Time for some tricky work auto trans filter

Well following on from all the advice on my last thread, the silly simple jobs are coming to an end, so onto to the bigger ones.
I have a auto 300tdi and at the moment she seems to stick in 1st when cold, but after a couple of minutes or by force works fine. It was mentioned to me that it could be the fluid, level is fine so may need a change, however, to the part where i need the help.......
I want to change the atf filter first to be on the safe side and for my own piece of mind.
Rather than give a garage a wedge of cash i got a kit to do myself, but dont know where to start, or is it a case of swallow the bill.
Look forward to the usual help and abuse on this one

It's not hard just messy. Drain the oil, remove sump, change filter, replace sump with new gasket, add oil, check and correct level. Then wipe red stuff off face!
You need to check the colour of the oil, is it a horrible brown colour? It should be red. Does it smell burnt? It shouldn't. Check for swarf in the sump, a small amount of fine stuff is normal but loads and big bits isn't! Also bear in mind that a lot of modern boxes hold on to low gears longer when cold to warm up the oil quicker so that they work better!

Have look in the Haynes book it will tell you the procedure for the replacement there's a bit more work than replacing the other oils and filters.
I think the £150 my garage charges worth it for the plus the removing cross member and exhaust on a V8 I can then forget about it for the next 20-24,000 miles or so.
You don't have a modern electronic controled auto so it should change gear what ever the low ambent temps are in Bromley

I have looked in the haynes, and it says that you should take it to land rover or an auto specialist (great help ) i guess its a case of get under it and see what needs to b moved to get to it and covered in fluid

pwjd said:

I have looked in the haynes, and it says that you should take it to land rover or an auto specialist (great help ) i guess its a case of get under it and see what needs to b moved to get to it and covered in fluid

Click to expand...

So it does, I was looking at my Haynes for the RRC which explaines it all, this link will also chaptor 44. http://www.landy.pl/LandRoverDiscoveryWorkshop1995-1996.pdf

Don't forget keep every thing scrupulously clean which think would be hard if doing the job outside in the street.

What Diesel Do didn't tell you is that to remove the sump you have to remove one of the gearbox mounts and a chassis cross member (I think). I paid a garage to do mine.
Also, you need to scrupulously clean, auto boxes don't like specks of dirt in them.

Also pwjd have you see this info from Ashcroft Transmissions Q&As?

Q. I have a 4 speed ZF Auto and it sticks in first gear in the morning or when cold and is reluctant to change up from 1st gear. Once the gearbox has warmed up it shifts normally. Why?

A. The governor valve is sticking, which can be caused by contamination. i.e. clutch plates or other parts disintegrating. The fine debris finds its way past the filter and tends to accumulate in the governor, causing it to stick. A temporary solution is to remove and clean the governor. The problem will often recur as debris from damaged parts continues to build up in the governor. If the problem continues after cleaning the governor then it may be necessary it replace your Autobox.

We have noticed many customers reporting this fault starting a few days after an oil and filter change and after researching this using our experience and the expertise of others in the trade we have come to the conclusion that as ATF oil is a detergent type oil, when the oil is changed this will dislodge and stir up settled debris in the autobox which in turn jams the governor valve. In light of this although it sounds controversial it is debateable if changing the oil and filter is a good idea, some say if the box it going to fail it will fail if the oil is good or bad and their advice is leave it alone. I am still undecided but the truth is I get a lot of calls from customers thinking they are looking after the autobox by servicing it and a few days later this fault occurs.

if clutch plates are leaving debris then box hasnt a long life without repair ,there not like std clutch plates ,not changing oil is not a god thing it does loose its properties ,govenors can easily be cleaned or replaced ,but if oil is in any way burnt smelling or blackish /dark brown box needs looking at ,

Does anyboby know where I can get a governor valve checked/cleaned/replaced as I have had the oil and filter done and I wish I kept my £100 lol, this seems to be the next thing to do.......

i am pretty sure that on the 300Tdi auto you do not have to remove a cross member, maybe loosen, but search for "auto oil change" and read up. Also check the DIFFLOCK website as i am also sure they have the whole procedure in their service section.
as said above, be extra clean all the time. if still not sure come back and someone will help
Also remember to let us all know how you get on

cheers

Jim A
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1996 300Tdi auto(Jap reimport)