Changed Gearbox Oil and Lost Two Gears. Help!

Hi guys,

Got somebody to replace my gearbox oil because I was too busy to do it myself. The very next day I lost the 1st and 2nd gear. It is something to do with the switching mechanism, not the gears, because when I finally get into the gears (after crazy shifting and swearing) they're working good.

No problem switching to the rest of the gears and no problem going from the 3rd to 2nd.

Please tell me I'm paranoid. Can you actually ruin a gearbox by changing oil? I've been to that garage before and although the owner is a rude b*****d and the guy who does the work doesn't speak a single word of English, I cannot say anything wrong about them so far.

Is there a possibility that there's no oil in that box now?
Is it just a coincidence that I suddenly went from a perfect gearbox to a potential traffic-hazard?

Any suggestions will be appreciated!

Manual or auto transmission???????

Manual. I really have to push hard to get into a gear. I'm afraid of breaking something

Have they put in the correct oil?

rubythursday said:

Have they put in the correct oil?

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Yes, according to the invoice, but I have no way of telling if that not-speak-English person has actually put any oil in at all. Should I check? But then, if there is some liquid inside, how can I tell if it's the right kind of liquid?

motorhead said:

Yes, according to the invoice, but I have no way of telling if that not-speak-English person has actually put any oil in at all. Should I check? But then, if there is some liquid inside, how can I tell if it's the right kind of liquid?

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Just answered your own question there....... I'm sure it will be a 'Fill to the filler' plug level jobby like the D2.

What oil did they put it on the 'invoice'?
It should be some kind of 'Manual Transmission fluid' .... a golden browny colour......NOT Red ATF........... or 'Horrible smelling' EP90 Tranny box fluid...

robhew86 said:

Just answered your own question there....... I'm sure it will be a 'Fill to the filler' plug level jobby like the D2.

What oil did they put it on the 'invoice'?

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If I read it correctly, it's MTF94.

Good point there. Although, I got no idea what the D2 is (noob, yeah), I think I know where my filler plug is...
It will be a challenge to get some of the fluid out, though (that's if there is any fluid)... I cannot wait to see what's in my box.

motorhead said:

I cannot wait to see what's in my box.

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Box full of metal

If it's much thicker than a pint of **** after a good night out, then it's the wrong stuff. ATF is a lot kinder to a manual box (LT77 or R380) than EP90 is.

Suffice to say;
200Tdi Defender/Disco with LT77 box - ATF Dexron IID or IIID is OEM spec.
300Tdi Defender/Disco with R380 box - MTF94 is OEM spec.
Both variants use EP90 in the transfer box and axles, but that's the only places.

motorhead said:

It will be a challenge to get some of the fluid out, though

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Piece of cake... put a trolley jack under the nearside chassis rail and jack it up a few degrees. Should **** out then if it's been filled properly.

motorhead said:

If I read it correctly, it's MTF94.

Good point there. Although, I got no idea what the D2 is (noob, yeah), I think I know where my filler plug is...
It will be a challenge to get some of the fluid out, though (that's if there is any fluid)... I cannot wait to see what's in my box.

Click to expand...

MTF94 Sounds about right.

D2 - Discovery 2,

If you remove the filler plug whilst parked on level ground....you should get some oil seep out if it was filled to the correct level.... should give you a good idea what's in it.