I only prayed for your wife, not your transmission!

 

Quick update.

At the point of attacking top bell housing bolts and then lowering the transmission.

Took longer to take out the torque converter bolts this time as I missed the bolts a couple of times rotating the engine!

A lot of exercise doing that job on my own.

I did re-flash the TCM before disconnecting everything.

Also been wondering if a solenoid malfunction would throw the reverse gear incorrect ratio error I had?

The XKR transmission has a metal shield on the bottom which I think I will keep.

Some oil drained out of the torque converter does not look that bad. It is dark but nowhere near black.

Will go Mercon SP this time.

Anyway sidelined by other priorities right now.

 

So with the slightly warmer temps I was able to remove my transmission and get it out from under the car.

I did NOT have to touch the starter motor bolts but that section of the bell housing still "stuck" somewhat even tho I had greased the dowel last time on installation.

I have the XKR transmission under the car and now I have to raise it which is not easy as it is resting on the concrete floor.

With even warmer temps today I hope to make some good progress as laying on my back on the cold concrete is no fun.

 

John,

Even though I have access to a lift, I prefer to do most of my work on my back or knees, and I highly recommend the Lang Foam Mechanics Anti-Fatigue Mats. They're over an inch thick and provide nice cushioning for knees and insulation for lying on concrete:


JB Tools carries them, as well as some eBay sellers. I think I pay a little under $30 for them including shipping:

https://www.jbtools.com/lang-tools-1...SABEgKd6_D_BwE

Cheers,

Don

 

I use this one. $20 @ Harbor Freight

 

Well I went two steps backwards but three steps forward today.

I had great difficulty getting the torque converter seated in the transmission properly and thought I had succeeded until bolting the transmission to the engine where I discovered that I had not!

So had to lower the transmission to try again to seat the TC properly after repeated attempts I finally succeeded and without taking the transmission off the jack.

Just managed to get the lower bolts in on the bell housing plus the 3 torque converter bolts.

So will get the rest of the bolts on the bell housing done tomorrow and hopefully a lot more.

Will soon be at the stage of trying to re-flash the XKR TCM.

The success or failure of that process will dictate the next steps.

 

I would probably switch the TCM over to the donor valve body, especially if your software is not 100% up and running and rock solid!

 

I re-flashed the XJR TCM twice with no problem.

I will try the XKR re-flash as I can do that without filling the transmission. If that fails I will then do the swap.

I know that 2006 onwards ,in the XJR, the electronics were upgraded and I am wondering if that includes a totally different TCM that I will not be able to re-flash with 2005 software.

 

If I recall correctly, the TCM update file in the SDD v131.03 calibration file database is dated sometime in 2006. I want to say v131.03 was released in 2012, which makes me think the 2006 TCM update was the last one done.

 

I will find out tomorrow Don.

From what you state I have a chance by the look of it.

I only have the gear linkage left to do and I will be ready to try the re-flash.

I just got out from under the car after a lengthy spell and am at the point where I am too tired and will make mistakes right now.

 

I know that feeling well. Looking forward to hearing about your next steps tomorrow.

 

Sop no luck in re-flashing the XKR TCM.

Was unable to even connect to it.

I did re-seat the electrical connector but no luck.

I have dismantled my original valve body and taken off the TCM ready to put it on the XKR unit.

I did not want to swap the valve body itself because I suspect there may be an issue with it.

I wonder how easily the pan bolts will come out. If any difficulty I will soak with PB Blaster for an hour or so from the top where they protrude thru the transmission flange.

 

Had a feeling about that.

I wonder how easily the pan bolts will come out. If any difficulty I will soak with PB Blaster for an hour or so from the top where they protrude thru the transmission flange.
[/QUOTE]

It's the bolts on the front and back of the trans that give issues.

If they are the original T27 torx and they dont work get a dremel and slot em and take a large flat head screwdriver, vise grips and a hammer.

Whack the bolt head then have at it w/ the screwdriver using the vise grips as leverage.

 

Worst case, I just drill the heads off of the seized screws with a 1/4 inch bit and remove the shafts with pliers or Vise Grips once the pan is dropped:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...7/#post2166964

 

Well the pan bolts came out very easily indeed.

The mech sleeve also came out way to easily really although I did not see any evidence of leaks.

I swapped over the mech unit however I left the XKR solenoids in place.

Now have to install the whole unit in the transmission.

I re-used the hardly used rubber seals and bridge seal from my XJR transmission.

One peculiar thing tho I could not open my trunk after the failed re-flash.

I had to use my key as I wanted to disconnect my battery.

 

So XJR mechatronics reinstalled in XKR transmission with XKR solenoids and XKR valve body.

Ran TCM re-flash even tho I did it on the original unit before taking it out.

Went well.

So next step is the fluid fill process this time with Mercon Sp.

 

Will be a few days before I can get back to this as other commitments take priority right now.

My wife cannot drive for now so I have to drive her to doctor's appts and hospitals every few days.

 

Do wish her well.

 

So a respite from hospital and Doctor visits for now.

I did the fluid fill very carefully with Mercon SP.

It took about 8.5 litres in total.

Ran thru the gears and I could feel it engaging so that is good.

The check engine lite is on however thats because the suspension is too low.

I have to fix this before I try getting out of the driveway because of a bad hump at the top of our steep driveway.

No gearbox fault so far.

It just started raining so will not back out of the garage until dry tomorrow.

Will try selling my other gearbox on Ebay.

It is irritating that I do not know what the issue was to say the least.

 

Thankful for that news, John.


Some of the codes that trigger the Suspension Too Low warning have to be cleared before the air compressor will run again.

Happy to hear no gearbox fault so far. Hoping to hear more good news in your next post!

Cheers,

Don