Just an FYI, I changed my transmission fluid and put in the Ford fluid that some recommended. I still get the squak sound at certain times. Guess I will bite the bullet and use the real ZF although some say both are the same. Except price!

 

If you are confident the fluid level is right (there is a temperature-based procedure for getting this level right), folks have reported best results when the fluid replacement is followed by a reset of the software "adaptations". This is a computer-based procedure typically executed by a dealer.

Best of luck, keep us posted.

 

Fmertz
As confident as I can be. I used a flir gun and 40 Degrees C as I recall. I guess I need to learn more about this reset. Never saw that mentioned before. Thanks

 

why doesn't a battery disconnect for a time period reset this trans setting? Not the same as the car computer>

 

My understanding is that the car needs to be driven through a number of specific conditions, each one suggested by the computer, and somehow marked off when completed by the driver. I assume it has to do with modifying the learned PWM of each of the solenoids as the fluid characteristics are changed. It is supposed to be followed by 100 miles of normal driving done by the owner, in order to let the software adaptations smooth things some more based on the particulars of your transmission clutches, etc. Following this logic, it seems that any software adaptation is limited to the first 100 miles after this "reset". No further adaptation is taking place after that.

 

Regarding the "Fluid Change", did you change fluid & Filter or just fluid? I had to do the fluid/filter first and then do the fluid again after 2-3K miles to get smoother shifts. I used the 135-140 degrees F mark as my temp. level for full. Doing great now. FWIW :-)

 

Keep in mind that a pan drop combined with an ATF refill typically refreshes between 5 and 6 litres of the 10-litre capacity of the ZF 6HP26 transmission. A simple drain-and-fill without dropping the pan typically refreshes only about 4 litres. So to completely eliminate your "ZF squawk", you may need to do another drain-and-fill. The more old ATF you drain and replace, the greater your chances of silencing that squawk....

I continue to believe that Mercon SP ATF is just fine for these 6HP26 units that are now out of warranty. It meets the required Shell M1375.4 specs. Mercon SP ATF continues to work quite well in both of our Jaguars....

 

I did a flush without pulling the pan under the premise that many that didn't replace all of the fluid still had some shift issues. Mine's been great ever since, but I will still do the pan at some point.

 

I replaced the pan/filter and added around 6 quartz of Mercon SP and closed off the fill plug at 40 degrees C. I have driven a couple of hundred miles since then but did not remove battery power nor do any other type of reset.