Jatco auto box....is this true...

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Vertuas

Active Member
Posts
508
Hello all,

Can any one confirm this as I fear a bull****ter.

Recently had auto box problem, when changing gear, was almost put through the windscreen.

Took it to the auto box specialist and the did the repair. Apparently, a solenoid needed changing. The cooler was leaking collant so this was also changed. total cost around £550.

I was also told that if the issue was a speed sensors, there are 3, then depending on which one it is depends on how much work. One can be accessed from the top and is £300 plus to change and the others would be £500 plus as they are internal an need the box out of the car.

OK so they fixed the solenoid, but now the speed sensors need sorting. I looked on rave, the solenoids and sensors are mounted on one block behind a plate on the gear box.

If you can get to one solenoid, without removing the box, why cant you get to the sensors?

-=OR=-

If the box has to come out for the speed sensors, how could the solenoids be fixed with the box in the car?

Me is starting to think that I been charged £500 for the gear oil changed.....is this true, before I call trading standards?
 
As far as I know all the solenoids are in the valve block which is at the front of the box under the tin cover plate. Changing the solenoid valves doesn't look good hard. I believe there is a speed sensor buried inside the gear case somewhere. Someone who has rebuild a few of these boxes will be along to confirm it.
 
one sensor is just behind end cover of box near n/s wheel, there is another behind bell housing box would need to be off for that ,but easy job once off
 
OK so it is possible to get the solenoids with the box in the car. One sensor is on top and the others are buried.

Pretty much what the guy at the tranny place said. Maybe he ain't so bad after all :)
 
I have no idea, how can you tell.

it does not change up gear properly, especially above 3000 rpm.

For example, it will go from 2nd to 3rd, then keep going changing up and down until I back right off the throttle or intervene manually. and the same 3rd - 4th, etc

Changing down appears to be ok. Tiptronic changes seen to be ok if a little rough sometimes going into 3rd
 
Recently had one of the solenoids changed, it was like driving into a wall everytime it change gear, that was about 3 months ago.

Oil is 3 months old.
 
they are 40 quid each from ashcrofts. may as well just get all three changed while they are at it (assuming it one in the bellhousing).

wondering if its worth just getting a recon box from ashcrofts. already spent 500 on this one an it still don't work, by the time I have the sensors done, I may as well have just swapped the box in the first place.
 
To be honest I'd be wondering why the garage didn't pick up on this before. It may be the case the problem has only just surfaced, which would sort of be ok. But it's bad luck if that's the case after previously having solinoids changed. I would be annoyed if it was there previously or starting to become a problem.

An oil change on the Jatco auto (what you have) can solve all sorts of strange faults. If they changed the oil when you had the solenoids done then that rules that out.

The correct way to diagnose the auto is to check the oil level is correct (special way to do it but easy enough to do if you follow the correct method) and quality of oil is ok. Also measure resistances of the sensors. Even though the garage may have known the fix for the previous fault I would still hope they checked the sensors anyway. At the end of the day it doesn't take long to do. Make sure the barrel connectors close correctly and lock together, and don't slide open. The outer collar twists to lock. But it can still slide a bit if damaged. That may cause signal faults but it's an easy check. Also check the wiring harness to broken/snagged cables. Also check the earth wires which go to the earth studs just behind the passenger headlight is secure.

Freelander 1 v6 Jatco Auto Gearbox - Measuring the Solenoid and Sensor Resistances

b9a1Mqj.jpg

P6281053 b9a1Mqj

How to secure them when the fekers come apart

PnqqrjE.jpg

DSC01080 PnqqrjE

If it were mine I'd be thinking about the miles it's already done, the chance of the repair being the last problem to fix, the value of the car and the miles/life you expect from it. Then get it fixed or a recon or other based on your thoughts.

Doc's which have the tolerance info in them below. Theres a bit of discussion over which pin is common, 17 or 18. There may have been a change over the years. Yours could be wired slightly different to the doc's, like this: http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/jatco-drive-1-4-only-192505-4.html

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/attac...jatco-solenoids-sensors-jf506e-jatco-auto.pdf

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/attachments/f9/34671d1345328849-jatco-solenoids-sensors-jf506e.pdf

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/attachments/f9/33348d1341534105-jatco-drive-1-4-only-94231.pdf

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/attachments/f9/33347d1341534041-jatco-drive-1-4-only-jatco_5_speed.pdf

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/attac...o-drive-1-4-only-jf506e-supplement-part-1.pdf

There's 2 barrel connectors. 1 for sensor/solenoids and the other for the lever position. Pic's of connectors:

6jtFcXc.jpg

DSCN1901 6jtFcXc

znUF12v.jpg

DSCN1903 znUF12v

BtNYPw6.jpg

DSCN1904 BtNYPw6

5lOyQTR.jpg

DSCN1906 5lOyQTR

Pic's of the solenoids after the cover has been taken oft:

E5zpwVN.jpg

DSCN2979 E5zpwVN

79XxmNB.jpg

DSCN2978 79XxmNB
 
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wow thanks for all the info. will have a good read :)

it only has 229,000 miles on it. 131,000 of which I put on personally :D
 
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The plan was to get it to 300k before it is allowed to die. Looks like it might have other ideas. :violin:
 
OK just found out that if I rev the engine in park, once the RPM hits 3k, it drops to 2.5k then back to 3k them back to 2.5k

It seem then that this is not a gear box fault after all. Which would explain why it did not show up the last time the gearbox guy looked at it.
 
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