Hello dear Jag lovers,

I have got myself a second Jag which is 1995 Daimler Double Six (the first one is XK8). Overall it's in a good shape and seems to have not so many miles (the odo shows 91000 kilometres, but where I live it's a common practice to falsify the milege, so who knows). One of the problems is the tranny whine. It happens only in the sport mode in first gear. As soon as it shifts to second the whine disappears. There is no whine when the normal mode is chosen, but if I understand correctly, this is because the tranny doesn't use the first gear in this mode. Other than this the tranny seems to work fine. The fluid is not burnt and the level is okay. Perhaps anyone could have any idea on what may be wrong with the tranny?

Best regards,
Alexander

 

You're almost certainly hearing noise from the planetary gear set. Normal on the 4L80E and it's older brother the TH400. People have been complaining about the 1st gear noise since 1964 when the TH400 was introduced. GM was still issuing TSBs in the early 2000s saying, in essence, 'make no repairs to 4L80E for first gear noise. It's normal'




Cheers
DD

 

Thank you Doug!

 

At 91,100 km, I would recommend transmission oil and filter change. The transmission was jerking when it shifted and the transmission warning light was on intermittently. It problem occurred around 50,000 miles. After the oil change, shifting was smooth as it suppose to be. Transmission oil. filter, and pan's gasket are cheap and you can do it at home easily.

 

Thank you for the advice, I am planning to change the tranny oil/filter in summer as I don't drive the car in winter.

 

I have a 1996 XJ12, and one of the first things I noticed when I bought the car was the 1st gear whine. My car has 90k miles on it. I've drained and refilled the transmission fluid, and will be doing the fluid and filter some time soon.

The nice thing is that I normally drive in "Normal" mode, which inhibits 1st gear unless you hit the kickdown switch on acceleration. In "Sport" mode, 1st gear starts are allowed and the noise is pretty noticeable.

I thought it was bushing or bearing failure, so I've always made sure to keep the car in Normal mode, but it's great news to hear that this is a normal noise.

The transmission pulls very strong, even in first, and gear changes are silky smooth.

Thanks,
Nick

 

I have seen many threads regarding this whine on 4L80 tranny in trucks, but not in Jags. I thought that it could be something bad with the tranny because such noise doesn't match the luxurious nature of V12 Jaguar.

 

GM didn't make any significant changes to the 4L80E for use in the Jaguar....so the noise remains. Cadillac and Buick owners complained about the noise in the 1960s as well


Cheers
DD

 

That's pretty interesting to hear that the transmission doesn't start in 1st gear when in "normal" mode, and only starts in 1st gear when in "sport" mode.

Is this true for the XJR6 too that also uses the 4L80E?

.

 

Nope!

Well, not mine, at least.

The shop manual says the XJR will start in 2nd unless "Sport" in selected but mine always started in 1st regardless of sport or normal.

I think the 2nd gear start was V12 only, and Jaguar intended it to be V12 only....and the shop manual was just incorrect.

Cheers
DD

 

This seems right to me because XJR is intended to be able to give a sharp response anytime, while the V12 is more about smoothness, especially if the owner is sitting on the rear seat and will fire the driver who likes to floor the throttle at every traffic light ))

 

Perhaps to boost the V12s city MPG rating up one point or so, too? Haha

The second gear start is nice though when pulling away in snow, in combination with Traction Control. It's also nice because you have a smoother, more refined takeoff, with a gear shift only from 2-3 and 3-4.

The GM 4L80E came in a Helical Cut on the planetary gears, and a stronger Straight Cut version. Can anyone confirm which version the Jaguar uses? The straight cut version is said to be louder in first gear, which if it's the case, I'd imagine my XJ12 has the straight-cut version.

-Nick

 

There seem to be different opinions about the noisy straight cut gears in 4L80E: some people say that these gears have been fitted to the heavy duty vehicles (not like our Jaguars), but there are also those who insist that this tranny has never been equipped with straight cut gears...
4L80E was also fitted to some Bentleys with 6.75 litre engines. Would be interesting to know if they have the same noise.

 

Hey Doug
How do you know it starts in 1st? I'm pretty sure mine starts in 2nd unless sport is selected.

 

Accelerate to cruising speed ....60 mph let's say.....and count the number of shifts!

Or.....

From a dead stop go right to full throttle and hold it. If it shifts at about 50 mph then you were in 1st gear and the trans just shifted to 2nd.

If it shifts at about 75 mph then you were in 2nd gear and the trans just shifted to 3rd.

Cheers
DD

 

Hrmm, my transmission must not be shifting quite right then, as I'm sure mine shifts out of 1st waaaaay earlier than 50Mph.

I'll have to pay closer attention and see.


.

 

*At full throttle* the 1-2 upshift should be at about 50 mph

Cheers
DD

 

Not that it means much but I had never heard about the straight cut gears until this conversation came up.

But, even without straight cut gears the 4L80E is known for some noise in first gear

Cheers
DD

 

I also thought this was an issue when I first started accumulating these cars. All my V-12's whine in first gear, it is normal.

 

hi guyz, I have an XJ12 96' and it has a problem with the transmission, when I shift it to D position and all other gears it doesn't engage and move but the R reverse position does engage and move, any serious expert that who could help me?