ladylandriver
Member
Hello to you if your are reading this, I hope it finds you well.
I am new to this site and also new to the concept of forums. So please forgive me if I get anything wrong?
I'm in a spot of bother and not being a mechanic or having any technical knowledge, I really would be most appreciative for any logical advice.
I'll start with a better introduction, I'm female and disabled as a result of being involved in a RTA approx 5 years ago, I am recovering but have been left with permanent spinal injury and a heightened awareness of safety or just a fear of other road users!!
I am a second owner of a 2009 FL 2 auto which I love as it has given me my independence and I feel safe driving it!
However I have had a few problems which have been rectified with ease under the used car warranty which has now expired and was not main dealer but was an approved garage.
I shall provide a history as I don't know how this all works and too much info is better that not enough!
First issue was with a dual fan deck which wad replaced as the engine was overheating and the air con stopped working. Second was the 4WD system showed a fault and then a sensor was replaced and rectified the error. Both issues rectified very quickly and soon after I purchased the vehicle just over a year ago.
Now at slightly over 60k miles I have been hearing a feint noise that first stated at 60mph and is in sync with the engine noise but not the revs if that makes sense. It has progressively got marginally louder but now appears at much slower speeds. A mechanic friend had a listen and suggested rear wheel bearings and proceeded to change it only on the passenger side, noise still present then advised that he suspects it to be a rear diff that requires full replacement and told me the part alone is approx £4.5k! If it was safe for me to fall off my chair I'm sure I would have done! So knowing that he is not familiar with my vehicle and is more at home with fords and Nissan I have spoken to someone else with a far superior knowledge of bigger vehicles and trucks etc. He has suggested a bearing in the diff or a pinion (no idea what this is) and if either the case easy rectified at more affordable cost!
So after reading a lengthy thread which started in 2013 and appears still active on rear diff problems and the extensive thoughts from the people on this website forum I feel here is a very helpful and honest place for well thought out opinions and advice from land-rover lovers
So I guess any advice on:
1) if this bearing in the diff is so common is it a huge costly fix? And is it common to reoccur following repair/replacement of the bearing?
2) presuming this is an accurate guess from mechanic two (he is going to look at it shortly), following repair should I consider getting rid and replacing for another vehicle? As mechanic one advised the FL2 is notorious for breaking down with costly repairs. (I don't want to as it took months of research into ergonomics and won hands down from all other similar height vehicles without it looking like a classic mobility vehicle).
3) in order for mechanic two to look at it I need to get it from London to Derby and would it be safe to attempt to drive or should I flat bed it there in terms of possibilities of total failure and causing more problems etc.
The noise now resembles something similar to an air raid drill not at the same volume but in frequency and possible pitch.
Due to my fear I can only take it to someone I trust implicitly rather than just someone local. After a.few years in a wheelchair and spinal surgery it's not a gamble I'm willing to take.
I'm sorry I've written an essay!!
I do appreciate any comments and I am sorry if I've written so much and bored someone to tears!
With great thanks
PS I promise I won't reply in such great length!
I am new to this site and also new to the concept of forums. So please forgive me if I get anything wrong?
I'm in a spot of bother and not being a mechanic or having any technical knowledge, I really would be most appreciative for any logical advice.
I'll start with a better introduction, I'm female and disabled as a result of being involved in a RTA approx 5 years ago, I am recovering but have been left with permanent spinal injury and a heightened awareness of safety or just a fear of other road users!!
I am a second owner of a 2009 FL 2 auto which I love as it has given me my independence and I feel safe driving it!
However I have had a few problems which have been rectified with ease under the used car warranty which has now expired and was not main dealer but was an approved garage.
I shall provide a history as I don't know how this all works and too much info is better that not enough!
First issue was with a dual fan deck which wad replaced as the engine was overheating and the air con stopped working. Second was the 4WD system showed a fault and then a sensor was replaced and rectified the error. Both issues rectified very quickly and soon after I purchased the vehicle just over a year ago.
Now at slightly over 60k miles I have been hearing a feint noise that first stated at 60mph and is in sync with the engine noise but not the revs if that makes sense. It has progressively got marginally louder but now appears at much slower speeds. A mechanic friend had a listen and suggested rear wheel bearings and proceeded to change it only on the passenger side, noise still present then advised that he suspects it to be a rear diff that requires full replacement and told me the part alone is approx £4.5k! If it was safe for me to fall off my chair I'm sure I would have done! So knowing that he is not familiar with my vehicle and is more at home with fords and Nissan I have spoken to someone else with a far superior knowledge of bigger vehicles and trucks etc. He has suggested a bearing in the diff or a pinion (no idea what this is) and if either the case easy rectified at more affordable cost!
So after reading a lengthy thread which started in 2013 and appears still active on rear diff problems and the extensive thoughts from the people on this website forum I feel here is a very helpful and honest place for well thought out opinions and advice from land-rover lovers
So I guess any advice on:
1) if this bearing in the diff is so common is it a huge costly fix? And is it common to reoccur following repair/replacement of the bearing?
2) presuming this is an accurate guess from mechanic two (he is going to look at it shortly), following repair should I consider getting rid and replacing for another vehicle? As mechanic one advised the FL2 is notorious for breaking down with costly repairs. (I don't want to as it took months of research into ergonomics and won hands down from all other similar height vehicles without it looking like a classic mobility vehicle).
3) in order for mechanic two to look at it I need to get it from London to Derby and would it be safe to attempt to drive or should I flat bed it there in terms of possibilities of total failure and causing more problems etc.
The noise now resembles something similar to an air raid drill not at the same volume but in frequency and possible pitch.
Due to my fear I can only take it to someone I trust implicitly rather than just someone local. After a.few years in a wheelchair and spinal surgery it's not a gamble I'm willing to take.
I'm sorry I've written an essay!!
I do appreciate any comments and I am sorry if I've written so much and bored someone to tears!
With great thanks
PS I promise I won't reply in such great length!
