Hello All,
I have just bought myself my first land rover - a 2005 TD5 Defender 90 Hardtop.
I just wanted to know if the problem I am having is a common one and inherent in all defenders or is it something I should get checked out?
When the engine is cold I find it difficult to change from 1st to 2nd. The gearbox feels like it is really snagging. Once the engine is warm, everything is fine.
Would appreciate your advise.
Thanks,
Tom

 

First check your clutch fluid is topped up. Second check the gearbox oil level.

Let me know if you need directions on either of these.

 

It is also not uncommon for the R380 gearbox's fitted to your TD5to be sticky between 1st & 2nd gear if the vehicle is cold especially during the winter months.

As long as there is no grinding of the gears between 1st & 2ndwhen you are changing them and if the problem dissapears as the vehicle warms up you have nothing to be concerned of. This is a common problem that Defenders have.

 

Hi Adz,

what#s the easiest way to check gearbox oil level?

 

Take the level/filler plug out while the car is on flat level ground - you should get a very small dribble of oil from the filler hole. If not, put some oil in it until you do. If it gushes out like mad, either the previous owner overfilled it or it's been wading and you've got some water ingress (oil floats on water, so the water won't be evident from the filler plug, only the drain plug) - either way change the gearbox oil.

Correct oil for the TD5 R380 is MTF94. This can be a little hard to come by but LR Dealers will stock it or an equivalent - the service interval is 18,000 miles if memory serves so it's well worth paying the extra for the right stuff.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES put EP90 or EPx80/90 gear oils (that's the stuff that goes into the transfer box and axles)into either the LT77 or R380 gearboxes - it's way too thick and cannot be pumped around the gearbox.

If you really can't get hold of the MTF94 then a good quality ATF to Dexron III or higher will do the job - but halve the service interval and change it for the MTF94 as soon as you can get it.

Cheers,

Adam.

 

Hi all,

I am sorry to hijack this old thread.

My Defender 90 Td5 2002 MY has 80.000 Km now and it slighlty crunch from 1° to 2° gear and from 2° to 3° gear unless I shift gear very slowly and waiting, when I press the clutch, that engine rpm falls almost to idle speed.
(I think gearbox model is R380)
I own the car since from 45 days now and the weather is very warm,
so I dont think the problem is happening when gerabox is cold.
I asked a dealer to check oil level and he told be it is OK.


Is this usual to happen in a 80.000 Km "only" gearbox ?
Do you think a oil change would help to solve the problem ?
Should I maybe add to oil any teflon adictive ?

Thank you.

 

Hello. I know this post is 13 years old now. But I have 100% same symptoms. How did you sort this out ? Many thanks. Julien

 

Hello Julien.

After 13 years I own my Defender Td5 and after 180.000 Km run, I simply learned how to shift from 1st to 2nd
I was used to normal cars which have a “fast” gear.
Defender requires a slower shifting move like a truck.
I also replaced MTF oil with ATF Dexron 3 oil.

I hope this helps.
Good luck.

 

Hello Bizio. Greetings from Paris and Thank you for your speedy reply !

Glad that you still have the defender !

Your reply is very clear. And happy to know that this is a characteristic of the R380 gearbox, and doesn’t mean that my gearbox has an issue.

A couple of questions :
Did you replace anything yet after 13 years in the gearbox ? Clutch, synchros, bearing, etc

Did you find improvement after changing from MTF94 to ATF dexron III ?

Cheers ! Merci 😊

Julien

 

Hello Julien

I own my Defender Td5 from 13 years but it is a MY 2002 so 21 years old (I am the second owner).
It has 235.000 Km and even if I use it quite a lot in the traffic jam of Milan, so far no issues at all to gearbox, syncros, bearings or clutch but oil leaking and they are still all factory original, no replacement yet.

ATF oil makes gears easier to switch but on the reverse side it can cause an earlier wearing to syncros. This is what experts say. On the other side MTF oil makes gears a bit harder to switch but gives a better protection to syncros.
Of course I could verify the difference in the drive between two oils.

Greetings from Milan, Italy.

Take care
Bizio