Gear box issues - cold weather maybe?

Hey all,

So I've had my T reg (99) Defender TD5 a month now and its run lovely, but the last 3 days I've really felt the gears change. I'm having to ram the gears home to get them to engage properly, and reverse is an absolute dog, takes a good load of attempts to work.
I've also noticed that the clutch has to be totally to the floor to be open now (it didn't before) a mill off the floor and the truck creeps forward (when in gear)

All of this has only happened in the last few days when its got extremely cold. Could it be due to that? Gear change is a lot better after about 20mins of driving.

Any ideas?

Check your clutch fluid. It's probably low!

It better bloody not be, they said it had a full service and MOT inc fluid checks before hand (and its not leaking! )

Regardless, I'll check. Ta.

Alfresco said:

It better bloody not be, they said it had a full service and MOT inc fluid checks before hand (and its not leaking! )

Regardless, I'll check. Ta.

Click to expand...

I only say that coz mine was doing just the same and i topped the fluid up and it was fine!

Might be some air in the pipes?

Might need the fluid changed. If there is some water mixed in and then the freezing weather aint going to help.
Good luck

mine is doing the same with the gears, I assumed it was because the gearbox oil was thicker due to the cold, and once it warmed up after 10 minutes or so it got thinner, making gear changes easier? But I don't really know for sure was just what I guessed...

my clutch seems fine, touch wood!

cheers,
Joe

oops forgot to mention its the clutch fluid that might need changing. It is hydroscopic which means it draws the water from the air. The best check is if it is a dark brown colour and not the normal yellowish then its time for new.

Turns out as suggested above this is a clutch fluid issue, not gearbox as the topic title suggests. The clutch reservoir was bone dry! I've topped it up but I'm finding the bleeding to be a bitch!

Anyway in doing so I came across this cable which I never had on my 200tdi:



just below the filler cap is a red part with a square connector in it. This cable then trails off to the bulkhead above, here:



As you can see, this is disconnected! So I reconnected it.

My question is, what the fook is it for?! The only thing I could think of is a dashboard warning light telling me when the fluid is low (and being disconnected is the reason I didn't get said warning!!!)

I would re-check the whole service before anything else goes just a thought??

Have you got cruise control?
It is a pressure switch that disengages the cruise control if you dip the clutch.

Cruise control? on a Depender? 'ave you been drinking Shifty?!

I don't think I've got cruise control?

No drinks just yet but plenty later

Peeps with lots of money specify CC from new or retro fit.
The ECU needs to know when you dip the clutch otherwise the CC will try and rev the bollox out of the engine trying to maintain a steady speed.

Shifty1962 said:

No drinks just yet but plenty later

Peeps with lots of money specify CC from new or retro fit.
The ECU needs to know when you dip the clutch otherwise the CC will try and rev the bollox out of the engine trying to maintain a steady speed.

Click to expand...

My 110 has the same connector on the master cylinder and I'd always thought it was wired to a warning light on the dash too. You learn something new everyday, but mine is a bog standard 110 hardtop definately no cruise control, lucky to have wipers

Its a pressure switch and not a fluid level switch hence not a dash warning light.
You'll know if you have no pressure as soon as you put your foot on the pedal so once again a warning light is a bit superflous.

I,m not doubting ya Shifty and I will clean out the cab in the new year to see if there is a cc switch somewhere under all the junk
Happy new year.

Thought never crossed my mind.
You probably dont have CC (mine dont) but I have the same clutch master cylinder and switch set up on mine.

Happy New Year now I'm off down the pub with my old lady until next year.

Just to update the thread:

Full bleed of the system worked. Clutch and gears working lovely now. Cheers for all the info and advice.

Haha 17 posts of drivel - post 2 sorted it!!!