300tdi Auto problem ??

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Phantom_Mark

New Member
Posts
181
Location
Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Hi, just bought my second disco, first was a 200tdi manual, this one is a 300tdi auto, however I think I have a gremlin with the gearbox :(

Pull away in drive and the gears change smoothly with no issue 1, through 2nd, into 3rd, however once it changes into 3rd it suddenly drops back to second like I have activated a kick down, the only way you overcome this is to be super super grandad like in acceleration, the disco changes from 3rd to 4th full throttle smoothly however so not convinced its too terminal I hope ?

Secondly, cruise control doesnt seem to be working ?? but I think it might be user error ? when crusing at desired speed I press the steering wheel left hand side button, nothing happens, same with right side button, nothing........I noticed a switch under the hazzard lightsl with what appears to be 2 lanes on a road going under a bridge, turned that on and tried the above again, nothing happens ?

TIA for any advice..........I pray the box problem is not serious :(

Paid top dollar for this car already because its had a lot of work done already....
 
You may be lucky as it may be just adjustment of the kick down cable how to do it is in the Haynes manual.
With the cruise a known fault is the rubber vacuum hose splitting at the joints so check that, and with the locking you have one of the symptons of a broken lock spring, they are available on eBay.
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f8/disco-door-springs-how-101126.html
 
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Phantom_Mark said:
Thanks buddy, could I assume if it was the kickdown cable out of adjustment with the same amount of throttle pressed it would do it in any gears from 2 upwards tho ?

Muchas Grassyarse
Click to expand...

Haven't a clue sorry, it's something thats best left alone I believe, untill u have too that is.

I suppose in theory as a quick test if you disconnect the kick down cable you should changing gear as normal and without any probs, although u will without kick down.
 
Phantom_Mark said:
Good call, will disconnect the cable tomorrow and see if symtoms persist then :)
Click to expand...


DO NOT DISCONNECT THE KICKDOWN CABLE - I don't know why but I'm led to believe that for some reason you will severely damage the gear box.

Currently it sounds like the kickdown is set to operate too early, so you need to adjust it carefully to come in much later, almost at the end of the accelerator pedal travel. See Haynes or RAVE for adjustments.
 
Ok small update, this morning I disconnected the kickdown cable and took it for a drive.

No joy, the same problem, however I can update you with some more info.

If you gun it from a standstill the box changes through the gears no problems smoothly and swiftly. The problem only exists if you baby the throttle between 20 and 30mph when it changes from 2nd to 3rd, once past 30mph it holds 3rd solid with no drops back to second.

No I have no checked the box oil level, and I sadly at this point would have no clue how to, I only got the truck yesterday late afternoon and my last disco was a TDi 200 manual.

Thanks again.

(Too late to see your warning about disconnecting the cable, only driven a short distance, not sure why preventing kick down could damage the box tho ??)
 
Last edited:
Phantom_Mark said:
Ok small update, this morning I disconnected the kickdown cable and took it for a drive.

No joy, the same problem, however I can update you with some more info.

If you gun it from a standstill the box changes through the gears no problems smoothly and swiftly. The problem only exists if you baby the throttle between 20 and 30mph when it changes from 2nd to 3rd, once past 30mph it holds 3rd solid with no drops back to second.

No I have no checked the box oil level, and I sadly at this point would have no clue how to, I only got the truck yesterday late afternoon and my last disco was a TDi 200 manual.

Thanks again.

(Too late to see your warning about disconnecting the cable, only driven a short distance, not sure why preventing kick down could damage the box tho ??)
Click to expand...

Hi Mark? I don't know why either about the kickdown cable but I've read it on a number of occasions so I just offered it as info.

Right, the procedure for checking the oil level on a TDi 300, is as follows:

1. First have a look in the engine bay to locate the autobox dipstick, it's on the drivers side (lhs as you look at the engine from the front) towards the back and I think it has a red handle.

2. Starting the procedure with a cold engine (not hard today !!), start the engine, then with your foot firmly on the footbrake, select each auto gearbox position so P then R the D etc etc, leaving a couple of seconds delay in each position. Then work your way back up to P. LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING.

3. Now go to the dipstick and withdraw it, clean it with some clean towel and put it back, then withdraw to see the level. There are two marks on the stick and the oil level should between the two.

If you can't see any oil, it is low and needs topping up via the dipstick tube. The oil is ATF (automatic transmission fluid) to DEXRON IID OR III standard. Widely available as it is std oil.

Bare in mind that it only takes 0.25ltr to go from the bottom mark to the top.


NB It is really important NOT to overfill these auto boxes. They are effectively hydraulic systems and don't take kindly to having too much oil in them.

Good Luck

Dave
 
Thanks for that mate :)

Forgive me for sounding dumb here, ATF is also Brake Fluid tho isn't it ? A hydraulic fluid rather than an Oil no ?

Pretty sure I have some DOT4 Brake Fluid / ATF in the garage ?

Will check the contents carefully before I insert anything of course !!!!
 
So, just to be clear DOT4/5 is clutch and brake fluid; Dexron IID/III is auto trans fluid and goes into pas systems and auto boxes.
 
Yup, I am clear, was having a blonde moment I think !!!

So, I didnt see anything on the dip stick, so I added a little, but when I draw it back out, clean, re-dip, all I have is what I believe to be residue from topping up rather than the true level ?? have re-dipped several times and cleaned but cant be sure :(

Recconected the Kickdown and re-test drove it, kickdown is working as expected, car is definately NOT kicking down, its more like a lazy slip between 2nd and 3rd, or engaging 3rd then slipping back to 2nd momentarily.

Like I said, all is honky dorey when you nail it to 30mph, every gear hooks up properly and smoothly.

When I can be sure of my fluid levels I will know if I can move onto the next possible sollution.
 
Although they call it a kick down cable it does more than that. It is the kickdown cable that tells the gearbox the throttle settings throughout the speed range, pre leccy boxes off course. So throttle position and road speed tell the box what gear to be in.
 
Strange indeed then, it drove exactly the same way with the cable disconnected as it did connected, with the exception it did not kick down (as expected of course)

Hopefully I will get an accurate reading of the trans fluid today !!!!
 
Can anyone tell me what the grey eletrical plug is for please in this pic, and is the other part the cruise control unit btw ?

b3f06502.jpg


Also just behind the battery are a couple of other connections seemingly connected to nothing ??

702f46c8.jpg
 
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