Took the car off for a long jaunt over the holiday weekend, mostly motorway and some B roads (all in all about 1800 km round trip) to the adriatic coast. The trip out was a dream, cruised long stretches of the motorway doing 180km/h - not a bother. Yesterday on the way back, just came up off the B road onto the motorway, accelated away and then got a very nasty wobble coming from the front right end; it felt and even sounded like I had just blown a tyre so pulled in straight away. Nothing to see but a very strong stink of something burning under the front end. Wheels were not so hot, popped the hood, nothing amiss. No warning lights on the dash. So drove off again and as soon as I hit 140 - the same noise and wobble. Pulled in again, same stink of burning but nothing to see. Limped back to nearest service agent (200 km) who was on my way anyway,. He took it in this morning (yesterday was holiday) and will check it out.

Any ideas before he tells me I need a new transmission? I suspect its bearings myself, and that I might have ground one to dust or I have a cavitation effect (used to get that in an alfa sprint I drove in the 80's) with water ingress pummeling the sh$* out of the bearings.

I've only done 15,000 KM so I am not a happy camper today  RRS TDV6 (gone)
RRS TDV8 HSE(gone, burned out)
ML 320 CDI Airmatic

KevinJM, you didn't take it off road did you?

I know Tim has said that if you do, you need to clean the wheels properly as it causes bad vibrations.

Also, there has been some discussion about wheel weights falling off. This could explain wobble but not burning smell.

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06 RRS TDV6 HSE, Java/Ebony, PTI, Running Boards, Privacy, S/C Grille/Vents, Stormers, Tasmods - GONE - (

never left the asphalt this time. I checked the wheels weights also and they were fine. I am beginning to suspect that I may have thrown a brake pad, that it got wedged somewhere causing the wobble and burning smell and then got thrown off.

Dunno what else would be burning down there. If I had a hydaulic problem then something surely would have screeched at me from the dash panel. RRS TDV6 (gone)
RRS TDV8 HSE(gone, burned out)
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KevinJM wrote:

... it got wedged somewhere causing the wobble and burning smell and then got thrown off....

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06 RRS TDV6 HSE, Java/Ebony, PTI, Running Boards, Privacy, S/C Grille/Vents, Stormers, Tasmods - GONE - (

Rumbling's from off side front!

Started that noise a couple of weeks back, I thought I had a square wheel! Madam noticed in the back. Seems to do so on overrun at low speeds, you feel it up thru the floor and brakes.
Also, gearbox has gone 'slushy' with it's gear changes, no longer crisp and precise.........First thing in the morning NO DRIVE! Goes backwards fine, 30 seconds of engine running, forward motion gained! However using 'command shift' over rides the loss of gears first thing.

The motor has just been put into the dealers's so we'll know more later.... I suspect the 'sealed for life' gearbox needs topping up!!! But the vibration like a square wheel is a different matter....Drive shaft??

Yes I do use the motor off tarmac, but the tracks round here you could take a fiesta up. Besides, it was designed to go off tarmac!



Will let people know. It isn't the first one i've heard of..... No trail too steep, no mud too deep!
----But ouch that last river cost an ecu or two!

Thanks - look forward to diagnostic 2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
2009 Alaska TDV8 - Gone and much missed.



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I collected the car back from the dealer/service on friday and they insisted there was nothing wrong. They have checked everything apparently and their final diagnosis was that I must have had mud built up on inside of wheel - as already suggested by SuperT , all credits to him so - which had then come loose and been fired off the wheel. I find this a bit too hairy a story but I've driven it another 500km as fast as its little turbo diesel heart will let it and have no problems at all. But none of this explains away the smell of burning.

On the positive side, they checked out all my glitches so they have ordered new switchgear for the cruise control, a new plate for under the gearshift - no more problems with ignition switch, even a new ashtray!! RRS TDV6 (gone)
RRS TDV8 HSE(gone, burned out)
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KevinJM wrote:

...as already suggested by SuperT , all credits to him so...

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Sorry


SuperT you have PM RRS TDV6 Gone but still around
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I love boobies i love boobies i love boobies cuz i'm a big kid now! (Come on everybody sing with me you know the words!)

Aaaaargh! Further to my 'wait for the dealer reply....'

Dealer has my motor in bits, over a week now. They can confirm it doesnt go forward......Dur!

Any how, it's a software problem, they've 'tried' everything, still broke!

They have a Tech coming down from the factory to have words with it.......

But I have no motor,......they tried to offer me a honda civic in return!!! Er told em i'd torch it!

Now wether they have got round to the vibration......... Oh, I hate dealing with Lancaster dealer here in Reading, attitude is 'the customer is a plonker and can be fobbed off'.

Will keep advised, worried, as she's a late 2005 car, Buck Blue s/c - ok, done 10k miles in four months - but that isn't a lot for me! No trail too steep, no mud too deep!
----But ouch that last river cost an ecu or two!

Shouldn't make any difference what your mileage is, you've bought a £60k car and should expect to be able to drive a £60k car 60k mls a month if you so choose!

I can't wait for my first proper 'Dust up' with one of my 3 local dealers!  Runner up - 2009 Best Avatar Award
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06 RRS TDV6 HSE, Java/Ebony, PTI, Running Boards, Privacy, S/C Grille/Vents, Stormers, Tasmods - GONE - (

Well.......The dealer still confirms a software problem, the car is in bits so i cant have it back!!! They've loaned a freelander after jumping up and down and general ranting!
But......Can you get 4 golf bags, 4 adults + driver up to a PRESTIGE event at the Belfry in one of those?

They admit they havent come across this problem before........ Yet I know of at least one press vehicle that had the same symptons

Thankfully I'm only the one responsible for the motor!!! My boss owns it, pass's the buck for the hassle onto others!! ie ME! He aint gonna be happy!

My thought's is if this IS a software problem, then IT COULD be present and waiting in all other SC's.

Any one that notices the gearchange slur, or hesitance on drive first thing in the morning should be very wary!

Personally, I'm sticking to my 200tdi lifted discovery! No electrics!!!! No trail too steep, no mud too deep!
----But ouch that last river cost an ecu or two!

Yeeha! I have my motor back:

The diagnosis is a humdinger!!!

Get this....... The gearbox would still not function correctly,(slushy change, no drive when cold for 30secs etc, but fine once warmed) despite all software upgrades.

A nice chap from Lode Lane came down with his friend from the ZF factory (the gearbox manufacturers!!!!!!).

And..........Well, aparantly a 'selector rod' on/in the gearbox was only SLIGHTLY bent. Hence the software hadn't got a clue, the mechanics at the dealer of course wouldn't notice such a problem - only those who had seen hundred of the zf box could spot such a thing. It's nice to know all my problems in life aren't software related!!!

They also aparently have 'tightened' a few things up regarding the o/s/f wheel vibration at low speeds.

Mmmmm She feels just right again now!

So, chaps, i hope that is the end of this vehicles saga!! No trail too steep, no mud too deep!
----But ouch that last river cost an ecu or two!