Disco 2 What to check first, autobox issue

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UPDATE

Today I found the time to replace the oil and filter (genuine parts). Drove around for 30 miles after the oil change.
Parked the car for a couple of hours (so it cooled down to ambient temp, around 10deg Celcium). Restarted the car and the issue is still there...

Starting from cold it behaves either like A or B (it's random which of the two)
A- It takes off in 2nd gear for the first 5 minutes of driving. After that it takes off in 1st and shifts are normal.
B- It takes off in 1st gear and refuses to shift for the first few minutes (I push up to 3500rpm). When it finally shifts everything goes back to normal.

What do I need to check next?
I checked with Autologic and there are no fault codes for the engine or gearbox

I am wondering, what is commanding the shift from 1st to 2nd? Why does is take off 2nd gear? What changes after it warms up a bit?

The oil that came out from the box looked in good condition (colour/smell) and it was last changed 30k km ago.

hi

shame i didn’t fix the issue , however, it’s not a wasted job and u know it’s been done , may i ask first please

1) what temp did u check the ATF level at ,
2) did u check the ATF oil level with the engine running or off

3) please don’t think i’m mad, i assume ur rear brake light and brake bulbs are working ok

4) if u put into command shift how does the box behave then pls
5) when u got it plugged in i assume they reset the adaptive gearbox setting

6) does the rev counter fluctuate around 50mph

thks
 
Last edited:
hi

shame i didn’t fix the issue , however, it’s not a wasted job and u know it’s been done , may i ask first please

1) what temp did u check the ATF level at ,
2) did u check the ATF oil level with the engine running or off

3) please don’t think i’m mad, i assume ur rear brake light and brake bulbs are working ok

4) if u put into command shift how does the box behave then pls
5) when u got it plugged in i assume they reset the adaptive gearbox setting

6) does the rev counter fluctuate around 50mph

thks

Thanks for your reply and effort to help

1) Half of the oil inside the TC was warmish, the other 5L added were cold
2) Running, I did the correct procedure as far I as I know
3) I think they are ok, I can doublecheck if you think they are related in any way
4) Command shift? I have a Disco 2, is it applicable to my car?
5) No I haven't
6) Rev counter responds to my right foot without fluctuations
 
Do you drive straight of forward or reverse out and then go?Have you tried driving it manually? Will it go into 1st manual?Does low range do the same as A or B? You vill answer my questions Tommy,for you the war is over!
 
Do you drive straight of forward or reverse out and then go?Have you tried driving it manually? Will it go into 1st manual?Does low range do the same as A or B? You vill answer my questions Tommy,for you the war is over!

I think 99% of the times I reverse out
If I shift to 1st it still takes off in 2nd sometimes. Sometimes it will shift to 1st as I requested.
Did't try low range. I think I will have a hard time trying to distinguish when I'm in 1st or 2nd in low range...
 
I think 99% of the times I reverse out
If I shift to 1st it still takes off in 2nd sometimes. Sometimes it will shift to 1st as I requested.
Did't try low range. I think I will have a hard time trying to distinguish when I'm in 1st or 2nd in low range...
I think you'll have to get a proper nanocom on it and check the XYZ switch and shifter adjustment .Have you looked to make sure water isn't dripping from the Aircon drain onto the XYZ and getting in there? It's quite a common fault.
 
I think you'll have to get a proper nanocom on it and check the XYZ switch and shifter adjustment .Have you looked to make sure water isn't dripping from the Aircon drain onto the XYZ and getting in there? It's quite a common fault.

I did consider XYZ switch but the fact that the issue disappears after a few minutes of driving doesn't point me in that direction. Also Autologic (really advance diagnostic tool) doesn't give and fault codes

But I will have this in mind and give it a check next time, thanks
 
Thanks for your reply and effort to help

1) Half of the oil inside the TC was warmish, the other 5L added were cold
2) Running, I did the correct procedure as far I as I know
3) I think they are ok, I can doublecheck if you think they are related in any way
4) Command shift? I have a Disco 2, is it applicable to my car?
5) No I haven't
6) Rev counter responds to my right foot without fluctuations

apologises ive crosses posts somewhere , plse take no notice of me :rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
I did consider XYZ switch but the fact that the issue disappears after a few minutes of driving doesn't point me in that direction. Also Autologic (really advance diagnostic tool) doesn't give and fault codes

But I will have this in mind and give it a check next time, thanks
I asked about reversing in case that pointed to a maladjusted shifter lever getting a bit stuck somewhere,Might pay to just reverse park once or twice,see if it makes any difference
 
UPDATE

So after changing the oil/filter and seeing no improvements I moved to plan B and had the valve body removed/cleaned/checked/rebuilt. There was a lot of dirt inside and the valve responsible for shifts 1-2 needed polishing (was a bit rough). New oil added and for the first couple hundred of miles everything seemed ok but...

...now the shifts are a bit rough (and get worse when is hot), I do get a knocking downshift from time to time and the TC still doesn't lock on time (it sometimes needs more than 10 min at over 60 miles/h)

I was told that my TC is falling apart and this is causing havoc to the valve body hence the mixup in shifting. So they suggested a full box rebuild.

So do I go ahead or is there anything else I need to check?
 
UPDATE

So after changing the oil/filter and seeing no improvements I moved to plan B and had the valve body removed/cleaned/checked/rebuilt. There was a lot of dirt inside and the valve responsible for shifts 1-2 needed polishing (was a bit rough). New oil added and for the first couple hundred of miles everything seemed ok but...

...now the shifts are a bit rough (and get worse when is hot), I do get a knocking downshift from time to time and the TC still doesn't lock on time (it sometimes needs more than 10 min at over 60 miles/h)

I was told that my TC is falling apart and this is causing havoc to the valve body hence the mixup in shifting. So they suggested a full box rebuild.

So do I go ahead or is there anything else I need to check?

If the TQ is kaput, ( presume they have looked at the oil to reach this conclusion?) then there isn't much that an end user can do to resolve this, other than fit a new one ..... or a trustworthy re-conditioned one. I wouldn't penny pinch on this job, else you could be back in the same boat quicker than you'd like ..:mad::mad::eek::rolleyes:

If the TQ is, as they dropping to bits, then I'd also replace the oil cooler and the associated pipework as per the advice on the ashcroft site.

It's a ballache, but IMHO, you haven't much option:(
 
UPDATE

So after changing the oil/filter and seeing no improvements I moved to plan B and had the valve body removed/cleaned/checked/rebuilt. There was a lot of dirt inside and the valve responsible for shifts 1-2 needed polishing (was a bit rough). New oil added and for the first couple hundred of miles everything seemed ok but...

...now the shifts are a bit rough (and get worse when is hot), I do get a knocking downshift from time to time and the TC still doesn't lock on time (it sometimes needs more than 10 min at over 60 miles/h)

I was told that my TC is falling apart and this is causing havoc to the valve body hence the mixup in shifting. So they suggested a full box rebuild.

So do I go ahead or is there anything else I need to check?
valve blocks never give trouble unless box needs a rebuild or repair,if oil was dirty you swap t/c as well as it will be contaminated,problem clutch packs are easy to see as plates become black
 
Hey, thanks for your replies.

The thing is that the oil was cleanish, there were no bits in the pan and the stall test is spot on.

But I guess if the issue is within the box there is only one option. Take it off and do a full rebuild. There is no point not going all the way with this, right?

I was also concidering getting a refurbished one from Ashcroft, seems like a good deal.
 
Hey, thanks for your replies.

The thing is that the oil was cleanish, there were no bits in the pan and the stall test is spot on.

But I guess if the issue is within the box there is only one option. Take it off and do a full rebuild. There is no point not going all the way with this, right?

I was also concidering getting a refurbished one from Ashcroft, seems like a good deal.
if you can afford to go down the recon route and the rest of the car is sound, go for the ashcrofts option, including TC. in my experience, once they are playing up, they are on the way out. at least you will have a guarantee and hopefully a few years peace of mind.
 
Update

A couple of days after considering my options and trying to decide what to do the autobox suddenly just died! As I was cruising down the road something gave up (probably the T/C) and there was no drive.

So a refurbished box was ordered from Ashcroft and fitted to the car. Wow, what a difference! The car is now perfect, acceleration is improved, gear changes and T/C lock up are so smooth. Definitely worth it!
 
Update

A couple of days after considering my options and trying to decide what to do the autobox suddenly just died! As I was cruising down the road something gave up (probably the T/C) and there was no drive.

So a refurbished box was ordered from Ashcroft and fitted to the car. Wow, what a difference! The car is now perfect, acceleration is improved, gear changes and T/C lock up are so smooth. Definitely worth it!

Cool :) Glad you saved "her" ;)

Out of interest, which box did you go for - the standard, or one of the upgrades ?
 
Cool, :) thanks for the reply :). my 4HP22 (D1) has done 130K now, and is going to be ready for the Ashcroft treatment sooner rather than later - the engine is heavily tuned though, so I'm considering the 24 internals and the larger TQ ..... my wallet is having other ideas :D:eek:
 
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