2005 L322 gearbox problem

Hi folks. I'm after some advice. I was heading out about an hour ago and my gearbox started making grinding noises. It felt like the clutch slipping and I lost drive. I quickly pulled over into a car park about 50 yards away and put her into park. I tried for around 5 mins to engage gear with little luck It did select reverse and moved a meter or so but then he engine just revved and I was going nowhere. I've just left her there and headed home via a lift from family. I am worried now that it's going to be a replacement gearbox job but don;t want to get stiffed by my indy. I had some mot work done about 7 weeks ago and I asked if they would find and fix a leak in the gearbox (and top it up again) after noticing a damp patch in my drive. After just checking my last invoice I see I wasn't charged for oil so I assume it wasn't topped up. They did say they tightened the sump bolts as it was leaking at the time. She hasn't been changing gear smoothly all the time lately, mostly when cold. Also since I have owned her since June 2018, she seems to hunt for a gear sometimes and revs fluctuating regularly when in cruise.
She's a 2005 4.4 V8 petrol (jag engine) automatic. 147000 miles. Any ideas on how bad it could be and rough prices for recon box if required. Thanks

So this is a very early 6-speed model? I wonder if the output shaft spline has failed through fretting corrosion (they neglected to lubricate them at the factory). Does the park lock hold the vehicle with the handbrake off?



Phil

Yes The Park holds and stops the grinding noise also

That looks to me what it may sound like - slipping and not actually catching hold of something to drive

If the box has been run dry of oil which is quite a common occurance on the 6hp26 then that is your issues, though they're a strong box like any auto they will break if run low or worse dry of oil..

Have the level checked..

I have a feeling she'll be either empty or low..

Also make note of the fluid colour ,

They leak out of the TCM connector seal and around the sump after a while, has she ever been serviced

Thanks, I've only had her 8 months and hasn't had the box serviced in my time. No record of it in service book either. I hope it may be something simple as she did sound dry. I take it that'll be the first thing to do - top it up. If that's it I will definitely get it serviced. Cheers

Big Fuz said:

Thanks, I've only had her 8 months and hasn't had the box serviced in my time. No record of it in service book either. I hope it may be something simple as she did sound dry. I take it that'll be the first thing to do - top it up. If that's it I will definitely get it serviced. Cheers

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Here is the service procedure for the box..

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/the-zf-6hp26-service-procedure.341840/

Definitely have it serviced, at that mileage it is 70k overdue..

Brill Thanks so much for the info

@Bemble is the man to listen to when it comes to the zf box.

Update : Turns out the indy says it's not a gearbox problem. Apparently my o/s cv joint is broken and that's where the noise was coming from. I'm told because it wouldn't drive that wheel the others didn't either. Cost for new oem joint/shaft £230 +vat, and warned that if it doesn't separate from the hub then another £110 + vat for it. Approx £650 inc vat & labour. (cheaper than a gearbox though) Have asked him to service the gearbox and new filter & sump would be another £250 ish

Phew...
Result.

How does the 4wd system work on the L322? Is it a centre VCU like the p38? If so, you shouldn't loose drive for one cv joint.

Wazzajnr said:

How does the 4wd system work on the L322? Is it a centre VCU like the p38? If so, you shouldn't loose drive for one cv joint.

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Some models of the L322 have a Torsen centre diff instead of a VCU.

Datatek said:

Some models of the L322 have a Torsen centre diff instead of a VCU.

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OK, even so, loss of link to one wheel wouldn't loose all drive would it? You would need a broken link on both front and rear for total drive loss.

Maybe more bad news to come then It's all above my head

Wazzajnr said:

OK, even so, loss of link to one wheel wouldn't loose all drive would it? You would need a broken link on both front and rear for total drive loss.

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The Torsen diff is a form of limited slip differential, thus loss of a drive shaft will mean loss of drive as I see it.

Limited slip means just that. In other words, if the input shaft is turning and one of the output shafts is completely free, then the other output shaft should have at least some drive.

Some very good points actually!
Surely losing a c.v would as you say, still have something to the rest of the wheels....
What about the out put from the tranny box! Does the torsen diff lose all drive if one of the diffs loses drive?

Considering the crap that was in the gearbox and the amount of oil that wasn't in it!!!

I'd still be a tad concerned about the gearbox..

See what OP says when its "fixed".

Mark Piercy said:

Some very good points actually!
Surely losing a c.v would as you say, still have something to the rest of the wheels....
What about the out put from the tranny box! Does the torsen diff lose all drive if one of the diffs loses drive?

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All LSD's are just that Limited Slip, no grip on one wheel = no or little drive on the other. I don't beileve the Torsen diff can lock up completely but I may wrong, the one fitted to the Ford RS 1600 XR3 type didn't.