Hello all!

I'm in the process of becoming a first time Land Rover owner. A local dealer got in an '05 LR3 with 84,000 miles. It's a black SE one owner with about 50 service records.

The dealer has serviced it and it's currently being detailed so I have not driven it yet. This is being offered by a Land Rover dealer and from what I can tell they are being pretty up front and honest.

The salesman and I spoke today and he described a "popping" noise that he heard while driving in the rock crawling mode. He stated that this noise only happens when in the crock crawling mode. The mechanics at the shop seem to think it's coming from the differential. Replacing the differential is a $4,900 repair which is out of the question for them.

Should this noise scare me away form this truck? The salesmen stated he has never known a differential in these LR3's to fail. He stated that they can make noise as they get older. What are your thoughts?

 

If it's an SE it likely does not have the locking rear diff, so my theory of it being the clutch packs inside the diff go out the window, unless the non-locker has similar clutch packs inside it. Unseen one (aka tlt; on this message board) will be able to answer that. Outside of that it could be the rear driveshaft, although failure of those is pretty uncommon.

My take: if it's the diff and the dealer won't fix it, I'd walk away. If it's the driveshaft and they will fix it, then go for it. I'd have them change the fluid in both diffs as well...maybe the tranny and T-case too if the T-case hasn't been done (supposed to be changed at 75k miles)

 

CARFAX Vehicle History Report for this 2005 LAND ROVER LR3: SALAA25415A306675

Here's a link to the CarFax if it helps anyone. The drive shaft was serviced around 66,000 miles or so.

 

i would agree, if the dealer wont fix it the problem the walk

 

LOL: "Should this noise scare me away form this truck? The salesmen stated he has never known a differential in these LR3's to fail. He stated that they can make noise as they get older. What are your thoughts?"

That is a hilarious statement. In fact, they will all fail eventually, but do not let that scare you away. They are great trucks, lots of fun. Every vehicle will need a diff or 2 in its lifetime. My concern would be transfer case or transmission, diffs would not scare me away. It should be priced accordingly to issues identified.

The clutch packs never ever fail. However, if it is a locker, then there are issues that could develop. The popping sound if it is from the diff could be related to a problem with the diff motor actuator or e-diff motor. I would tell them to re-calibrate it, and then drive it again.

Your diff cost would be about 1/3 to 1/2 of that depending on what you need. Just let me know. If they price it accordingly or offer to install your provided parts, you might come out good. I would expect them to actually diagnose the problem though, rather then make something up, a salesman doesn't know squat most likely.

 

Seconded all who said dealer should fix the problem.

1) The front diffs in these are a known issue, so he is either ignorant or dishonest.

2) If its a dealership I'm wondering why the heck they don't know EXACTLY what the issue is. A tech should have looked at it.

The question that comes to mind is, is this a good dealer?

If the popping sounds like a squash ball hitting pavement, maybe its the lower control arms. The sound always comes up for me when I hit rough surfaces, so an off road demo could bring it up.

 

@unseenone: I had a popping sound from my rear diff (HSE, HD Package) and the dealer said it was the clutch packs and wound up replacing the entire diff. Can't accuse them of trying to squeeze out $ because they paid for it.

Later, like weeks later, I got a strange soft-fault related to the clutch pack and after some investigating learned that the new diff does not come with a new e-diff motor, so I had that replaced as well, just to be safe.

Are you telling me that I should have replaced the e-diff motor to begin with and not the diff?

 

Car salesmen exude more BS than politicians.

 

Yes, that is what I am saying. They do not go bad. Here is what the clutch pack looks like. The reason they replaced the diff, is you cannot buy the parts, even if you wanted to do it from the dealer. I am not saying they are wrong, but I have never seen it. Clutch Pack Picture

The e-diff motor operates a cam, which gradually adds press to the packs for a variable to full lock. There is very very little movement in this assembly. You will see here, the cam with a gear that the e-diff motor moves.

Some bits and pieces here properly cleaned prior to reassembly.