle caravan and I was dreading the drive. We were just north of Venice so did the Udine, Villach, Salzburg route and there are some long stretches there where I was literally crossing my fingers.
All was good however, if you notice the car start to judder on the inclines then kick-down or use command shift to drop a gear and increase the revs. I noticed if the car was kept at 50 to 55 on the inclines (and some of them fairly big) it would go without issue all day long.
I did eventually have to have a new torque converter but I did stretch that investment out using a bit of Dr Tranny and a full ATF flush.
Paul
5th Sep 2016 10:34 am
Dixie Dean
Member Since: 06 May 2006
Location: Halewood
Posts: 298
Thanks guys. From what you've written here and a couple of chats with Disco3 experts I'm still no really sure whether it's the torque convertor or the prop. I've been told how to check the prop so I'll have a look at that first thing in the morning. It might be handy to have some Dr tranny but I'd have to get someone to put it in. Does it require a trip to a garage? How much would it cost? I'm on a camping in Merano, Sud Tirol.2008 D3 HSE Stornoway Grey with Ebony Leather, towing a Coachman VIP 575
5th Sep 2016 2:49 pm
sean 471
Member Since: 26 Apr 2011
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 2990
Keep out an eye for the revs fluctuating in the same gear. If it's the TC it will feel q bit like driving over a cattle grid when pulling away. Same happened to me last year and I got home ok from France but new box needed.
5th Sep 2016 3:04 pm
Dixie Dean
Member Since: 06 May 2006
Location: Halewood
Posts: 298
If it is the torque convertor would regularly changing the gear box oil in the past prevented this happening?2008 D3 HSE Stornoway Grey with Ebony Leather, towing a Coachman VIP 575
5th Sep 2016 4:38 pm
mz mini
Member Since: 02 Jul 2014
Location: Sunny Devon
Posts: 1759
IIRC ZF recommend changing the fluid at 75k miles so it must help ,I did the Dr Tranny fix which did work for a while but new TC soon after ,I used Command Shift to get back from France last year it did help Land Rover 90 - deceased
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5th Sep 2016 6:35 pm
Barn1e D3 Decade
Member Since: 28 Aug 2006
Location: Mid-sussex
Posts: 2021
Do you only get the judder when pulling away WITH caravan on back. If so, I would suggest checking the caravan brakes; are they releasing properly. What you described sounds like caravan holding D3 back and with less weight on front wheels them struggling for grip.
If the TC is failing you will get judder when towing under load even in third fourth or fifth, such as going up an incline or accelerating sharply. When mine was failing I never noticed it juddering at low speeds.
If you have the judder at higher speeds and gears, nurse it along as the judder will overheat the transmission fluid, which is to be avoided as then you could damage the gearbox.2005, TDV6 S, Auto, 190k miles, owned from new, V8 Brake Upgrade, Nancom Evo, RLD protector, BAS EGR blanking & Remap, separate ATF cooler, changing all the fluids ahead of time.
5th Sep 2016 6:45 pm
Dixie Dean
Member Since: 06 May 2006
Location: Halewood
Posts: 298
I've just driven into the town and back and i can now feel it most of the time in the backfround through the steering and maybe the pedals.2008 D3 HSE Stornoway Grey with Ebony Leather, towing a Coachman VIP 575
5th Sep 2016 7:32 pm
Dixie Dean
Member Since: 06 May 2006
Location: Halewood
Posts: 298
I think I'll ring my travel insurance provider and get them to send out roadside assistance. I'll keep you posted.2008 D3 HSE Stornoway Grey with Ebony Leather, towing a Coachman VIP 575
5th Sep 2016 7:34 pm
Barn1e D3 Decade
Member Since: 28 Aug 2006
Location: Mid-sussex
Posts: 2021
Dixie Dean wrote:
I've just driven into the town and back and i can now feel it most of the time in the backfround through the steering and maybe the pedals.
That does not sound anything like my experience of a failing TC.2005, TDV6 S, Auto, 190k miles, owned from new, V8 Brake Upgrade, Nancom Evo, RLD protector, BAS EGR blanking & Remap, separate ATF cooler, changing all the fluids ahead of time.
5th Sep 2016 8:13 pm
Sidestick
Member Since: 22 Apr 2012
Location: Rome
Posts: 2323
Did you checked front lower wishbone bushes and front wheel bearing?- Easy-Lift suspension module 4.0
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5th Sep 2016 8:28 pm
Panoramix
Member Since: 16 Dec 2008
Location: Milan Area
Posts: 3249
Dixie Dean wrote:
Thanks guys. From what you've written here and a couple of chats with Disco3 experts I'm still no really sure whether it's the torque convertor or the prop. I've been told how to check the prop so I'll have a look at that first thing in the morning. It might be handy to have some Dr tranny but I'd have to get someone to put it in. Does it require a trip to a garage? How much would it cost? I'm on a camping in Merano, Sud Tirol.
How many days stay in Merano? If you would give me in PM your address tomorrow I'll ship you a DrTranny in priority way. I think that arrive in 2 days.
Discovery 3 "Tank", 2.7 TDV6 - Fully Land Rover Passion edition
LR4 "Enterprise", 5.0 V8 Petrol: now factory style but it will be like that for a long time
L322 "Centurion 3.6 TDV8", Land Rover Passion edition in progress
6th Sep 2016 6:24 am
Dixie Dean
Member Since: 06 May 2006
Location: Halewood
Posts: 298
Car going to Land Rover at Bolzen. Assistant guy thinks it is gearbox.2008 D3 HSE Stornoway Grey with Ebony Leather, towing a Coachman VIP 575
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