This is a post for my neighbor who drives a Land Rover. I'm a Jaguar driver so I don't know if he needed the work. My Jag ZF 4 HP 24, electronically controlled trans is almost bullet proof.

He was having some trouble in reverse and it was throwing codes. Took it to a name brand shop and they said, trans rebuild was needed. Almost $4,500 later the car was returned.

Neighbor gets in car, drives a bit and then it happened, same thing in reverse. Took it back to the same shop and they put a new trans computer in and problem is now gone.

Personally I think it needed new electronics, not a trans rebuild. If after a rebuild, the car was still throwing the codes and had the same symptoms as before the new rebuild, the rebuild wasn't the problem. If the new computer fixed the problem it was the computer.

Me, I do 99% of my own work on the Jag. From dropping in engines to fixing build fault modules, I'm the guy. Call me silly but I've been burned too many times in my life. Plus I am a PITA to garages because I can turn a good wrench and do know a lot about my cars.

Is the Land Rover trans prone to needing rebuilds?
Am I correct in my assumption of the computer vs rebuild?

The car is not used for towing or off road.

Also, the $35 a quart trans fluid, is it necessary? I know that my Jag power steering had the green blood fluid but after a flush you can use regular Pwr steering fluid. Could the Land Rover trans run just as well on red blood as opposed to the brown?