Hi

very suddenly the transmission went from appearing completely fine to slipping out of gear overnight. Car was still drivable the one day I drove it in that condition, would just rev up when changing gear and would periodically roll back on my slopped driveway when in Drive, but only a second or so before the transmission would appear to reengage, and then car would come to a halt.

Knowing that low or dirty fluid could be the cause of this (feel free to correct me if I am off the mark here) I decided to start by topping up the transmission fluid, and for the first time on a Jaguar. Reading that you could check the level by opening the filling plug, I jacked up the jack on to four axel stands. Whilst the car was tilted slightly forward when off the ground it was level side to side. An opposite to a small trickle of transmission oil from the side fill plug, and which seems to by the normal from literature on the subject when the transmission is filled to the correct level, a good litre came out.

This now poses a few questions:

1) Would having the car tilted a little forward, and given the fill plug is at the back of the transmission affected the level
2) Was the transmission some how overfilled with transmission fluid or is the literature wrong when stating just a trickle should come out the fill plug
3) When changing the fluid and refilling via the fill plug, do you need tilt the car to one side so the finished level is above the fill plug.

As always, thank full for any insight or pointers provided.

XKR 2007 190k.

 

Oh No!!!!!! You didn't say you did the top off while the engine was running! That's an absolute requirement! The fluid also needs to be at 'operating' temperature during service!
What happened is that the torque converter wasn't full of fluid and the transmission case wasn't pressurized, so all the loose fluid drained out the fill hole!

You are now VERY low of fluid!

Why did I use so many exclamation points?!!!!

 

As CeeJay implies, do not use the car until the box has been filled again as it will now be very low on fluid. There are so many threads on here about how to do with properly with the car level, the engine running and the fluid between 30 and 50 degrees C.

Richard

 

At 190k, I’m hopeful you have had a transmission fluid and filter change at least once. Twice would have been better.

As my colleagues point out, the process is specific. ZF offers these instructions as well.