My Xj8 has been running like a scalded dog for 8 months after a sparkplug change and removing sludge from exhaust manifold. 70kmiles. Then bam! gearbox fault while on the pipe driving home. (5k rpm, 70mph - not drugs or is this a leagal drug enjoying a great machine?).

She drives fine in reverse which would be fine if I could drive home from the bars this way. However I have to drive forward. When I go from R to D I have to slowly rev, then I catch a semi wicked "slam" and off i go in limp mode. The manual shift d/n work.

Aamco suggested it could be electronic or low fluid. This girl has not dropped a "snakes lick" of lubricant and the drive train is a beauty.

Is it possible there is a soultion beyond chaning the tranny? I have more $'s into this car already and a $500 repair I could keep it. Otherwise I have to get a Hyunda. Please help me

 

Mmmmmm, these early sealed for life transmissions were a problem with the front clutch pack/drum inside the transmission.

Most common result down here is "we got reverse, but bugga all forward".

I reckon it is too far gone for a fluid change, which can aid teh life span significantly, coz I read you already got no forward as such.

The slow take up of drive is classic front clutch/drum failure.

Not the answer you want, but these sealed units are a PAIN, no matter what name badge is on the car.

 

Thanks Grant. I took it to one tranny shop and they shot some codes and I got a funny feeling. I went to another shop Mr Transmission (John Pruett) in Lawrenceville GA USA. He found the unit not communicating but could not find and blown fuses. Free of charge he recmmended some folks in Tucker, GA to take it. They are expersts on electronics as well as other regualr mechanic.

So I am now looking for computer non-comunication issue as the recommend shop can't see me unitl next week.

Any thoughts?

 

The list of actual codes may help to shed some light on possible causes....Have you the codes that were thrown from the mechanic who diagnosed the comms problem? Allan

 

Have you posted this in the X308 forum ? That is the forum for your car, so you might get a better response.

 

I've moved your thread from General Tech Help section to X308 section. This is the place for model specific questions about your vehicle.

Graham

 

I have had trouble with CAN communication in my XK8 preventing the cruise control from working. I located all the connectors on the wiring diagrams and cleaned them. It is likely the connections to the switches on the transmission, or the switches themselves are at fault. It's always possible that the TCU or another module is at fault, but that gets expensive, so I would start with the connections and switches.
I see you are in Atlanta, and I would be willing to check it out with my Autoenginuity software if it's not too far to Douglasville. PM me if you have time to come over.

 

I read your original post again, and I have to agree with Grant that it sounds like a Drum failure. Driving to Douglasville is probably not an option if you only have limp home mode.

 

Thanks everybody. Transmission or electronics its more that I can handle. I am putting it in shop while I go out of town on biz. Will let y'all know what happens.

 

OK, took it to a Jag Mech. The local tranny shop c/n diagnois exactly.$4200 for a rebuilt. HAd another quote for 2800 to 3200. Anyway I told the Jag Mech I was not going to repair the car. He came up with a $1500 soultion - "A" gear replacement or something like that. $1200 labor + $150 parts. He is also recomending reuse of the oil. Say's that oil is the best commercially avalable.

 

Yes, that's the A drum, a common failure. Ask him to install the upgraded pressure regulator valve recommended by ZF while he is inspecting the forward valve body. It's good to hear that he is also a lubricating oil expert. I am not so I used the Castrol equivalent rather than the old oil which was rather dark.

 

A-drum

 

I forgot to ask if you have replaced the secondary chain tensioners yet. If not a failure could be your next big expense, while replacement is not expensive if done in time.

 

The 'A'drum or forward drum is a fault with the Jag and BMW gearboxes.
$1500 is a fair price for the drum replacement.

I would recommend changing the fluid but I have placed the gearbox on it's tail and just replaced the drum after someone changed the fluid and it did not help with the broken drum. Since the fluid was new I did not see the need to drain so I just did the drum and gaskets. The fluid stays in the gearbox with it pointing UP.

VW fluid for the 01M or 01V 5HP19 transmissions is the SAME as the 5HP24 and it is less than $20 a liter. Pentosin ATF1 from O'reily Auto is also the same.

bob gauff

 

Note RJ237's comment on replacing the pressure valve. It has clearly been identified as a cause of the 'A' drum failure due to pressure spikes. That is not universal knowledge in the transmission business yet.

 

I just purchased 12 liters of ATF for the ZF 5HP24 (01M/01V Audi/VW gearboxes) from BLAUparts.com

The cost was $125 for 12 liters and includes shipping.

Vw ATF - Vw Transmission Fluid - G 052 162 A2 TL52162 Vw - Case

Just thought some might be interested.

bob gauff

 

My Mech say's no problem with pressure regulators and claims to be an expert on this ZF transmission. Who knows i just need another 25k miles and i will be even or just ahead.

 

Strange . . . as ZF has tech documents out on the valve body problem and I would consider them the ultimate authority on their transmissions and am unaware of how to pressure test the transmission down to the internal pressures.

I am an expert also but just haven't found my best subject yet.