Hello All,
Looking for any suggestions to lower the repair cost for a transmission replacement for a 2010 LR4. Dealer cost is $13,000.
Thank you!
Here is the Background
About 6 months ago, my wife was driving our 2010 LR4 and a transmission fault light first appeared. She phoned the dealer and asked whether she should bring the car in for service and was told that as long as the light disappeared after the car was turned off and restarted the vehicle was safe to drive. She was told that it was just a quirk of the LR4. After the initial episode, the transmission fault light appeared a few more times, but after turning the vehicle off and restarting the engine the light disappeared, so (as instructed) she did not bring the car in for service.
On July 31, while drive on the expressway (I-94 in Illinois) at full speed the car quickly lunged forward and the transmission fault light appeared. The car immediately began to decelerate so she put the hazards on and shifted the car into neutral and pulled over to the shoulder of the road. She turned the car off and let it cool down for a couple of minutes, then restarted the car with no luck as the transmission fault light appeared again and she was unable to accelerate the car. She turned the car off a second time and waited another minute or so before restarting again this time with luck. She drove the car slowly to the Land Rover dealership just a couple exits further south on the expressway.
The dealership's initial transmission fault light diagnosis was that the light likely came on due to a loose wire connection or possible battery failure, however, after waiting at the dealership for over 3 hours she was told they needed to investigate the error codes further so left the dealership with a loaner vehicle.
On August 3, service called stating the error codes were indicative of a complete transmission failure and that the transmission replacement cost would be $10,800 plus another $1,800 or so for labor. The vehicle is 5 years old vehicle with only 52,000 miles. The car is no longer under warranty.
We’ve been in touch with the dealer and LR USA because we were given very bad advice to not bring in the car when the initial transmission fault light appeared. I’m not sure of the exact timing, but pretty sure it was still under warranty at the time. Unfortunately it’s turned into a he said, she said situation with the dealer and they are not going to cover this under warranty. They and LR USA are willing to knock a few $ off the repairs.
Any suggestions for a way to confirm the diagnosis and lower the repair costs (used transmission, independent mechanic) would be appreciated.
Looking for any suggestions to lower the repair cost for a transmission replacement for a 2010 LR4. Dealer cost is $13,000.
Thank you!
Here is the Background
About 6 months ago, my wife was driving our 2010 LR4 and a transmission fault light first appeared. She phoned the dealer and asked whether she should bring the car in for service and was told that as long as the light disappeared after the car was turned off and restarted the vehicle was safe to drive. She was told that it was just a quirk of the LR4. After the initial episode, the transmission fault light appeared a few more times, but after turning the vehicle off and restarting the engine the light disappeared, so (as instructed) she did not bring the car in for service.
On July 31, while drive on the expressway (I-94 in Illinois) at full speed the car quickly lunged forward and the transmission fault light appeared. The car immediately began to decelerate so she put the hazards on and shifted the car into neutral and pulled over to the shoulder of the road. She turned the car off and let it cool down for a couple of minutes, then restarted the car with no luck as the transmission fault light appeared again and she was unable to accelerate the car. She turned the car off a second time and waited another minute or so before restarting again this time with luck. She drove the car slowly to the Land Rover dealership just a couple exits further south on the expressway.
The dealership's initial transmission fault light diagnosis was that the light likely came on due to a loose wire connection or possible battery failure, however, after waiting at the dealership for over 3 hours she was told they needed to investigate the error codes further so left the dealership with a loaner vehicle.
On August 3, service called stating the error codes were indicative of a complete transmission failure and that the transmission replacement cost would be $10,800 plus another $1,800 or so for labor. The vehicle is 5 years old vehicle with only 52,000 miles. The car is no longer under warranty.
We’ve been in touch with the dealer and LR USA because we were given very bad advice to not bring in the car when the initial transmission fault light appeared. I’m not sure of the exact timing, but pretty sure it was still under warranty at the time. Unfortunately it’s turned into a he said, she said situation with the dealer and they are not going to cover this under warranty. They and LR USA are willing to knock a few $ off the repairs.
Any suggestions for a way to confirm the diagnosis and lower the repair costs (used transmission, independent mechanic) would be appreciated.
