Hi and greetings from Norway

My '96 X300 3,2 litre has an issue with the automatic transmission.

When I get between 82-90 km/h, (approx 50-55 mph), the gear box change from 3rd to 4th and it feels like there's some sort misfire. I've tried to run the car in 3rd in the same speed area (using the LH side of the J-gate) and it acts normal exept for higher rev of course.

I've contacted my local Jaguar workshop and they suggest that the problem most likely is that the transmission dosen't lock in 4th gear and the best thing would be to change the transmission to a new one.

Does this make sense or are there other solutions?

Any suggestions are welcome.

 

Knewton, I can't 'picture' the misfire, but my 3.2 auto can give quite a jolt when changing from 3 to 4 by itself. It used to be worse, and happen at all gear changes (ie: 1-2, 2-3,3-4) but I have done 5-6 partial gearbox oil changes myself, using synthetic auto transmission fluid. It is easy to do, and might sort out your mystery. Certainly cheaper than a new gearbox! So worth a try..

I bought a 20 litre drum of syn ATF delivered to my door. I put the front wheels up on ramps and crawl underneath. I have a 5 or 6 mm Allen keyed drain plug in my gearbox - I remove that and usually 3 - 3.5 litres drains, then I top it up through the dipstick tube with a small funnel. do this a few times and see if life improves.
to check level properly, handbook says drive at least 14 miles then park on flat with engine running, pull the gear lever through all gears to load the valves, then check level - it is in the handbook.
Given the 3.2 Jags have no electronic control of the gearbox like the 4 litres, there shouldn't be a misfire (I would think)

give us feedback, and good luck

 

Hi

Thanks for reply. I don't know how old the transmission oil is so this might just be it.

To explain a bit better on the "misfire" and add some info. The car has gone almost 100 000 km (just over 62 000 miles).

It feels like the car is shaking/jolting when it reaches 50-55 mph. The shaking/jolting is continously and unaffected if the car is warm or not. Rest of the gear changes goes smooth.

I suspect that the transmission is more or less constantly changing between 3rd and 4th reaching 50-55 mph, since the shaking stops when I put it in 3rd.

A friend of mine suggested that there might be a defect in the converter lock up making the transmission unable to "lock" in 4th gear. This is causing the car to switch between 3rd and 4th.

Anyway, I'll try changing oil and see if this solves the problem.

 

Another one.

As AL said, change that fluid, many times with about 100kms driving between drop and refill.

That vibration you are feeling at that road speed is the torque convertor lockup "juddering" as it does what it does. Leave it too long and a new unit will be needed.

the ZF 4HP22 is one TUFF trans, but fluid age will kill it, as it does any automatic.

Mine is 208000kms now and the shifts are smooth, silent, unfelt, even the lock up. Good for another 200k kms or more.