A few weeks ago I had my 07 XK serviced by a "European car specialist." I had used this shop once before and, while not specifically a Jag shop, they seemed very professional and competent to do most normal maintenance.

The latest service included a change of the transmission fluid. I quizzed them beforehand to make sure they knew the pan/filter needed changing as well - they did. A few days after the service I noticed a spot of something liquid on the garage floor under the location of the transmission. The leak was not large, perhaps 8x20 cm, but I was very concerned. I put some cardboard down to catch anything further and called the shop. They were cooperative and asked me to bring the car back in for a no-cost correction. The first open date was a week or so away, and I did not drive the car until the service date. No further leakage showed on the cardboard. The shop acknowledged they had not sealed the new pan properly at the back and told me they installed yet another new pan/filter.

That was about 10 days ago, Today I took the car out and noticed another leak, slightly larger than the first, right next to the first one. My first reaction was to blame the shop, but perhaps there is some other explanation.

Has anyone experienced this or similar after a transmission fluid service? Is this normal? Could the transmission have been overfilled? Something else?

I appreciate any thoughts and comments. Thanks.

 

YEP!
The Mechatronic Sleeve should have been changed same time the pan was dropped.
It's a plastic sleeve that seals the plugs and wires that enter the transmission and it is a known item. All pans SHOULD be sold with new sleeves, but they aren't.

 

If they did not replace the "mechtronic cylinders" (my incorrect terminology for the plastic cylinders around a couple of solenoids inside the pan), I've seen postings of those leaking after a service was done. How they leak outside, I do not know.

Now you know!

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=jagu...=1713&bih=1009

 

Thanks for the quick replies. It appears that the shop did not change the mechtronics sleeve as you have recommended. I guess they are not as specialized as they advertise.

 

Unless there was wetness or a visual indication of a leak around the sleeve, they probably would not have know to replace it.

The first time i flushed the fluid, I didn't change the sleeve. Then I had the front end up on jack stands for a few days, and found a puddle of fluid on the floor (from the sleeve).

Seems like situations where the fluid is sloshing around or the front end is up, it will leak more and more. Needless to say, I replaced the sleeve on the 2nd fluid flush.

 

I gave this information to the shop. They replied that changing the sleeve was not in Jaguar's instructions for the transmission fluid flush, so they did not change it.

Can anyone shed light on whether Jaguar recommends changing the mechtronics sleeve as SOP during a fluid change? Is it only done, as gkubrak suggests, if the sleeve is leaking?

Thanks.

 

Since Jaguar sold these transmissions as ‘sealed for life’, they probably don’t have fluid changing instructions. The transmission manufacturer, ZF, on the other hand, might.

 

Without looking into this further where the leak is coming from you're only guessing. It could be from over filling, the connection sleeve, or the pan bolts/seal. When I did my fluid change I never replaced the connection sleeve or touched anything in the mechtronic cylinders. However, when tightening the pan bolts one must follow the pattern and the torque is very low. I had to remove my new pan and seal and reinstall in because I had a very slow leak.

 

kj07xk, good thought, I will do a search.

DGL, yes, that's true. As to properly torqueing the bolts on the pan, the shop did say that the first leak was caused by "not sealing the back of the pan properly", which could mean they did not get the bolts properly tightened. But the leak happened again after their second try.

I plan to take the car to another shop, one recommended by a good friend and experienced gearhead who takes all his cars there if he can't do the work himself. I will make sure they know to look at the mechtronics sleeve and will ask about the proper tightening pattern (recommended by ZF?), but don't want to appear to be questioning their expertise too much.

 

Following up on kj07xk's suggestion, I managed to find a few sources that discuss the topic.

• ZF has a video on YouTube - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRrgmfM8VlQ - that shows the proper way to perform a transmission fluid drain and fill for the ZF 6HP26 transmission. The video does show the proper sequence of torqueing the bolts when installing the new pan/filter, as DGL mentioned. However, it does not suggest inspecting the mechatronic connection for possible leakage and replacement of the connection sleeve.
• The XK service manual also has a procedure for transmission fluid drain and fill (procedure 44.24.02). It does not mention inspecting the mechatronic connection for leakage at the sleeve. However, in a separate procedure (starting on page 2293) related to servicing the mechatronic assembly, the manual mentions removing and replacing the sleeve.
• A blog on Newparts.com (click here) includes an inspection of the mechatronic connection as part of the transmission drain and fill for the ZF 6HP26. Of course, this is not an official source.

So far it appears that inspecting and changing the mechatronic connection sleeve during transmission drain/fill comes from experience, not official guidance from either ZF or Jaguar. It will be interesting to see if the new shop, which focuses on BMWs (which of course have also widely used the 6HP26 transmission) will know this going in, or need to be prompted.

 

I did read that the earlier years had issues with the mechatronic sleeve on a pan drop where later ones (like mine) didn't.

For completeness I'm still going to get mine changed as it's a relatively cheap part.

 

I can't believe that the shop isn't aware of ZF's flush and fill process. Here is the guide for installing the sleeve and tightening sequence:

 

The sleeve's a well known failure point on ZF transmissions for the last 20 years. It's not specifically referenced by Jaguar as a maintenance item however I'd be surprised if any experienced service center wouldn't have been aware of this. Considering it's a $10 part and little labor once the pan's dropped, there's little reason not replace it even if it's not failed.

 

jahummer, I agree. The 6HP26 trannie has apparently been widely used on luxury and performance cars for many years. You would certainly expect that a shop that claims to work on BMWs, Jaguars, Land Rovers and so on would have experience with this situation.

 

Also, Audi's, Hyundai's so yeah it's a known failure point on mass produced cars. If that's where your leak is, I hope they do right by you Bill. Though I will say it's strange that the sleeve would start leaking after a drain and fill immediately the next day if it didn't leak prior, because it's not touched unless you change it out.

 

Sean,

As DGL said, we're guessing at the cause. It is strange that the leak started only after the drain and fill. Perhaps it's improper tightening of the bolts, I don't know. Hopefully, the service at the new shop will solve the problem. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

Well…..not quite. Immediately after the main dealer performed a fluid exchange, the sleeve, which had no issues prior, began leaking. So off it went back for the sleeve, and took this opportunity to change the pan and new gasket as well. For the frustration, they provided a significant discount on labour and didn’t charge for replacement fluid.

 

Shop #1 has agreed to pay for the new service at Shop #2, so they are doing the right thing. The service manager has been contrite and cooperative. Shop #1 has been around for quite a while, is large and modern, and seemed well-run. I can't figure out why such an established outfit would mess this up - twice. I may give them another chance after this, but my confidence is shaken.

 

sorry about the situation. But your service provider really stepped up. I’d keep them.