I think we (all) may have got off on the wrong foot here, it's hot and late and tempers are fraying.
I feel in the interests of reconciliation we should make one last attempt at helping out here...should she every come back.
Dear Karenzabambino,
I don't own a L322, but I do know they have a reputation for eating gearboxes. This is probably because the gearboxes were "sealed for life" at the factory. In short it means you don't change the special gearbox oil (or Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF)) as part of the recommended servicing.
As you'll have read, like all the other fluids on a car it needs to be done though, and regularly as part of a normal maintenance schedule. I'd have thought at least every 36,000 miles. Some people on here say every 6000 miles.
From what you're describing, it sounds like it might be gearbox failure. It's hard to diagnose anything on these cars without seeing the problem first hand though because they are complicated, and not very reliable to start with. We can try to help, but it's usually the case that we can only help aid your own best guess, and a trip to a decent mechanic might save you more time in the long run anyway.
To check the gearbox oil (or ATF) you're going to need a way of safely getting under the car. Heavy duty axle stands or a proper ramp, (but not the jack) are necessary.
First, read
this.
Once you've got your car up on ramps, or stands, crawl underneath with the engine running and undo the gearbox filling plug. Stick your finger in there and the fluid should be just below the level of the hole. If you can't feel any fluid with your finger tip, or it comes our dry then your fluid is low, and that might be why the car isn't working. Replace the filler plug.
Switch off the engine, and undo the gearbox drain plug, drain a small amount of oil (not easy to do cleanly) in to an old plastic pot and look at the colour of it.
When new it is red, the colour of cherryade, it gets darker and browner with use and milage, and in the end becomes useless. If yours is dark brown or black, it'll tell us that at least your gearbox needs new ATF. If there is lots of swarf (tiny metal fillings and shavings) or other solid contaminants it'll tell us you're gearbox is probably shot.
Then you've got to refill the gearbox before you try and drive it anywhere.
If you don't fancy any of the above, and I can understand why, it's dirty, messy, and lying under 2.5 tonnes of car raised on axle stands is a bit scary sometimes, you're going to have take it to a mechanic. If you can't afford an LR dealer google Land Rover Independent Specialist and look for a mechanic that's knows his onions when it comes to Range Rovers. There are plenty of them around, and they'll only charge regular mechanics rates, not dealership rates.
Or, print off Saint.V8's "Gearbox drain and fill" write up and take it along with the car to any decent mechanic. Tell them the car just stopped and you suspect gearbox failure. The auto gearboxes used on Range Rovers are used on loads of other cars, and they will be familiar to any mechanic that's been in around a bit.
Unfortunately the fact of the matter is that Range Rovers (especially newer ones) are expensive to run, and expensive to mend. That's one reason why they are cheap to buy, and another reason why most of the people on here do our own spannering, it makes owning one affordable where it wouldn't otherwise be so.
Good luck!
