Hi

I'm starting to have some problems which I think is gearbox related. (07 tdv8)

When I'm running on part throtle, at around 2000 rpm and press it to overtake or increase some speed, most of the times I can feel some vibrations, and sometimes I get a huge ''thump'' and the 'box jumps to 6th gear and seems dead. Now matter how I press the throtle, it won't kick down...I have to revert to sport and then back to make it go alive.

Now, should I be very, a liitle, or not at all worried? What can be happening? Any ideas?

I'd be very worried(my gearbox has just been replaced at a cost of four and a half thousand euro but it is a GM box and yours is a ZF?)
Before packing up, I also experienced mis-changing.The most reliable symptoms were a SLIGHTLY different sound from the transmission, on changing between auto and manual.
The MOST important symptom is the FFRR will not easily pull away from standstill early morning start, and WILL NOT MOVE UP A GENTLE SLOPE now and then,LATER symptoms were"transmission fail-safe mode " on dash.
I suggest you take your TDV8, to the Land Rover dealer in Cascais,they are reliable, and ask for diagnostic check. All my Land Rovers are maintained by BMC Car in Teivas, Viseu, tel 232468253( Engineiro Matos, speaks good English if spoken slowly, and never charges for computer diagnostics , as do the British stealers in many cases)
Hope this helps. 2002 Vogue TD6
2001 Defender 90 TD5
Range Rover Classic 1994
Mercedes Benz 220 S Sedan 1959.

Mandei PM

Please keep us posted guys

Picked up the car from the shop.

They topped up the gearbox fluid, which was missing just a ''tad'' of oil, and the car now feels perfect.
Been driving it now for two days and none of the situations that caused the judder have occurred since.

So it seems, problem solved for now...

Glad to hear you got it sorted.

I have just had the gearbox software update done on my same age vehicle. Made a big difference to the smoothness of the changes (although my jerkiness/problem didn't seem as extreme as yours).

Still not what I would call 100% perfect but much better and as good as I can expect (I would have thought).

Question - does yours have a sort or groaning/buzzing/light vibration when under load at between 1,900 and 2,500 revs? There is a noticeable difference in sound and vibration (through the pedals and dash) when the engine is 'pulling' in this rev band (annoyingly it roughly represents the 70-80mph 'cruising speed' bracket in 6th!) than when outside of it. Normally only becomes apparent when everything is up to full temp.

Just wondering of this is normal and other TDV8's of this vintage are the same or whether it is something I should be investigating a bit more closely?

Would be good to hear.

Cheers.

P.S. I might put this as a separate post/question to the forum... -----------------------------------------------
2016MY FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Loire Blue
2007MY FFRR 3.6 TDV8 Vogue SE Tonga Green

The issue of the ZF gearboxes, mostly the 6HP26 model, is very well documented both here and on Disco3. The bit about it being sealed for life is quite a bit wide of the truth. It actually means sealed for the life of the warranty. The later 6HP28 has less issues but is far from perfect.

Change the fluid, reset the adaptives and get the latest software. These steps, simple sounding enough, will cure the problems of judder, vibration, slipping and rough gearchanges.

So, changing the fluid. 2 methods. Double flush which gets about 60% or a "Megaflush" type thing which gets about 95%. Not cheap using either route since the fluid costs about the same as molten gold.

There used to be a site sponsor - 4-tech in Cambridge. Do a search. He offers the megaflush. Just about any garage can do the double flush which is exactly as it sounds. Drain off as much as possible, refill, drive and repeat.

Reset the adaptives and flash to the latest gearbox SW version. Needs to be dealer or faultmate. All things being equal the gearbox will now be fine.

2 things.

One is the issue I mentioned on the top of the post. Typically happens at c80kph when you want to surf the torque. Part throttle just to get a smooth acceleration. On that situation, when you feel the turbos and the transmission loading the on the car, instead of holding to gear, it would judder and do a clonk and jump to 6th. With the top up of the fluid it has been pretty much cured. At least for the last 5 drives i've been able to surf the torque without any judder.

2nd issue is the ''sound from hell'' On another post I have it.
There is a sound which is heard throughout the footwell of the passenger seat (on a LHD), usually around the same revs. Something like a whoooooaaaaaa, at the same revs.

I think both of them are related, the ''sound from hell'' should be the prelude of the judder, and by your symptoms (pulling on the engine), it seems you've been caught.

Now, sorting it out.
On my case, for now, the topping of the oil sorted the problem, but the dealer told me that the 2nd step is doing the replacement of the oil. As mzplcg told, it costs dearly. Something like 500€ to get it done.

But I won't be living to the full, because a few other worries came after a bit of pep talk with the dealer.
He told me that if it happens again, we could consider changing the oil, but that it was a tough decision because we could be paying 500€ which would then be lost if another gearbox was needed...

So, by his experience, the oil change is good or not???? That got me wondering, and sadly I've got to reach the following conclusion:

The gearbox will eventually pack up before the ''full expected life''. That's a done deal. When? not sure....
The oil toppings and megaflush is just quimo to the gearbox. Postponing it's death.

Go to your dealer and start by checking/topping the level, quick.....

Olders wrote:

Question - does yours have a sort or groaning/buzzing/light vibration when under load at between 1,900 and 2,500 revs? There is a noticeable difference in sound and vibration (through the pedals and dash) when the engine is 'pulling' in this rev band (annoyingly it roughly represents the 70-80mph 'cruising speed' bracket in 6th!) than when outside of it. Normally only becomes apparent when everything is up to full temp.

Just wondering of this is normal and other TDV8's of this vintage are the same or whether it is something I should be investigating a bit more closely?

Would be good to hear.

Cheers.

P.S. I might put this as a separate post/question to the forum...

Blimey, that's a good thread resurrection... 4 years  Pete
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2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
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