Wife got the infamous limp error and said the car was acting funny not shifting right, I said DO NOT drive anywhere, that's the important part of this story as you read on. So after dragging the car back home I did some extensive research and these zf5hp24's all are gonna go, its just a matter of time. The A-drum is crap and is known to fail, BUT it first might crack and be causing low pressure . To verify this you can drop the pan and check for debris. If you see pieces of metal the drum already has fallen apart and you need to take the whole trans apart and rebuild. BUT if there's no chunks then you have hope. (as ours was) .So I got me a shop manual,(found on Ebay see pics) dropped it and opened her up and sure enough the damn thing was just starting to split apart right at the snap ring like all of the ones before had done that I read about online. (see pics) This was also because if she would have kept driving it would have finally broke apart. I was so relieved! This is easily fixable. There's NO other damage to the unit, but a trans place would take you for a ride for 3K. I'm thinking new drum which I had priced @ around 250.00 then...

Better yet a place near by I found on Ebay is repairing these by re welding them to be stronger than OEM for 150 bucks, so I'm gonna have this thing back on the road for no more than a few hundred (less if it doesn't need new clutches ) not like 3K.

Guys, this stuff is not brain surgery. I'm not a prof. wrench. either but if you don't have the cash (or even if you do why waste it) you can get your car going again yourself w/o going broke.

Cheers

ukcat
00 XJ8
'90 XJS V12
'02 X-type
72 mustang fastback

 

Here's a couple closer pics of A-drum that is the cause of our great cats (and beemers & audi's ....) being brought to their knees ( as well as most checkbooks!)

Once the trans was out it took only 10 mins to get to this part, not complicated at all.
If I would have know about these like I did the chain tensioners I would have done this as soon as I got the car, Oh well live and learn I always say at least now I have some money for the holidays!

ukcat90

00 XJ8
'90 XJS V12
'02 X-type
72 mustang fastback

 

Thanks, great post and pics.

 

How many miles on the transmission at this point.

 

Only 70 flippin thou, I believe from readings and own experience now that these are close to 100% all destine for implosion, its only a matter of when... where oh where is a recall when you really need one.....

Notice: I did hear slight squeal upon start up in the morning(s) leading up to total limp mode ( which I was thinking was a belt idler bearing or such, I'll get to it soon, yeah right) so there are maybe warning signs but otherwise I think each needs to be addressed, period.

For those who are wrench turners wonder what a trans shop (if even they would touch it) would charge for a drum replacement, should not be too bad since your not replacing all the intermal gaskets, bearing, etc. I've hear some getting labor as low as 500.00 to r & r trans , add the price of the drum and fluid and maybe you could keep this around 1K (not 3K) like its eventualy going to be!

ukcat90

00 XJ8
'90 XJS V12
'02 X-type
72 mustang fastback

 

Got the repaired A-drum back already (pic below) and it looks great. Its been reinforced as to be stronger than OEM, and set me back just a bit more than originally quoted but @ 225.00 its still big money ahead of a rebuild.

Tech at the shop also agreed that I should have no trouble just re-installing this and driving w/o any other work since the original did not disintegrate and contaminate the entire trans

Can you say Whoo Hoo!

ukcat90

00 XJ8
'90 XJS V12
'02 X-type
72 mustang fastback

 

We be rolling again. Had a chance to put it all back together (no rush, it one of our 3 Jags)
but still not that time consuming if one was under a more timely situation.

The cost:

New A-drum-225.00
ZF manual-65.00
Trans pan gasket 25.00
Esso fluid 160.00
Couple o-rings- 6.00
Few cups o' Dunkin- 10.00

So for about 500.00-ish I got it done.... not 2,000 , or 3,0000, or 4,000 which any trans place would have been robbery. To this day I cannot understand why so many people buy used cars (especially Jags) then don't have the slightest clue about them. I just saw a recent post for someone asking where to add coolant, or why the mirror was not darkening? and don't gimme that "oh you were a newbie once and probibly asked these kind of questions... Gimme a break!

Cheers

ukcat90

'90 xjs coupe
'00 xj8
'02 x-type
'72 mustang fastback

 

nice work, a link to the guy where you got the drum from would be great

 

no link but here' their contact info:

Transmissions and Parts Technology
Superior Re-Manufacturing Technology

Ask for Chris or Oliver @ 630-616-8787
Bensonville , Il.

btw - they also run ads on Ebay, just search by "zf5hp24" and you'll find'em

ukcat90

 

thanks. i need an actual zf 5 speed sincemine blew on the 2000 xj.

 

Try Ebay,

I've seen some rebuilds for 1,500 OBO

 

very nice ukcat, i've linked your thread to the transmission area of the FAQ section for other 5hp24 trannies.

Keep an eye out for threads with similar symptoms, you may be able to save some people some money before destroying their tmissions!

 

I also had the A drum replaced on my transmission. The problem is my shop charged me $2k to remove and replace the transmission and fix the drum!

I agree with the newbie questions. I'm waiting for someone to ask "How do you start the car with a key?"

 

This write-up is AMAZING! Got the transmission fault code as well recently. Figured rather than spendin the 2000 for a rebuilt, id crack it open and try to fix it myself. EASY AS PIE! The broken part was right behind the bellhousing. I didnt even need any special tools. Bought the Forward A drum from ebay (some company by Chicago) then went up to Erickson Industries in Old Saybrook CT for some seals and gaskets... Total job cost me about 350 bucks! Works better than ever.

Thanks for the pictures and awesome write up. Also took the engine out w/ it.... Gonna do a timing chain/tensioner update. Should get another few miles out of my XJ8L. This site is the $h*t!

 

way to go jeiiomix!

 

good info and trans kits arent that expensive either, its when you break hard parts. But youll never find a shop/person willing to go as cheap as you. And no one paying someone else will only replace a couple parts. you go in you replace all expendable items and any damaged or updated parts. afterall you have to warranty youre work. I can build my own GM trannies for the suburban and race car TH400, and 700R4, and 4L60E's with hipo clutches and steels for less than $250. Hard parts extra, and on the 700R4, and 4L60's the thing that goes out is the 3-4 clutch pack which is right behind the front pump and is $60 to replace with a commercial app. 9 pack from the regular 6 pack for even more holding power. Yes trans arent hard with the right tools and manual. You dont ever tear apart the valve body(unless there are problem with it like shift solenoids and theyre easily replaceable, you can buy complete rebuilt VB and use yours as a core if concerned) and all the rest is just clutches, drums, pistons etc.....

 

GREAT thread!!!! nice pictures and two thumbs up for this info...

Ikon

 

Thanks,

I'm heading for a local transmission shop and will just print this ut to keep them on their toes !

 

SOOO, i have the ol' 1722 and I'm probably going to pull the trans tomorrow. Does the 1998 XK8 use the zf5hp24? I'm assuming so from what i have read on here. But I want to be sure before I drive the hour out to the lot and get to tearing her down.

for those that care, the guy who sells this drum on ebay is transpartstech

 

Yes to the 5HP24.

I can't believe you have a transmission problem also after all the engine issues. Hope you got that car for free.