Driving home from work yesterday in my 2001 XJ8 and from a stop suddenly experienced massive slippage in gear box - was afraid I might not make it home. No hints or indications of problems prior. Yellow light and GEAR BOX FAULT now indicated. Got home and parked and wondering next steps. Best case scenario, maybe low on transmission fluid and perhaps just need a flush? Or am I almost certainly looking at something more dire or major? Before I dive in, hoping to get some advice from those who have been there before. While I do a little tooling around with the car, working on a transmission is far above my pay grade.

Thanks for any advice. Mileage is 287,888

 

First check the fluid level. It's fairly difficult since the car will have to be on jackstands or a lift and level. If the fluid has never been changed that will certainly be necessary. You might be best off taking it to a transmission shop that services the ZF transmission, but I fear they will just tell you it needs to be repalced without really checking.

 

My worry exactly. My trusted mechanic is moving locations so might wait until he is relocated and take to him. Pretty much cannot drive until I do.

 

Some suggested reading - google the transmission fitted to your car ZF 5 HP 24. They have a very well documented fault that has affected BMW/Jaguar for years. With that amount of miles the trans if original has done very well to last that long.

The fault essentially means a trans rebuild if the A drum circlip has failed due to over pressure - if it hasn't then a TransGo valve kit may fix it.

One question, did the trans 'rev/bang' into gear at any point prior to the fault message?

 

Last Friday I was stopped close to home and when I hit the accelerator, the engine revved and transmission failed to engage. Slipped into gear but same thing next stop sign. I switched to manual and made it the two blocks home and parked. Have not driven it again.

Transmission shop is about 8 miles away. My inclination is to tow, or am I ok trying to limp there with this issue?