Hey guys...

My XK8 is slipping in first gear, you have to baby the throttle to get it going, second gear on up is fine. Shifts hard from 3 down to 2 when stopping. Backs up fine. Too much throttle from a stop and although it rolls forward, it feels like it jumps into gear and then throws a "Transmission Fault" warning on the dash. Starting with the gear selector in 2 rather than D does not help.

8oz of fluid added through the cooler line did not help.

Is it worth changing the fluid or does it sound like the A-drum and if so, does anyone know a trusted transmission repairperson near the NW side of Chicago/Park Ridge area?

95,000 miles--20,000 since I bought it. So, I have gotten my $10K purchase price back out of it at a reasonable 50 cents per mile.

A dealer is quoting $4500 over the phone to rebuild it. I could buy a 'new' used one for that.

Suggestions?

 

Yes, classic symptoms of 'A' drum failure I am afraid.

As the years have passed the available used transmissions are getting a little long in the tooth so a better long term solution is a rebuilt ZF. The 5hp24 is not all that unique or mysterious and a lot of transmission shops rebuild them very effectively. More shops do not or will not touch them.

Your question of a local referral is the best solution. Where I live in rural Georgia no one even wants to change the ATF.

 

I live just south of you in Elmwood Park and there is one on craigslist for $1500 that says it has a blown engine, but it also says it has a new transmission.