OK, call me an idiot. I've been working around cars for the better part of 30 years, and I even built my own gyrocopter.

I bought this 2000 XJ8 VDP used last year, and today the tranny slipped whenI shifted from 2 to 3 (manually), and then I got a "Gearbox Fault" and the car drove SUUUUUUUPER SLOW untilI got it home.

I'm thinking the tranny might be low on fluid, soI go to check it and damn if I didn't spend 30 minutes looking for something that isn't there. It was over 100 in the shade, and I was soaked with sweat and had saltwater running in my eyes before I finally gave up.

1) Where is the dipstick for the auto tranny?
2) Where is the fill port for the auro tranny?
3) What type of fluid does it take? Dextron III/Mercon or Ford ATF?

And no, this car doesn't have an owners manual.

Please, i'd appeciate any help possible. What do you think caused the "Gearbox Failure " light???

 

No dipstick! It's a "sealed for life" unit from Jaguar that is probably the DUMBEST design ever by any automotive engineer! I don't know how one could think that a tranny can take 150K miles without an oil change, but whatever...too bad!

The fill port is on the side of the tranny on the driver's side!

Dextron III is perfect!

BTW, you do know that if you are shifting manually, it'll strain the auto tranny MUCH more! good luck with the fix! Give us a code and we can better help you with your problem!

 

actually the fill port is on the passenger side....of the tranny. and i dunno about putting dextron3 in..id stick with jaguar fluid.. it's like a mineral oil.. type fluid .. kind of expensive.

 

Oops about the side the fill port is on, but the dextron III is the best substitute unless you want to pay 35 bucks per quart for the Jag flluid!

 

BG makes a good substitute fluid. I would be very leery of Dex 3.

 

OK, all, thanks for help so far. Here is the status:

I took it to a transmission place that has a good rep, and they pulled the code 1722.
Fluid was full.
Here are some other diagnoses: When you start the car, it surges forward in P. Also seems like there is no 1st gear, and it whines until you get fast enough to hit second gear, and then it goes fine.

I found a place that sells remanufactured ZF5HP24 transmissions for $2495.00 door to door, shipping included. (Coleman Taylor out of Memphis.) It includes a 2 year, unlimited mileage warranty. (or a 3 year, 75,000 mile warranty for extra $)

The good news is that I have an extended service insurance contract that covers up to $3000.00 per visit for a maximum of $5,000.00 for the life of the car. Since the car has been babied, and it only has 57,000 miles on a 100,000 mile transmission, I should be good to go. Square Trade is the company that I purchased my extended warranty through. Anybody heard or had problems through Square Trade?

Hopefully it works out OK. I am just sick about the Cat being dead... Hopefully this is not it's ninth life, and it will come back good as new!

I'll keep you posted.

Again, thanks for all of the help so far.