Driver Ignores ABS Warning: $4,500 Gearbox Repair (Here’s How You Can Avoid This Costly Mistake)

Just yesterday, a client, who is also a friend, was seething with resentment over an unexpected (at least according to him) $4,500 gearbox replacement.

From just listening to his rant, it was clear he was at his boiling point.

Now, in case you’re wondering, “What kind of gearbox costs $4.5k to repair?”

Sit back, relax and listen.

2020 Range Rover Sport Gearbox Fault: Warning Light Ignored

The vehicle in question is a 2020 Range Rover Sport 3.0 Diesel AT.

It was a rainy day, and while driving on the Tema motorway, a warning light came on saying Gearbox Fault.

"Impossible,” my friend retorted.

Just a few days ago, he had taken it in for servicing.

And with a little bit of struggle, he was still able to move gears.

“Maybe it has something to do with the transmission fluid,” he thought to himself.

“It can’t possibly be that bad if I can still shift gears.”

?Dealership Visit: Quick Fix or Missed Opportunity?

So, he took it to his local dealership for a checkup.

Three days later, he gets a call back saying, “The transmission fluid needs a top-up plus a software update.”

My friend was happy it wasn’t anything major; just a $210 job is something he could live with.?

After agreeing to have the work done, he received a call a few days later to inform him that it had undergone extensive road testing and was now as good as new, or so he believed.

Second Breakdown and Missed Diagnosis: A Car Stalled on the Motorway

He picked up his car, and within an hour and about 50 kilometers, it broke down on the motorway again.

This time, it refused to shift into gear, did not move at all, and produced loud noises.

“How could this have happened again?” he wondered.

“The dealership has just fixed it.”

Investigation Reveals Missed Clues: Flickering ABS Warning Light Ignored

This time, he had it towed to the same dealership, and they told him to leave it with them.?

In the meantime, he looked at his app online to see if they road tested it on a motorway, etc., as both times it had broken down in the same way.

He was shocked and horrified to discover that there had been no testing at all.

Now, the dealership claims that the gearbox is completely beyond repair and requires a brand-new gearbox, which will cost $4,500.

This is money he doesn't have lying around, and he is struggling to come to terms with it.?

However, the dealership neglected to inform my friend that the previous flickering of his ABS warning light was essentially a warning sign of a more serious issue.

And in this case, his gearbox.

The Link Between Faulty ABS and Gearbox Damage

You see, most mechanics don’t understand that a failed ABS system can damage one’s gearbox.

For some reason, they just don’t see the connection.

It appears as though they are unaware of the interconnectedness of the entire system.

To them, these parts are independent of each other.

Please don’t ask me how they’ve come to that conclusion, because even I can’t fathom it.

They claimed that a malfunctioning sensor was the cause of the flickering.

Common Causes of Gearbox Failure: How to Avoid a Costly Repair

My experience with vehicles has led me to conclude that ignored ABS failures are often the cause of gearbox failures.

Other cases may involve shifting the gears too quickly.

For instance, most people have a tendency to shift the gears too quickly when attempting to move an automatic vehicle while parked.

They move from P (park) to D (drive) in a nanosecond.?

What you should do instead is slowly move from P (park) to R (reverse), N (neutral), and D (drive).

In some other cases, they don’t change the transmission oil at all.

Vehicle Speed Sensors

We should talk about your car's speed sensors.

In most cars, each wheel has a wheel speed sensor that continuously transmits data about each wheel's speed to the car's ECU, which controls the ABS and traction control systems.

If the ECU notices that the speed is off, it will activate the ABS and/or traction control to keep the car safe.

There are times when these sensors don't work properly or act up, sending the wrong messages to the ECU.

In these situations, the ABS system might send the wrong warning or none at all.

At this point, the ECU tells the transition module to go into a fail-safe mode.

This mode limits the car to one or two forward gears and usually starts in third gear.

If you ignore the ABS warning and leave your car in third gear for too long, the clutches will slip, and your gearbox will break very quickly.

So, with all this going on, it’s nearly impossible to say it was unexpected.

Don't Ignore Warning Signs: Save Money on Car Repairs

My friend didn’t like my feedback, but he and the dealership are at fault here.

It’s basically a case of someone telling you what you wanted to hear even though you knew something untoward was happening.

My friend knew his flickering ABS wasn’t benign.

He just didn’t want to spend the money, and when the dealership said it was nothing, he just accepted it.

That was what he wanted to hear, and he was okay with it.

This prompts me to consider how most people tend to favor "confirmation bias."

Confirmation bias essentially refers to the inclination to seek, understand, prioritize, and remember data in a manner that validates or upholds one's previous convictions or principles.

And it is prevalent in our everyday lives.

It’s how we choose our friends.

It’s how we choose the people we work with.

And to some degree, it’s beneficial, but I think it becomes harmful when we ignore clear warning signs just because we’d rather hear what we want to hear, irrespective of whatever the potential consequences may be.

And in my friend’s case, he is now looking at a repair cost, including part replacement, of about $5,000.

I can’t stress this enough; I don’t recall many cases in my life where I’ve had a problem that just disappeared on its own.

The lesson, or should I say principle, here is simple: if you notice a problem with your car, relationship, or business, please don’t ignore it.

Pay attention to it.

Take action and try to resolve it as soon as possible.

If you don’t, a $100 problem today could easily become a $3,000 problem tomorrow.

Preventative Maintenance and Driver Safety Training

Through June and July, we’re trying to help only a few companies save thousands of $$ with 1-day bespoke in-person and/or online driver safety training, which includes...

1.???? Mastering the Basics:

• Pre-trip inspections: Routine checks of fluids, tires, lights, and warning indicators.
• Safe driving habits: Maintaining following distance, proper use of turn signals, and hazard recognition.

2.???? Defensive Driving Techniques:

• Minimizing distractions: Avoiding cell phones, eating, or loud music while driving.
• Scanning techniques: Regularly checking mirrors and blind spots to anticipate hazards.

3.???? Understanding Vehicle Warning Signs:

• Dashboard symbols: Familiarizing yourself with common warning lights like ABS, check engine, and low tire pressure.
• Unusual noises: Recognizing sounds that might indicate potential problems (clunking, grinding, screeching).

4.???? Vehicle Handling in Different Conditions:

• Adverse weather: Adjusting driving for rain, snow, fog, or high winds.
• Low-visibility situations: Techniques for driving safely at night or in low-light conditions.

So, if you’re tired of wasting your hard-earned cash on unexpected (preventable) vehicle breakdowns, DM or Reply “I’m tired” today to this article, and we’ll reach out to you to get started.

Who Is This For?

• Companies that have drivers and a fleet of vehicles.
• Businesses that truly believe in optimizing their safety culture.
• People who are currently in business and making money consistently.
• People who truly love helping others and value results above everything else.
• People who have strong values and believe they can save money by optimizing safety processes.

Who Is This NOT For?

• People who don’t want to save money.
• People who are not already making money.
• People who don’t have at least 10 participants.
• People who are just getting started in business.
• People who don’t care about results and are okay with the status quo.
• People who aren’t prepared to take action and aren’t serious about reducing their operations costs.

Now, if you find any value in this, I need you to help us spread this message. Share it with friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn so they can benefit. You could also forward it to someone you love or hate via email (hopefully you’re not the type that hates people). You can also leave a comment below, letting us know if you’ve experienced unexpected breakdowns or if there are any other car-related topics you want us to cover next.

That’s all for now.

Thank you for reading, and stay safe out there.

Catch you next Tuesday.

P.S. Here’s how we can work together:

If you’re a business leader (you run a business or are a business executive) and you’re seeking end-to-end fleet management solutions, please fill out this form.