JATCO Automatic Gearbox

Reet, 'tis been said many times on this fine forum by various people, who I have no reason to disbelieve, that you need testbook or similar to check the fluid level in the JATCO automatic gearbox.

Is this purely to check that the fluid is at the right temperature before checking/topping up the level ?

I have looked in haynes, who acknowledge that the temperature of the fluid has to be correct (between 35 to 45 deg celcius), and that this can be achieved by driving the car for 5 to 10 miles. It then says the temperature should be checked if possible with a thermometer through the oil filler aperture on the top of the transmission.

Then I went all the way through RAVE for the JATCO box, and could only find a fluid temperature sensor in the drawings, but no level sensors.

I am leaning to think it can be checked/topped up without testbook or similar.

Answers on a reply to.....

yes its all bollix. . . . . . just run it fer 10miles to make it thin [flows better] best to do it in warmer weather, un put the correct amount of the liquid gold in. . . . . . . . . test book ma arse

When mine was checked at the main dealer they told me the level was checked on the computer. No reason to doubt them, but can't find any other method on the web/rave either. Forgot to look when I was on LRGTR. If the level is incorrect you'll certainly know ££££. It'll damage it. Then it's no return. Low oil = cavitate and damages the torque converter when air gets in. Mine did that when it leaked. Over fill and you'll blow the seals all over the auto. Said to be high pressures inside. Mine did that when I thought sod it, it's worth a risk as it's leaking anyway. 50/50 chance. 1 leak became 3 main seal leaks. I lost. Main dealer charge £110 for 1 hour labour to check the level, which includes 1L of oil at £10. The drive for x minutess is a risk. We couldn't get a thermometer to reach the oil, through the top. Other stuff in the way inside. Even when oil level too high.

I appreciate others comments, but I can't see a way to confirm the auto oil level, and there's no level plug either. I asked a Japanese man to talk to Jatco at the time, to ask how to measure it. They said no manual option. Wouldn't go further.

Optimus Prime said:

Is this purely to check that the fluid is at the right temperature before checking/topping up the level ?

I have looked in haynes, who acknowledge that the temperature of the fluid has to be correct (between 35 to 45 deg celcius), and that this can be achieved by driving the car for 5 to 10 miles. It then says the temperature should be checked if possible with a thermometer through the oil filler aperture on the top of the transmission.

Then I went all the way through RAVE for the JATCO box, and could only find a fluid temperature sensor in the drawings, but no level sensors.

I am leaning to think it can be checked/topped up without testbook or similar.

Answers on a reply to.....

Click to expand...

I have to agree, here's my take on it...

I don't have the auto but i'd like to think i could find a way of checking the oil temp through the level plug with something along these lines...

Waterproof T-Shaped Digital Thermometer

it's just a matter of finding a suitable thermometer with the correct range and small enough to cope with any access issues at the point where you want to take the reading.

the level is checked in the normal way of allowing the excess to run off from the level plug with engine running although i note that it's crucial to only remove the correct plug!
I suspect that there are many garages and individuals who make an 'educated guess' regarding the oil temp.

There is simply no way i would be held to ransom for £100 to check an oil level but i would accept there is a need to be as accurate as possible when doing it myself.

.......

dont forget to undo the correct bolt - else yu can screw yo gearbox completely.
subject of a LR factoid - to be found in the Q's and A's section.

Don't know why you's all getting all technical un eggcited bout this subject [its just a auto box wiff oil innit] do it on a warm summers day take on m way fer ten miles [don't bother measuring temperature] drain the old durty ****e un top up with the exact amount of liquid gold. . . . . . .unless yer think that it needs er phooter to do the pluckin job :beer2:

I can't find a link to a thread on here that shows a pic of where the level plug is. I was always under the impression the Freelander Jatco didn't have a level plug?

it doesnt - it has a fill and a drain plug - thats why Minge sed drain it and fill wiv the correct amount.

The Mad Hat Man said:

it doesnt - it has a fill and a drain plug - thats why Minge sed drain it and fill wiv the correct amount.

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Does too.....

remove with 5mm allen socket.

look in maintenance_maintenance_automatic gearbox-jatco

Chaser said:

Does too.....

remove with 5mm allen socket.

look in maintenance_maintenance_automatic gearbox-jatco

Click to expand...

Sorry for this dumb question but where can I find that maintenance_maintenance thing ???

willo said:

Sorry for this dumb question but where can I find that maintenance_maintenance thing ???

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Sorry Willo, i'm the dumb one, it doesn't read well does it.

It's the path in the Rave, open 'Workshop manuals' then 'Freelander 2001 on service procedures 4th ed', 'maintenance' etc. etc..........get the drift..:boink:..

Chaser said:

Sorry Willo, i'm the dumb one, it doesn't read well does it.

It's the path in the Rave, open 'Workshop manuals' then 'Freelander 2001 on service procedures 4th ed', 'maintenance' etc. etc..........get the drift..:boink:..

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Hi Chaser,

Thanks for the answer. (For about 15 mins. I've been searching through the whole site in order to find this "maintenance" item. Have even searched through the Disco/Def/Range things with no success and after all that I dared to put in my question.)

As per Mr Ming above....If its been working fine with no leaks...warm up....drain......measure and replace with same amount (about 4 ltrs off top of bonce) Rockit science it aint...

I teld yer . . . . . .its jist er fookin auto box not magic

But not all the oil will drain out of the box will it not, There will be a fair amount left in the torque converter??

What if the level was wrong in the 1st palce?

Are you saying to measure the amount drained, and then fill up with the exact same amount.?


What spec is this ATF fluid, and where can i by it from other than landrover. are there any numbers on the bottle.

Can you write a step by step procedure for us frightened to under/over fill

Thanks

jedi said:

But not all the oil will drain out of the box will it not, There will be a fair amount left in the torque converter??

What if the level was wrong in the 1st palce?

Are you saying to measure the amount drained, and then fill up with the exact same amount.?


What spec is this ATF fluid, and where can i by it from other than landrover. are there any numbers on the bottle.

Can you write a step by step procedure for us frightened to under/over fill

Thanks

Click to expand...

But not all the oil will drain out of the box will it not, There will be a fair amount left in the torque converter?? CORRECT

What if the level was wrong in the 1st palce? AS STATED IF ITS BEEN WORKING FINE WITH NO LEAKS

Are you saying to measure the amount drained, and then fill up with the exact same amount.? YES


What spec is this ATF fluid, and where can i by it from other than landrover. are there any numbers on the bottle. TEXACO N402 OR EQUIVALENT... LR ONLY IN ANYTHING UNDER 20LTRS

Can you write a step by step procedure for us frightened to under/over fill ... SEE MY PREVIOUS POST

I`ve just been reading that here is a fill hole and a level check hole on this transmission.

How is the fluid drained? is there another drain hole? or do you have to pump the old fluid out of the fill hole.


As far as I understand, ONLY excess fluid will drain out of the level check hole. Is this correct.

Also found this:


could we measure the Voltage on pin 39 to assess what temp the fluid is? Maybe some with testbook could check what the voltage is on this pin 39 at 34c-45c. Or maybe the resistance across the fluid temp sensor at the required temp. Just a thought but it should work. Im pretty sure this is the sensor Testbook will be looking at.


So I think there are 3 holes all together, am I right?

FILL HOLE:


DRAIN HOLE:


AND LEVEL CHECK HOLE:

3 holes:

Drain: On bottom of box
Fill: Rubber cap on top of box.
Level: As illustrated. And it's realy a drain. Excess fluid will be drained from inside box trough a canal and let out via the drain hole.

This is why it's important to check and top up at correct temperature following procedure in RAVE
Low oil level will kill the chlutches.
High level will blow valves and gaskets.

Jarl

....it's not rocket science. But if you lounch one you should at least do it correctly!

why dont yu look in the Q&A's bit - All the FAQ's are in there.

The Mad Hat Man said:

why dont yu look in the Q&A's bit - All the FAQ's are in there.

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Yes MH but that will not get them anywhere in the number of postings league table.