P38A (FIXED)"Gearbox Fault" 2000 4.6 Thor (with pics)

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P38_Ireland

Well-Known Member
Posts
1,392
Location
Co Wexford, Ireland
Greetings my old friends!!

I was the proud owner of a P38 for many years and recently jumped back in the saddle with a blind buy in ebay!! lol

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So, its a 4.6 Vogue and it has a "gearbox fault" when the key goes in the ignition immediately, after starting it up it goes in between forward reverse and neutral but not high low, there is no gear selection on the message center (ie 1,2,3 gear) and the gear selector does not light up as it should and when you move it to low box nothing happens.

I have a Nanocom but waiting on unlock codes for P38 so id a diagnostic with my Delphi and got the following codes... (these may not be related)
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So after reading lots of other threads here are the things i have tried.....

1) Fitted a new ECU terminals are all clean and free of corrosion
2) checked the wiring look under the expansion tank. this was spotless no sign of water ingress or corrosion
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3) Checked all fuses under seat and in engine bay with a multimeter as well as pulling all relays checking for corrosion and bubbling or blistering all were perfect
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4) Checked the 2 white block connectors in the passenger footwel for corosion, I did see some and cleaned with brake cleaner, air line and scraped each terminal with a pic, i have since buzzed both sides of the block connectors for continuity and have confirmed they are passing signal through the connectors.
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5) Just top be sure to me it seems like an electrical fault but just to be sure i put it on the lift and checked the Transmission fluid (god i miss my old P38 DSE Gearbox dipstick lol) lots of fluid in there and is a decent deep cherry colour, no sign of burned fluid or smell of burning.
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I am now out of ideas, It wont be till later next week till i have the Nanocom up and running to do a deeper diagnostic of the gearbox, any other suggestions would be welcomed

Thanks in advance....... ;)
 
Gearbox fault often from low volts or gearbox temperature sensor going south.

If not moving into low check the motor on the transfer box hasn't seized. RAVE has the voltages expected on the plug if the motor is fine.
 
Gearbox fluid level should checked cold with the engine idling just in case you didn't know.
Those connectors may well have continuity, the problem with that green corrosion is that it causes leakage between the pins, unless every trace is gone you may have a problem.
Have you checked the battery voltage?
 
Gearbox fluid level should checked cold with the engine idling just in case you didn't know.
Those connectors may well have continuity, the problem with that green corrosion is that it causes leakage between the pins, unless every trace is gone you may have a problem.
Have you checked the battery voltage?

Yes the battery is very new and in excellent condition. I even left it on trickle charge over night and was at 14v this morning.
 
P1703 is Transfer Box Line Open Circuit Fault
PO600 Serial Communication Link Malfunction.
Land Rover in there infinate wisdom have a Description apparently its Controller Area Network (CAN) Timed Out.
P1171 i think is MAF related.
 
P1703 is Transfer Box Line Open Circuit Fault
PO600 Serial Communication Link Malfunction.
Land Rover in there infinate wisdom have a Description apparently its Controller Area Network (CAN) Timed Out.
P1171 i think is MAF related.

Thanks for the reply. Well the MAF sensor can wait for another day. Open circuit, I assume this simply means it not getting a reading from the transfer box? So could be a broken cable or maybe a duff transfer box ECU?
 
A fault describing open circuit fault would be "in my mind" be pointing to an open circuit in other IE a wire break.

The best way to start is to look up the circuits to and from the ecu and the BECM in the ETM and follow all connectors to and from ECU's and sensors checking for corrosion, water ingress and or loose connections. Clean all connections, reset the fault and see whether it comes back.

It could also point to a seized ratio control motor, Low is seldom used on these beasts and it can **** the bed.

"edit" I have infront of me a "seized" motor dismantled in bits the the contacts part removed and it is the grease inside that goes solid and is stopping the motor going to full travel.
Once the grease is cleaned out, and some fresh put in, with 12v they work ok..

Just worth noting.
 
fixed!! When I was checking cables I disconnected the transferbox ECU and under the loom was a white male block connector just lying there. I looked around and saw a female connector beside the EAS relay empty, connected them together and hey presto gearbox up and running, selectable between high and low box all the lights and sport mode. First time I drove it with a full working box CHRIST its fast

2Qcllvh.jpg
 
fixed!! When I was checking cables I disconnected the transferbox ECU and under the loom was a white male block connector just lying there. I looked around and saw a female connector beside the EAS relay empty, connected them together and hey presto gearbox up and running, selectable between high and low box all the lights and sport mode. First time I drove it with a full working box CHRIST its fast

2Qcllvh.jpg
if only all problems were that easy to solve.
 
Holy fûck:eek: tomcatalan really does fit. Where was the rest of the wagon?? :confused:
He ended up on the hard shoulder, one wheel off his unit's back axle went to the left of the hard shoulder and the other bounced over the central reservation and came to a halt when it hit my cab.44 tonne of artic takes some stopping,I couldn't swerve because I had 4 cars alongside me.
 
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