I've been hearing some noise that sounds like it's coming from the rear differential that started off as very feint a number of months ago, but is not getting louder and troubling. It happens only under acceleration above 40 mph. Comes on and off, but doesn't seem to change in frequency with different speeds. And it only happens with the transmission in normal mode. When I put it in sport mode I never hear it regardless of what I do, but if I go back into normal mode, I hear it as soon as I give it a bit of power at speed to either accelerate or hold speed up hills. Because of the mode thing I'm now assuming I have a transmission problem. I just read an article in the JagRepair Forum that sound exactly like my situation, but doesn't mention a difference in sport mode. In the article it was the "B Drum" that failed. Can anyone tell me if my condition is consistent with the B Drum, or another drum or component in the tranny? Is it better to have the tranny repaired or replaced in this situation, and about what are we talking in money for either job?


The car still looks and otherwise runs great, but it does have some minor nagging issues and 145,000 miles on it. Not a good situation, I'm afraid.


Thanks for any insight and recommendations.
Mark

 

Before you do anything else, check the fluid level. Low fluid causes a noise that sounds mechanical in nature.

 

Gordo,
That would be too easy, but great if it is the issue. I'll try to get it checked this week. Thanks, and I hope you're right.
Mark

 

Well, I just got her back from the transmission shop and she was down a quart of tranny fluid, however, that made no difference in the problem. As soon as she shifts into 5th, the noise comes back. Not a good situation. Would appreciate any suggestions besides the obvious. Has anyone ever dropped a manual tranny into one of these? At the money I'd have to spend to fix this, that becomes an option. After all, as nice as she is, with 145,000 miles on her, how much can she be worth?
Mark

 

Nem,
did you ever figure out the noise in your trans?
Mike in TN

 

Has anyone heard of conditions the OP mentions and know the cause and cure?
Mike in TN

 

Fairfalcon,
Apparently it was the internal drum as suspected. Real tough decision as to what to do with her at the time. The tranny shop quoted $4,500.00 to put a rebuilt tranny in, but it would have all the updates in it. Apparently there were a lot of updates since these were first offered. Do I spend that much on a car that old, and not really worth much on the market? I actually got an offer from one of the tranny shop mechanics to buy it from me for $1,000.00 as is. Looking at it from purely a financial eye, that would have been the thing to do. But who's in this for purely money? Plus I knew the car pretty well by then and felt good about the rest of her. So I looked at her, and she at me, and I couldn't give up those beautiful lines. I took the leap and had them put the rebuilt in. Glad I did, Shifts like a car with real gears now, rather than the slush bucket she was before. A total joy to drive. 4 years down the line now and she hasn't missed a shift or made a noise since. She's not worth much on the open market any more, but it was worth it.


Now I'm waiting for the next rain to come to see if she leaks any more. All the leaves clogged something and I was getting water on the drivers side floors. I pulled apart everything I could get to in front of the windshield and cleaned a lot of foliage out. Now to see if she drains properly. Unfortunately, with the accumulation of all her older little British cousins hanging around, she's now the odd one out of the garage. Heartbreaking, but what can you do? We move on.
Mark

 

The actual drains are located under the lift off covers at the back of the engine compartment.

 

Mark,
Thanks for the update.... I ask because your noise sounds like mine (97 XK8 conv.). I can hear it by giving a bit of gas on a slight uphill... almost never in sport mode.... and no other issues or lights, or codes. I doubt there is any trans shop here in my little town that has any "Jaguar" experience .May have to think hard about this.
Mike in TN

 

Mike, I actually got the reference to the tranny shop from a very good mechanic I know who is a Volvo expert, although I've used him in the past for suspension work on the Jag. It might be worth just asking around to known good mechanics who work on upscale cars. They seem to have a pretty good network and a lot of respect for each other, so they tend to give referrals to good shops as they know they will get good referrals back in return.


Best of luck and let us know how it goes.
Mark

 

RJ, Well, the good news is I haven't gotten any more water in, but of course, it hasn't rained since putting her bock outside. It was interesting that the leak was on the driver's side, but that side drain was clear, while the passenger side drain was clogged solid. I took her out for a drive this evening and am getting a lot of wind noise now from the lower corner of the windshield. Gotta take another look in the daylight to see if anything is hanging up. Always something.
Mark

 

Some info

bob

 

Mark,
in the original thread you said the new trans you got would have "all the updates".... can you explain what some of those updates might be? I am still anticipating a rebuilt trans in the future. Also... what years will interchange?
Thanks foer the help
Mike in TN

 

Bob,
Thanks for the documents. Good to have. WE had rain last night and I had paper towels, bath towels, and a shallow bucket stuffed under the steering wheel. Just checked and all dry. Hopefully the cleaning solved the problem. Now to the wind noise. I'll be referring to that third document to check that out. I'll be taking her to work tomorrow on the highway and will see just how loud it is.


Fairfalcon,
I'm afraid I don't have much info on the upgrades. If I recall, it was mostly to do with reliability as there were some iffy parts in there from the factory. I don't think I ever knew much more than that. I do know it shifts much crisper than it ever did with the original tranny in it, even when it was working well. No idea which ones interchange, but I would think it would be at least a few years up the line.
Good luck with it.
Mark

 

Don't forget that ZF 5HP24 trans was in a whole range of cars BMW Range Rover, so there could be a BMW specialist who will know it.

If you want to know about the updates do a search for Sonnax and read their Tech guides for the Trans.