Hey everyone, first time poster but long-time lurker here. I drive a 2011 LR4 HSE with the heavy duty package (roof rack, skid plates, rubber floor mats, etc) and just brought it in for 118k miles oil change at my local LR shop. Long story short, torque converter is busted and they want $9k to rebuild it, $2800 of which is labor. I am in my early 20s and this just isn't possible for me financially. I do realize that this car is not ideal for someone my age to be driving given the expected repair costs but it was a gift from my dad. I've had the car for 5 years now but I think it might be time to say goodbye. At this point, I see four options:
1. bite the 9k bullet and hope to sell it for decent money afterwards to recoup most of the cost (although I'm sure I will still take a financial loss)
2. Look around junkyards for a viable replacement transmission, although I'm not sure if my chances are good finding one
3. Scrap it, I already looked on cash for clunkers and they quoted me $2k
4. Part it out, this is the option I have the least knowledge about and I'm not sure if there's even a market for such things

If you were me, what would you do? Any thoughts, stories, tips, and advice greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Edit: Spoke with the shop and updated the pricing, which I had misunderstood. $9k for the transmission rebuild, and they quoted $5k for unrelated repairs to the coolant system.

 

I am confused… you took it in for an oil change… and you need a torque converter??
Help me understand the turn of events, please.
Also “your LR specialist”?? Explain this too.

That quote deserves a second opinion. ZF 6HP transmissions are not magical. And have a solid reputation.

just my $.02 worth…

 

Hey guy thanks for the response!

The transmission issue actually started several months ago with the RPMs fluctuating even when I was going a constant speed. Nothing major, just 100 up, then back down. At this point I took it in for a transmission fluid change per the recommendations of some threads on this forum, it seemed like a common issue. It helped a bit, but then I started to notice that going up steep hills (such as those in San Francisco), the transmission would shudder the whole car, and I had to give it quite a bit of gas before this went away. The RPMs still bounce around to this day even on cruise control. Now though, in the past two weeks, I've been getting those shudders even when going up a mild hill on the freeway for example, and on flat ground shifting from 2 to 3. I took it in for the oil change which was due at 117k and asked them to check out the transmission, and lo and behold it is busted.

The shop in question is called Exclusive British and European located near San Jose. I've had bad experiences with mechanics that do not advertise themselves as working on British cars/Land Rovers (getting a leaky air suspension fixed, that's a whole different story) so I've been taking it to them for the past 2 years or so. They haven't done me wrong so far although I suppose it is worth looking at other places for a 2nd opinion.

I don't know much about ZF 6HP transmissions but I plan to ask for more details about the proposed repair when I pick it up from them this afternoon.

Thanks again for taking the time!

 

Well, thank you for the explanation. Do they use LR software to access the maintenance interfaces?

Personally, I would run into a ZF approved facility for a second opinion. The LR shop would give you a “change the torque converter” response or change the transmission…
A capable Inde would give the “replace with an used or rebuilt” option… an it should be significantly cheaper than your quote.

I miss the SF bay…. I have a long history there. My hq was in Mountain View but I was all over the region.