Auto gearbox, 2001 XJ 3.2
Discussion
Hi, I've recently notice that the gearbox on my 2001 XJ 3.2 V8 is a bit sluggish. The worrying thing is that one day while accelerating quite harshly the gearbox fault warning light came on on the dashboard! It never stayed on for long, but never the less, didn't make me feel good about things! Someone has told me that the gearbox on these cars are quite sensitive to oil deterioration and by changing the oil and filter could possibly/probably cure things, especially the sluggishness if the oil has not been changed as recommended (the car has covered 86000 miles). And looking at the service history I can't find any mention of it ever having been changed! Does this sound right or has anyone experienced anything similar to my situation?
It sounds all too familiar Jim. I had that on my last XJ, which had done 164000 miles when this happened and eventually, the gearbox packed up all together
I did carry out an oil & filter change, but think I was too late as it never recovered!
Milage doesn't seem to play a part in this as they fail at as little as 60k.
I would certainly recommend that you get the oil & filter changed asap; when you see & smell the old oil that comes out, you'll wonder how it kept going!
These gearboxes certainly are NOT sealed for life as Jag would have you beleive.
It can be done yourself if you're competent, but it's a messy job and the re-fill process is quite tricky. There are many sites, including PH which detail the work, but if you're not happy then a local indy could do it, or at worse case, a main dealer - for a price!
Good luck.
I did carry out an oil & filter change, but think I was too late as it never recovered!
Milage doesn't seem to play a part in this as they fail at as little as 60k.
I would certainly recommend that you get the oil & filter changed asap; when you see & smell the old oil that comes out, you'll wonder how it kept going!
These gearboxes certainly are NOT sealed for life as Jag would have you beleive.
It can be done yourself if you're competent, but it's a messy job and the re-fill process is quite tricky. There are many sites, including PH which detail the work, but if you're not happy then a local indy could do it, or at worse case, a main dealer - for a price!
Good luck.
"sealed for life" is an expression to describe a component that doesnt (in there opinion) need servicing.
It doesnt mean its welded shut and you get get the oil out or in.
Sorry just annoys me people dont get that.
Gearbox is probably in need of a rebuild at a good autobox specialist, familiar with ZF stuff.
It doesnt mean its welded shut and you get get the oil out or in.
Sorry just annoys me people dont get that.
Gearbox is probably in need of a rebuild at a good autobox specialist, familiar with ZF stuff.
Tame Technician said:
"sealed for life" is an expression to describe a component that doesnt (in there opinion) need servicing.
It doesnt mean its welded shut and you get get the oil out or in.
Sorry just annoys me people dont get that.
Gearbox is probably in need of a rebuild at a good autobox specialist, familiar with ZF stuff.
Very trueIt doesnt mean its welded shut and you get get the oil out or in.
Sorry just annoys me people dont get that.
Gearbox is probably in need of a rebuild at a good autobox specialist, familiar with ZF stuff.
For life meens untill it goes BANG
Change the oil every 60,000 miles, 100,000 at the most
Thanks for the info guys, I'll be changing the oil as soon as possible. Any idea what oil I should be using? As Jaguar say it's sealed for life, I'm wondering if they will actually sell it??? Or a filter?? Do I need to go to some aftermarket gearbox specialist for the oil and filter?
I've had cars before that have "sealed for life" gearboxes and diffs, but always change the oil at some point. I've just never had an automatic car before, let alone a Jaguar!
I've had cars before that have "sealed for life" gearboxes and diffs, but always change the oil at some point. I've just never had an automatic car before, let alone a Jaguar!
The earlier (4L) SC V8s use the Merc gearbox.
This is also sealed for life. Apparently there is now a recommendation from MB that the unit should have a fluid change at 100K when fitted in their cars. Our local MB dealer doesn't seem to know anything about this. I tried to get them to do the wife's car recently and they just stuck rigidly to the seal for life mantra.
Fenn Motor's in Reading are now going to be doing her car.
Sealed for life == we won't sell you a warranty long enough for it to go bang, we think.
This is also sealed for life. Apparently there is now a recommendation from MB that the unit should have a fluid change at 100K when fitted in their cars. Our local MB dealer doesn't seem to know anything about this. I tried to get them to do the wife's car recently and they just stuck rigidly to the seal for life mantra.
Fenn Motor's in Reading are now going to be doing her car.
Sealed for life == we won't sell you a warranty long enough for it to go bang, we think.
Oil changes are good advice, but these early 5 speed boxes have a design fault with the forward clutch pack, I had my 97XK8 ZF box rebuilt a couple of months ago, the chap told me what it would be as soon as I gave the symptoms. I poped around once he had started the strip down to get a photo. There is a retaining ring on the 1/2nd gear clutch pack, a bit like a circlip groove, this fatigues as the box is used and eventually breaks away from the pack outer case and the clutches drop out :-) Mine just had a third of the groove missing and was still drivable but would go into limp home on a swift get away!
PS. When you order a forward clutch casing with the original part number the part that you get from ZF is beefed up around the groove!!
PS. When you order a forward clutch casing with the original part number the part that you get from ZF is beefed up around the groove!!
Alas it is a common problem, common enough for ZF to create a whole new factory in Nottingham to cope with the aftermarket gearbox supply.
Be aware if the drum has been disintegrating for some while the debris will be ground up and find its` way into the valve chest. So don`t be tempted to cut corners and just have the drum replaced. We rebuild them here and I have found the debris jammed in the other clutch packs and damaged the plates aswell as the valve chest. Provided the gear casing has not been damaged or broken( the oil cooler pipes seize in the casing and can strip the threads) and if you intend keping the car, ZF specialists offer the option of a full exchange gearbox.They will give a 50K warranty on their own boxes which are very cost effective. Many of the specialists are a tad cheaper.
Be confident the specialist will use the correct oil, I have seen standard dextron 3 used by others which can work okay, but it shortens the life of the plates.
Always flush the gearbox oil cooler, as the debris will be in there also.
This important aspect is ignored in the feature mentioned.
Be aware if the drum has been disintegrating for some while the debris will be ground up and find its` way into the valve chest. So don`t be tempted to cut corners and just have the drum replaced. We rebuild them here and I have found the debris jammed in the other clutch packs and damaged the plates aswell as the valve chest. Provided the gear casing has not been damaged or broken( the oil cooler pipes seize in the casing and can strip the threads) and if you intend keping the car, ZF specialists offer the option of a full exchange gearbox.They will give a 50K warranty on their own boxes which are very cost effective. Many of the specialists are a tad cheaper.
Be confident the specialist will use the correct oil, I have seen standard dextron 3 used by others which can work okay, but it shortens the life of the plates.
Always flush the gearbox oil cooler, as the debris will be in there also.
This important aspect is ignored in the feature mentioned.
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