Disco 2 ´99 Td5 Auto gearbox issue

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Maat

Active Member
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169
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Hi all,

I´m certain this has already been discussed to death, however I am still in doubt as to what to do, even after reading countless threads on the subject.
I own a 1999 Td5 with an automatic gearbox. Last year, one day it just decided it won´t switch gears anymore. Sticking it into drive resulted into it just revving and not moving anywhere, so I could only drive it reverse or "I" position. After some weeks I figured I could drive off in 1st gear, then - once I gained enough speed, either by accelerating or driving downhill, so regardless of revvs - I could switch the gear lever to driv position, after which, it would go into second gear, then third and fourth, then downshift it´s way, depending on speed, behaving normally, unless I drove slow enough for it to slip from second into nothing again. Then I would switch back into "I" and so on and so on. After a while I got the hang of it and did not even think of fixing it for fear of something else breaking.
After a few months of this, after a broken propeller shaft and other more or less major issues, gearbox decided that it won´t work in drive at all anymore. When I would try my trick it would just not go into second, sometimes it would if I revved to around 4000rpm, although generally it just wouldn´t work and the M and S lights would come on flashing in the dashboard and I would have to drive it in limp mode. Upon turning the engine off and on again, the gearbox would work again normally in 1st and reverse. The lights come on whenever I revv it past 3000rpm.
In the beginning someone told me they had the same problem and changing the torque converter fixed the issue, then I thought it must be the XYZ switch and eventually I decided I would just swap the whole gearbox alongside with torque converter. I´m still leaning towards doing that, but I don´t like thinking about the possibility that it could just be something electrical and I would have two working gearboxes for nothing.
I´ve read many posts on the subject, but I feel like there are too many particulars to this problem and I am tired of playing the detective. For anyone that read this, what do you reckon. Have you dealt with the same issue? Any input I would appreciate enormously. Cheers!

- Matei
 
Firstly I wonder where you would be able to get a box to swop, cos two years ago my friendly local LR mechanic told me he tried constantly to get them and they were rare as rocking horse sh!t.
Secondly, I would strongly consider stripping down and cleaning up the XYZ switch, there are threads on how to do this, thirdly, you may, just may have a problem with the famous P-clip to be found on top of the of the transfer box. Inside the insulation where it is very hard to see, the insulation on the wires can wear and lead to shorting which will turn your M & S lights on and possibly put it into limp home mode.
Lastly although I don't think this is your rpoblem, or at least not ALL your problem, you could have a sticking wastegate as this too will limit the speed of the vehicle and put it into limp home mode.
But do check all this out before thinking about taking the box off.
Last I heard, getting one rebuilt by a decent specialist was well into the 1-2K£ bracket. It cost me just over £1k last wintert to just have the box taken off, a paper gasket replaced and the bolts tightened back up again where they had been a bit loose and it was leaking ATF.
Very best of luck mate.
 
I seem to remember this being mentioned a few times before as a clutch in the box, pretty sure a search here would show something. So to me I would search for another box.

I know there's a place that breaks RRs but believe the HP22 is the same regardless of car. they have plenty good or not I don't know.
east coast rover (i think on fleabay).

J
 
Hi all, thanks for the replies.

First, I'm not based in the UK, I'm not quite sure what the prices are like there, but where I'm from there is a LR dismantling shop that sells parts and they have a "tested and working" auto box for a bit less than 400 quid and they offer a 6 month warranty on it or something.

I will still check all the problems you recommended looking at. I know for a fact the waste gate isn't sticky and opens properly, the others I haven't looked at yet. If nothing works, I'll change the torque converter. If all fails I'll just swap the box.

I forgot to mention, I plan on doing all this by myself, I have some mechanical knowledge and worked as a mechanic for a while, did the old box swaps, although never on a landy. Anything I should look out for?

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll do some more searching in the forum based on them. Also if anyone else has dealt with this exact issue I would still like to hear your experience.

Cheers,
Matei
 
If you change the torque converter do the box at the same time, otherwise you will be doing it twice;).

You could always try a change of oil to see if it lives a little longer, but not going to be a permanent fix even if it comes back to life.

400 sounds a reasonable price if it includes the TQ. (For your location).

J
 
If you change the torque converter do the box at the same time, otherwise you will be doing it twice;).

You could always try a change of oil to see if it lives a little longer, but not going to be a permanent fix even if it comes back to life.

400 sounds a reasonable price if it includes the TQ. (For your location).

J
+1 on this, it sounds very reasonable, maybe you could start making some wedge exporting them to the UK!!!
 
If you change the torque converter do the box at the same time, otherwise you will be doing it twice;).

You could always try a change of oil to see if it lives a little longer, but not going to be a permanent fix even if it comes back to life.

400 sounds a reasonable price if it includes the TQ. (For your location).

J

Yes, it does include the torque converter, and for 400 pounds including shipping it sounds like a bargain. I think I'm going to try to see if I can bring it back to life with cleaning the xyz switch, checking all the connections, changing the torque convertor and seals (after driving it in snow I found small drops of ATF on the road every few meters) and an oil and filter change. If it doesn't work I can just send the tq back and get the gearbox. Loads of extra work but I'm not paying for it and love working on my landy.

+1 on this, it sounds very reasonable, maybe you could start making some wedge exporting them to the UK!!!

Yess, although I'm not too sure about the shipping and taxes nowadays. The reason parts from disassembling are so cheap here is because right hand drive cars have been recently completely outlawed. That makes a big chunk of all the Land Rovers on the road. The price for a registered one with left hand drive is many thousands...
 
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