well this is my first post so bare with me on my descriptions to you well versed users. i have a 2001 4.6 HSE and i am having a problem with my drivetrain somewhere but im not sure where. i dont drive it hard but even when i get on it anymore than a slow acceleration something starts clunking or slipping and almost sounds to me like the driveshaft. now like i said i am not too sure what the problem is but if anyone has had similar problems i would appreciate your input. feel free to ask any questions.

 

Start with a visual inspection under the vehicle. Check u-joints for play, look for leaks or anything that seems strange to you. Also check the condition of the transmission fluid. If it is dark or burnt smelling you most likely have a problem there.

 

If your vehicle has high miles, and its a wratcheting sound your hearing the transfer box chain jumping teeth, get it replaced before it causes damage to your transmission.

 

well i did find one bad prop shaft and replaced it. that fixed the broken prop shaft but the slip/clunk noise was still there. it has about 96000 miles on it. i wasnt aware of the chain that might need replaced. i will definitely look into that. i pulled the front driveshaft off to check the teeth going to the front differentials and they looked ok to me. can i take the transfer case off myself to replace the chain or not? thanks for the help.

 

If you want, call me and lets see what you have done and what still needs to be checked.
303-862-7680
Colorado between 7am and 8pm

 

Well after about $3,000 in parts and shipping the noise is gone. I had to replace the transfer case. I purchased it through Atlantic British. It took me about 6 hours to pull the old one out. The lack of a garage and the cold temperatures in Maine slowed me down a lot. After removing the old one I called it a night. The next day I installed the new case and filled with ATF. Upon completion I was excited to try it out to see if the problem was fixed. After everything was finished, including hooking the battery back up, I fired it up. I waited a few minutes to go in the house and warm up. When I came back out I realized that the front air suspension hadn't inflated itself. GREAT!! So I had to wait until the next day to work on that since it took me a while to install the new case. Luckily I had already ordered the new air bags for the front. After putting them in, which was surprisingly easy, I was finally off. The problem was fixed. This was about a month ago now. And now I am faced with a new problem. I noticed a familiar smell coming from the back of the vehicle. Then I noticed an unfamiliar black fluid spattered around my back rim. Low and behold it is differential fluid! YIPPEE! So I pulled my wheel off and noticed it even more. Either the seal went bad or I need a new hub. So far everything seems okay and I have a seal on order. BUT!!! My question is how do I know if the hub is bad? There doesn't seem to be any play in it or any loose parts. Am I one of the lucky ones who only needs to replace the seal?

 

Are you sure your t/case takes ATF, I thought it takes 80W/90 gear oil like most of Rovers other t/cases.

 

Well it had a sticker on it stating to fill with Dexton III or similar ATF. I also read on rangerovers.net that all Range Rovers with the Borg-Warner t/case use ATF. It also said that Range Rovers built before 1989 with manual locking t/case use traditional gear oil. In my case, a 2001 RR, I used the ATF like it said to.

 

I wasn't aware that they were still using that t/case.

 

I'd run synthetic tranny fluid in that xfer case for sure. mobil1 or the likes....