So as the title may suggest I'm getting a bit of a hard shift between 3rd and 4th gears. It's not happening all the time, but usually when the car is cold and it's certainly more noticeable when getting on the gas a bit more versus babying it down the road.

I've had a transmission place look at the car, but they couldn't get the car to act up at all, said the fluid all looked good, no codes came up, etc.

Any ideas on what may be causing this or any suggestions for a fix would be greatly appreciated!

 

I had a hard shift 3rd gear on my 95 xj6. I took it to a local trans shop who recommended replacing the fluid and cleaning the filters first. I was going to install a BG product for transmissions but elected not to do that after getting a second opinion. I also looked at the option of the power flush but elected not to go that direction. What I did do was have the fluid changed. He replaced the trans fluid with Mercon 3 and installed a RED Lube Guard. I had this done at around 120,000mi and I am at 151,000+mi. He told me that the combination of these two items were correct for this car xj6. A lot is taken into consideration Trans type and the operating temperature. It worked for me.

 

Awesome, thank you Gus. I notice you did that at 120k miles, do you think i should have any cause for concern considering this is happening to mine at around 77k miles? Or is it just one of those things... ? I've heard nothing but good things about that particular transmission and would hate to think mine would be suffering at a relatively youthful stage...

 

This is the way I look at it the car is 15 years old with over 50k miles. How many times was it filled up with fuel, oil changed, driven in the peak of summer and winter and other things done to in and the transmission is not touched. I changed the fluid with the thought if it is fixed I did the right thing, if not ill start over again. My guess is that you will be fine.

 

I was having the same issue and was able to cure it. I did 2 things, but just a fluid and filter change might have cured it - the part I replaced (see below) may not have helped at all.

I replaced the differential struts with the later beefier part (Differential Monostrut) from an XK8 as per a TSB I found that specifically addressed the issue of a harsh 3-4 shift. Part number MNC3713AA .

TSB 08-1-03A .... also listed as TSB 08.1-03A Revised 9/96
ZF 4 HP 24 E Transmission –Diagnostic Flowcharts
R.O number 64.91.05
Link (hopefully):
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I also did a transmission fluid and filter change at the same time, so I'm not sure which 'fix' cured the problem, but it's smooth now.

Hope this helps,
Hugh

 

yep, did the same thing as Gus, maybe a small hard shift, but no big cluck, but as Gus says we sometime forget bout the tranny , i drained and put same fuilds as did gus, i have 185thous, have had the tramission fluild change 3 times so far, so around 60 thous each time, but i also check it regularly, like a prefight, as long as its still looks clean, its a goer.
Geno
1995 xj6