Hi Guys,

just looking out for opinions...

I cannot find anybody here in Miami (Dealer or Indy) that would do an oil change on the ZF transmission. Rasons given are:

- Jaguar doesnt recommend doing it
- "I havent seen one of these gearboxes lasting more than 100K anyway, dont waste your money"
- Tranny computer adapts to ageing oil viscosity, if you change it, it will get confused and malfunction
- Too difficult

Any thoughts?

 

Sounds to me like they don't want your money. I'm pretty sure the transmission can be serviced and we have a few members who have done it and have been able to drive well past 100k on the original box.

Read these threads:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...03-xkr-147016/

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ervice-191611/

 

Real reason is probably that they see an old transmission on an old car (how many miles?), with easy work to service it (i.e. not that much profit), but a big risk of being blamed for anything going wrong.

You can start reading up on the ZF 5HP24 and its weaknesses. Maybe you should consider a bit more work, like a pan/filter/fluid change as well as installing that TRANSGO valve people talk about (this is a valve body service, the transmission remains on the car, so it is not crazy expensive).

To your questions:

"sealed for life" is really meant for the original owner of that 3 year lease. Or to save money on a trans fluid temp gauge and a dip stick. Or something ZF told Jaguar...

These boxes have major flaws, usually around the design of a specific valve putting too much pressure on the a-drum, and destroying it in the process. This forum has great pictures of these a-drums in various stages of distress. That TRANSGO valve is supposed to remedy that, to the extent it is installed early enough I suppose.

Software adaptations, to my knowledge, are only taking place for 100 miles after the software procedure is finished (for sure for the later 6HP26). It is fixed after that. So, as the fluid ages, these adaptations can drift.

Best of luck, keep us posted.

 

Here's a step by step on how to change the fluid. Mind you, this is for the 6 speed ZF unit, but it should be similar.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...y-tips-149505/

 

Find a friend with some transmission drain-and-fill experience (not necessarily ZF), the proper tools, and the two of you can do it yourselves. It is an easier and more accurate job with two people involved - one person underneath the vehicle pumping in the fresh ATF and the other person in the drivers seat going through the required gearshift changes during the fill process. Just study the various threads describing the entire process here on the forum until you have every step seared into your brain, and then go for it. Good luck and keep us posted....

 

@dizzly:

Please let me know if you find someplace. I recently asked my indy tech up here if he could recommend a good transmission shop. His reply: "No"

 

I had stopped into this place right near my house:

European Auto Service Center
9787 Glades Rd.
Boca Raton, FL 33433
561-451-0502

...and they were more than willing to do a transmission oil and filter change for me... I haven't had it done yet as I do want to get the updated valve body and valve to help prolong the tranny life on my 5-speed but haven't gotten around to it yet...

Give them a call and see if they can help you out... and if you do schedule an appointment, shoot me a pm and we can meet up for a beer or something since it is right near my house.

 

Actually, they do. They have done for 8-9 years or more (i.e. it was there on their tech site when I first joined).

However, some of their dealers are HOPELESS.

 

-Jaguar doesnt recommend doing it.
CRAP, its a ZF recomendation, Jaguar dont make gearboxes

- "I havent seen one of these gearboxes lasting more than 100K anyway, dont waste your money"
CRAP , mines at 130K and thats not unusual

- Tranny computer adapts to ageing oil viscosity, if you change it, it will get confused and malfunction
ABSOLUTE CRAP, you've already says that it adapts, then somehow it doesn't? Again its a ZF recommendation, they make the box, they should know

- Too difficult,
CRAP, takes about an hour with ramps and axle stands working on your back, with a 4 post lift, about 30 minutes.

Sorry, what is it with American dealers and mechanics that make them scared about working on Jags?

 

It's called liability. Too many attorneys and clueless juries.

 

 

I ran into the same problems last year when my transmission failed. My longtime mechanic does not work on transmissions and we could not find any shop that would touch it even to do a diagnostic once they heard it was a Jaguar. I was afraid that it was time to say goodbye to my beloved XK8.

Until a friend gave me contact info for a certified Jag tech here in Palm Beach County. He now works at a dealer that sells Italian dream cars but has built a shop at his house to take care of Jaguars. He has mine running like new again and did a LOT of work (tranny; tensioners and more) for a very reasonable cost. And you can drop off and pick up in the evening or on weekends 😁. Highly recommend.

Contact Enrique @ 561-389-5140 (text works too) or email: jagtech76@hotmail.com

 

I can wholeheartedly recommend Enrique as well. He used to work at the Jaguar dealership here in town and is currently employed at a high-end Italian car dealership in the area. He’s based in the Lake Worth section of West Palm Beach. An Enterprise rent-a-car location is less than a mile away. He has converted his large garage into a well-stocked service facility with lifts. Because of this low overhead he will probably charge less than your current indy tech, not to mention any Jag dealer. I recently brought my car in with several problems – transmission (several faults with it), an oil leak, and a worn snorkel hose (replacing this brought my car back to life!). The transmission had several problems. I was prepared to pay $(000) to either rebuild it or purchase a remanufactured one. Instead, Enrique had proprietary Jaguar software that allowed him to reset the transmission back to like new, which cost a small fraction of what I would have paid otherwise. So I highly recommend him – he’s completely honest, down to earth, and his knowledge of our cars is second to none. Enrique can be reached at jagtech76@hotmail.com or 561.389.5140. Tell him Bob sent you.