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Sluggish Auto Gearbox

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193K views 337 replies 89 participants last post by  RafflesNH  
#1 ·
is anyone else disappointed with how poor the Auto gearbox is? I had a Merc auto a year or so ago which was an absolute dream to drive, both pulling away and in general driving. My disco though is woeful bordering on downright dangerous when pulling away. whether I'm taking a rolling start or from complete standstill if you put your foot down to pull away you get absolutely nothing for 2/3seconds then it pulls away like an absolute rocket, firing you back in to your seat! Its about as subtle as a clown fight.

I genuinely think its trying to kill me!
 
#27 ·
Also don't drive with ECO mode on. ECO mode seriously cripples the car. I found that with ECO mode off, the car is much more responsive. ECO mode shifts gear at a very low rpm which makes the car feel very sluggish.
 
#28 ·
Having now driven the car to and from work (106 mile round trip) a few times, on mainly single carraigeway roads I feel there is a place for the eco mode; in as much when cruising around 56-60 the gearbox is not constantly jerking between ratios. If more haste is required a flick of the paddle or manual in sport mode (still makes me smile) seems to do the trick. When its due for replacement I know there will be SUV's available that will be equal, if not better - unless they have sorted the gearbox by then.
 
#29 ·
What you're describing is more turbo lag than a transmission issue. The DS does not have a true transfer case for the low range 4x4 modes so they are using an extra low 1st gear in the transmission that is not used while you are in standard drive modes. When you are using regular drive modes you are really starting off in 2nd gear, not 1st which makes the turbo lag a little more noticeable and pronounced.
 
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#30 ·
Found the following on Honest John regarding the Porsche macan, sounds similar to the DS:

"-2-2016: Complaint of 'flat spot' when setting off frtom rest in 15,000 mile 2015 Porsche Macan S. Owner has "lost confidence in it going into, for instance, roundabouts since I am never sure if, when I press the accelerator, it will respond immediately or hit that dreaded flat spot and almost stall." This is typical VAG and dates back to some trouble they had with runaway automatics in Audi 100s in the USA. They fit a detent device that prevents the lever being moved from N to D unless the brake pedal is pressed. Unfortunately the brake pedal switch also has the effect of delaying fuel delivery to the engine so you can't always come off the brakes and power away. A Macan is basically an Audi Q5 and as such shares the Q5's massive longitudinal s-troninc direct shift transmission with its benefits and its faults."
 
#31 ·
My DS was at the dealership all last week having the leather reworked and at the same time they carried out a software update on the gearbox.

I also had the problem of a sluggish pull away which, after the update, has completely disappeared. Apparently there is a notice from JLR on this.
 
#33 ·
Hi everyone,

I am having exactly the sensation mentioned in this post. This is my first auto gear but tried others and never had this sensation. My Disco is brand new, it arrived 3 weeks ago, so it should have came with the last version of the software and mapping of the gearbox. As the mechanics are exactly the same for the evoques, did you hear that they are experiencing the same issue? because it is the same gearbox and the same engine, if it solved for them it should be solved for us...

Regards
 
#34 ·
Julkan said:
Hi everyone,

I am having exactly the sensation mentioned in this post. This is my first auto gear but tried others and never had this sensation. My Disco is brand new, it arrived 3 weeks ago, so it should have came with the last version of the software and mapping of the gearbox. As the mechanics are exactly the same for the evoques, did you hear that they are experiencing the same issue? because it is the same gearbox and the same engine, if it solved for them it should be solved for us...

Regards
Hello Julkan,

I suppose one would rightfully assume that your DS should have the latest software and gearbox mapping but knowing what else LR (and other manufacturers) are capable of I wouldn't be too sure. I'm not sure but would suspect that the Evoque may have different gearbox mapping.

I'd get the dealer to check you DS anyway.
 
#35 ·
I dont have the lag on my car per se but it always goes into top gear and stay there forcing me to use the paddles or drive in Sport mode. I read somewhere there was a software fix for this, anyone validate this?

Its going to the stealer in a week or so for a host of other items but this is the biggest complaint.
 
#36 ·
I have read that this was an issue with the 2.2 engine, but not with the 2.0 - does that gel with those who have concerns?

I am using the same ZF gearbox, or at least the 8-spd version of the basically same box, in a 5 series and I have not been aware that the DS box in the ones I have test driven is sluggish in comparison (as long as not in eco mode). And I am very fussy about such things and only a recent convert to auto at all, having preferred manual because of this very kind of issue with auto's of old.

My main perception of the auto box in the DS is no perception at all - it just does what it should do, which is the biggest compliment I can give to an auto box.

My wife (new to auto's - she rarely drives mine), did perceive the issue described, so perhaps I already just know how to drive this ZF box. In that case, the answer is tickle the throttle, or even jus let it creep and as soon as the car starts to move you can start feeding in the power - and this is over a very short period - 0.25 sec perhaps.

I assume that this is not being compounded by stop-start technology issues? - I always turn that off as I rarely come to a 100% standstill and when I do it's off for seconds only so in most cases it saves me nothing and is annoying.
 
#38 ·
philn said:
Owners have just picked their cars up (Ingenium) and have the issue. If you read back through posts Chippy had it with his 150 bhp car and they only produced this engine in the Ingenium guise.

http://www.discosportforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3004
The disappointing part of this is, I had assume the gearbox was somehow tuned to the Ingenium engine and those of us with Duratorq's were putting up with bad behaviour because it wasn't well matched. But it looks like it's just bad, end of.
 
#39 ·
OldTimer said:
I assume that this is not being compounded by stop-start technology issues? - I always turn that off as I rarely come to a 100% standstill and when I do it's off for seconds only so in most cases it saves me nothing and is annoying.
OT IMO there's no need to turn the a/s/s off (others will, I'm sure disagree) but when in a traffic queue and by delicate feathering of the brake pedal, leave a bit of extra space between your car and the vehicle in front, and just let the car creep slightly to avoid a complete standstill. On the other hand if you are first in the queue at a set of traffic lights, bring the car to a complete stop quickly so that a/s/s activates, and just slightly release the brake on red/amber or when you see the opposing lights turning red.
 
#40 ·
Drove an Ingenium at Lr Experience centre at the w/e. Gearbox was much better in step-off than my car. I have a service coming, will be asking for a software update and crossing my fingers.
 
#41 ·
Lofi said:
Drove an Ingenium at Lr Experience centre at the w/e. Gearbox was much better in step-off than my car. I have a service coming, will be asking for a software update and crossing my fingers.
Lofi, just been there, car serviced yesterday, told I have latest software, update was for cars within specific vin range, not ours..
 
#42 ·
philn said:
Lofi said:
Drove an Ingenium at Lr Experience centre at the w/e. Gearbox was much better in step-off than my car. I have a service coming, will be asking for a software update and crossing my fingers.
Lofi, just been there, car serviced yesterday, told I have latest software, update was for cars within specific vin range, not ours..
Any idea what the VIN range is?

I didn't think the Ingenium engine was that much of an improvement. The vibration issues are still there, slightly more linear power delivery and the step off with the gear box was better but I felt pretty satisfied with my 2.2.
 
#45 ·
I thought the DS had Hill start assist my DS does not roll backwards on a hill start
 
#48 ·
Moose said:
I have a new Ingenium loaner at the moment, only 170 miles on the clock, this hesitates as much as my 2.2.
Had 2 loan Ingeniums over the past few weeks, one was better than my 2.2 and the other was about the same.
Since I had mine in for a service last week and the technician played with it, it seems a bit better, will be interested to see how they do with yours Moose.
 
#49 ·
Haven't got an auto but in my manual DS, I get the best results at traffic lights when I first engage the clutch and only afterwards apply (full) throttle. Familiar for manual owners?

I do need seem to have hill stop, at least I do need to manually apply the handbrake. Any suggestions?
 
#50 ·
KaikouraDiscoSport said:
I do need seem to have hill stop, at least I do need to manually apply the handbrake. Any suggestions?
Some systems use a solenoid in the footbrake system, others use the electric handbrake - I don't know which system the DS has. Give the footbrake a good firm push as you come to a stop on the hill. The system needs the pressure to hold the car stationary on the hill before releasing the pressure when you move off.

Others use the electric handbrake (I can't call it a park brake) which is all electronic. If you roll to a stop (without footbrake) and there no hill hold (I can't as I have an auto), maybe you have the footbrake system needing brake pressure.
 
#51 ·
Google landrover hill start assist and have a read of the live.landrover link