05 TD4 S query on front drive shaft/gearbox noise and rear diff leaks

[FionaMcQ]

Hi, I recently bought a TD4 S with 49, 500 from garage, luckily (maybe) with warranty for electrical and mechanical failure cover. I needed to put it into garage for ABS light coming on and a vibration felt - especially when driving up hill and round right hand bends - for the garage to state that reason is front drive shaft and a noisy gearbox - oh and seals in rear diff leaking would be expected not having even driven 1000 miles yet? To note that I have not changed tyres or taken it off road..gutted at the moment:(

[Llanigraham]

At 49k I would not expect those problems. Is this a garage that knows Freelander's or just a normal garage?

[FionaMcQ]

Well its all under the one named garage - but bought from thier Honda dealership, who were selling for their Ford dealership(warranty with Ford) and 4x4 in their Landrover garage now - although they initially said it would be hard to prove manufactures defect, for which I've had to re-iterate to them "electrical & mechanical failure for which the warranty covers - I've had to authorise them L/Rover to stip the gearbox etc - 10hrs labour and parts are £1100 apparently - gutted at the mo with no vehicle and getting back to them on Monday to see what the situation is...L/Rover seem very defensive and maybe not as helpful as I would of expected...

[Chaser]

Hi, I recently bought a TD4 S with 49, 500 from garage, luckily (maybe) with warranty for electrical and mechanical failure cover. I needed to put it into garage for ABS light coming on and a vibration felt - especially when driving up hill and round right hand bends - for the garage to state that reason is front drive shaft and a noisy gearbox - oh and seals in rear diff leaking would be expected not having even driven 1000 miles yet? To note that I have not changed tyres or taken it off road..gutted at the moment:(

You may not have, but is there more tread on the front tyres than on the back?

[FionaMcQ]

Actually no, although both front tyres will need replacing soon for which I'd intended to do by moving the rear ones to the front as they still have good tread-although to note I was not aware of this requirement before I came onto this forum-well educated - will definately be re-reading the drivers manual for other key areas to be aware of...
On raising the issues with the sales personnel who sold me the car they'd mentioned it had gone through a 79point check (although how valid this is I'm unsure) and suggested that the service personnel for L/Rover were probably not as familiar with the Ford warranty as their own. But if say that they-L/Rover prove mechanical failure in either the gear box or front drive shaft-could either of brought on the leakage in the rear diffs? - so that the whole lot can be covered by the warranty and the money that I'd thought I may have to pay for this area can go on new tyres? suggestions please?

[Chaser]

OK, just thought I'd ask as the symptoms match the tyre issues that you have obviously read about and is the only way i can connect the vibration and leaking rear diff.
I wonder if the previous owner has used it with the tyres on opposite axles?

In theory the driveshaft could be the reason for the vibration and abs light so see what they find there.

It seems to me to be a little early mileage wise to have these problems though which makes me suspicious.
The diff seals aren't normally a problem unless the diff has been overworked and run hot(oil can also be expelled from the breather). The Getrag gearbox is reliable and in my experience never gives trouble.
The IRD unit on the other hand does occasionally give trouble and doesn't take kindly to mismatched tyres, particularly on the early models.

There's not much you can do only wait and see what they come back with.

[FionaMcQ]

Thanks very much, got so much info on this site - just to get reassurance that I'm not going mad....can you educate me on the IRD - Internal Ratio Diff? or am I way of the mark??:o ABS light magically disappeared on way to garage that day - they said nothing showing when checked and suggested low power/voltage from battery could of caused it coming on, although I did wonder if the vibration was a factor...
Yeah will just have to wait and see what they say, at least I've got a better understanding - less likelyhood of them giving me a curve ball!!

[Llanigraham]

IRD = Intermediate Reduction Gear = a sort of transfer box that converts the drive from the gearbox into front and rear (4x4) drive

[FionaMcQ]

ah right so I wasn't that far off the mark then!! lol thanks