range rover p38 gearbox/clutch issue please help!

[djgregeroni]

I live in a small place (isle of man) and the local 'experts' are either clueless or extremely expensive, i was just wondering if someone might have had similar experience to me. I was driving along and the car seemed to jump a gear, and then refused to move out of the gear it jumped into (the car is an auto). then it seemed like the 'clutch' was slipping (im aware there is no clutch to speak of) as the revs where goin right up but the car was moving very slowly. i pulled in and turned thre vehicle off and left it to cool down as it also smelt like burning transmission fluid. on the dash there was a gear box fault light and two cogs with an x over them lit up, it kept telling me to put it into neutral also. when i came back to the vehicle upon being put into drive or through the gears, i can hear/feel the gearbox changing gear however there is no forward movement at all. the vehicle has been brought to my car park now and i am overwhelmed by the complexity of the gearbox/transmission. if anyone has any common fault info, or suggestions to try in diagnosing the exact issue i would really really appreciate it. The car is a 1999 2.5 diesel range rover. thanks in advance

[300bhp/ton]

You could try a fluid and filter change and see if it then works. But sounds like the clutch packs might be shot. Which means time for a rebuild or a replacement sadly.

I'm pretty sure the p38a's use the same ZF unit (it's German) and it's a common box used in other vehicles.

[andyb66]

Just try checking the actual ATF level first. If it is very low then you will have a lack of drive and slow gear shifts because the fluid pressure will also be low. (check simple and easy things first )

[eliot]

The lights and messages sound related to it wanting to go into low range?
But the "slipping clutch" feeling and smell of burnt oil is likely to be a knackered clutch pack. You could try a fluid change, but i suspect it's too late.

Automatics DO have several clutches inside them and when they start to go, they will slip and feel just like a manual car if you were riding the clutch pedal heavily.

The WORST thing you can do is rev it harder trying to make it go - as you are just burning the clutch more and filling the contents of the box, torque convertor and oil cooler with debris which will all need replacing.