TD5 Auto Transmission Temperature Light

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Posts
52
Location
Winchester
I have a 1999 Discovery 2 TD5 ES with 119,000 miles on the clock.
Back in July last year whilst stuck in heavy traffic the transmission temperature warning light came on. Once the traffic started moving the light went out. Then in August last year whilst driving at fairly slow speeds around Devon lanes the light came on again but extinguished as soon as speed increased.
In June this year whilst towing a twin axle trailer the light came on after about 10 minutes whilst driving at slow speeds but extinguished once speed increased. The truck then had a gearbox oil and filter change. However, at the beginning of August I went on a 140 mile journey, most of which was dual carriage way but the last 10 miles or so were winding minor roads. The light came on at slow speeds but again extinguished as soon as speed increased.
Then this week, driving around town for about 20 minutes followed by a drive up a fairly steep hill saw the light come on again but as before extinguished once speed picked up.
There are no other symptoms, the temperature gauge sits where it always has and the gearbox changes up and down smoothly as and when it should do.
My local, and trusted, Land Rover (independent) specialist has suggested that the problem is random and that the sensor needs changing. However, it seems to me that the light is coming on when the vehicle has been working a bit harder (although not particularly hard) and things have warmed up, although I would not have thought that any of the scenarios above should have resulted in the light coming on.
I have read that the sensors can become defective but can they become more sensitive and react at a lower temperature than they should?
I have also looked through the “radiator” grille and have noted that the intercooler is quite choked up with dust and debris, dead flies etc although I would not have thought excessively so. Does the oil cooler sit behind the intercooler and could the impeded airflow mean that the oil cooler is not getting enough air flow through it to maintain its cooling effect and that the sensor is therefore doing what it should and showing up a cooling problem? Or could it be something else entirely?
Any thoughts or comments would be very much appreciated.
 
I was just about to post exactly the same. My '52 has identical symptoms and I too have been informed that the sensor begins triggering at lower than expected temp. I've bought a new one but the job looks like a bit of a nighmare having to remove all the coolers to get to it.

Has anyone any tips for replacing these on the TD5?

Many thanks
 
I was just about to post exactly the same. My '52 has identical symptoms and I too have been informed that the sensor begins triggering at lower than expected temp. I've bought a new one but the job looks like a bit of a nightmare having to remove all the coolers to get to it.

Has anyone any tips for replacing these on the TD5?

Many thanks


It's a dead easy job !!! Take off drivers front wheel, remove the wheelarch access panel and you'll have direct access to the temp sensor on the autobox oil cooler.

Replace the sensor, replace the access panel and front wheel. Now top up the autobox oil - and Relax !!
 
That's also what my mech mentioned he'll end up doing!!! Thanks for clarifying :) so does this mean no need to use the 'access panel'? Probably provides more room for manoeuvre by removing the wheel arch anyway :)

Done the autobox oil and filter, so might have to do a top after after sensor...
 
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