2.5 DSE Potential Gearbox Issue

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joey51c

New Member
Posts
4
Hi all,
I'm hoping that you might be able to help me so that I do not have to get rid of my P38.
Unfortunately Im not particulary mechanically minded so you are going to have to bare with me.
The issue I have is this, I bought my 2.5DSE (auto) a couple of months ago. As soon as I got it, it seemed to be revving quite high before shiftin up a gear and the power seemed low, but I thought nothing of it as I knew the 2.5DSE was not renowned for its high performance, also soon after getting it the transmission cooler started leaking.
I have sourced all the transmission cooler and pipes to, but as I have just had to put 3 new tyres on it I didnt want to sink any more cash into it if the current issues are worse than I thought.
Here are the major issues as it stands:
  1. It is over revving before it changes up a gear (over 3000rpm), its worse when its cold.
  2. The performance is way down, for example it takes ages to build up any speed and when I am going up the motorway at 70mph if I hit an incline the speed will start to drop, if I put my foot down to maintain speed it will drop 2 gears and the revs will suddenly go up to 4500!
  3. Fuel consumption is high! averaging 18mpg, and thats all motorway miles.
  4. As its leaking transmission fluid I check it pretty much daily and keep it topped up. A couple of times I have noticed that it has somehow fired out the transmission dip stick and ejected a load of the transmission fluid into the engine bay, I assume this happens when it hyper revs.
The guy that I bought it from told me that he had reconditioned the gearbox 6 months before I bought it. It has got loads of history and seems to have been looked after, the guy I bought it from was a mechanic at a land rover main dealers for 16 years so knew what he was doing and said it was all good, not sure I believe him now mind.

Anyway I took it to a garage so they could have a look over it and tell me what the issue was. After leaving it with him for 2 days I got in touch, he didnt even open the bonnet, get it on the ramp or anything, he just took it for a 2 minute drive then told me the gearbox was knackered and I should just get rid of it.

I really don't want to get rid of it so if anyone can think of anything else it might be that I can try then please let me know.

Thanks.
 
joey51c said:
Hi all,
I'm hoping that you might be able to help me so that I do not have to get rid of my P38.
Unfortunately Im not particulary mechanically minded so you are going to have to bare with me.
The issue I have is this, I bought my 2.5DSE (auto) a couple of months ago. As soon as I got it, it seemed to be revving quite high before shiftin up a gear and the power seemed low, but I thought nothing of it as I knew the 2.5DSE was not renowned for its high performance, also soon after getting it the transmission cooler started leaking.
I have sourced all the transmission cooler and pipes to, but as I have just had to put 3 new tyres on it I didnt want to sink any more cash into it if the current issues are worse than I thought.
Here are the major issues as it stands:
  1. It is over revving before it changes up a gear (over 3000rpm), its worse when its cold.
  2. The performance is way down, for example it takes ages to build up any speed and when I am going up the motorway at 70mph if I hit an incline the speed will start to drop, if I put my foot down to maintain speed it will drop 2 gears and the revs will suddenly go up to 4500!
  3. Fuel consumption is high! averaging 18mpg, and thats all motorway miles.
  4. As its leaking transmission fluid I check it pretty much daily and keep it topped up. A couple of times I have noticed that it has somehow fired out the transmission dip stick and ejected a load of the transmission fluid into the engine bay, I assume this happens when it hyper revs.
The guy that I bought it from told me that he had reconditioned the gearbox 6 months before I bought it. It has got loads of history and seems to have been looked after, the guy I bought it from was a mechanic at a land rover main dealers for 16 years so knew what he was doing and said it was all good, not sure I believe him now mind.

Anyway I took it to a garage so they could have a look over it and tell me what the issue was. After leaving it with him for 2 days I got in touch, he didnt even open the bonnet, get it on the ramp or anything, he just took it for a 2 minute drive then told me the gearbox was knackered and I should just get rid of it.

I really don't want to get rid of it so if anyone can think of anything else it might be that I can try then please let me know.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Maybe the box is knackered maybe not, but that is certainly not causing the power loss and poor consumption. Lots of things to look at reference that. If you want to work through them we can, but if you can't do it yourself it will cost a fair bit to get someone to do it for you. Best to find a garage that's not afraid of opening the bonnet. Because they will surely need to to sort it.
 
I am more than happy to get stuck in and do what I can if you can point me in the right direction. Just give me a step by step guide if possible. Thanks again.
 
joey51c said:
I am more than happy to get stuck in and do what I can if you can point me in the right direction. Just give me a step by step guide if possible. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

If you are not by your own admission mechanically minded, a lot of what i would say would be like me talking Greek. First things you need to check are fuel lift pump function. And the pipe from under the manifold to the MAP sensor bolted to top of fuel filter. Make sure it is clear of obstruction without splits and that the nipples it fits on at both ends are clear of obstructions. Fuel pump flow check is detailed in the "How to" section. You need someone with diagnostics to check timing modulation. And have injection pump static timed if it is out of range. Check gearbox level according to RAVE manual it MUST NOT be overfull. Check gearbox breather is clear (Swan necked pipe and back of engine) Check and note colour of transmission fluid. Should be crimson red. So the bloke told you he had refurbed the box. Do you believe him? I suggest you download RAVE manual you will surely need it.
 
Last edited:
joey51c said:
Hi all,
I'm hoping that you might be able to help me so that I do not have to get rid of my P38.
Unfortunately Im not particulary mechanically minded so you are going to have to bare with me.
The issue I have is this, I bought my 2.5DSE (auto) a couple of months ago. As soon as I got it, it seemed to be revving quite high before shiftin up a gear and the power seemed low, but I thought nothing of it as I knew the 2.5DSE was not renowned for its high performance, also soon after getting it the transmission cooler started leaking.
I have sourced all the transmission cooler and pipes to, but as I have just had to put 3 new tyres on it I didnt want to sink any more cash into it if the current issues are worse than I thought.

Here are the major issues as it stands:
  1. It is over revving before it changes up a gear (over 3000rpm), its worse when its cold.
  2. The performance is way down, for example it takes ages to build up any speed and when I am going up the motorway at 70mph if I hit an incline the speed will start to drop, if I put my foot down to maintain speed it will drop 2 gears and the revs will suddenly go up to 4500!
  3. Fuel consumption is high! averaging 18mpg, and thats all motorway miles.
  4. As its leaking transmission fluid I check it pretty much daily and keep it topped up. A couple of times I have noticed that it has somehow fired out the transmission dip stick and ejected a load of the transmission fluid into the engine bay, I assume this happens when it hyper revs.
The guy that I bought it from told me that he had reconditioned the gearbox 6 months before I bought it. It has got loads of history and seems to have been looked after, the guy I bought it from was a mechanic at a land rover main dealers for 16 years so knew what he was doing and said it was all good, not sure I believe him now mind.

Anyway I took it to a garage so they could have a look over it and tell me what the issue was. After leaving it with him for 2 days I got in touch, he didnt even open the bonnet, get it on the ramp or anything, he just took it for a 2 minute drive then told me the gearbox was knackered and I should just get rid of it.

I really don't want to get rid of it so if anyone can think of anything else it might be that I can try then please let me know.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

1) Over revving. Might just be that as the engine is not running well you are using more throttle than normal which would make the change point @ 3K normal.
2) It weighs 2.25 tonnes, they tend to slow down on an incline, a double downshift is not unusual especially if the engine is under performing.
3) what year is it? If post 97/98 check EGR valve, any year check MAP sensor pipe is not perished or blocked and the take off from the inlet manifold is clear. As it has a dip stick I assume pre EGR. Also check all the turbo hoses.
4) Fix the leak PDQ. If you are not sure about it, change the oil and filter when the leak is fixed. Topping up the gearbox must only be done with the engine & box COLD, engine idling, move through the gears & check level. I think you have been over filling which is why it has ejected oil from the dipstick.
The guy who sold it wasn't called Green by any chance was he?
As it's a private sale you don't have a lot of comeback unless the gearbox is faulty and it can be shown it hasn't been reconditioned.
 
Last edited:
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