Hey guys,
Im new to this forum. So correct me if im not in the right forum here fo rmy problem..
My 2003 HSE TD6 has 183K km on the clock.. Did a gearbox oil change and filter around 10K ago.. Straight after the oil change the difference was amazing!! Very smooth gear change and much more quit...
But now the gearbox starts to play up and is very "clunky" in up and in down shifting.. Also is stutters sometimes..
with a cold engine it sometime takes a second longer to engage in D.. She didnt do that before the oilchange..
But most of the times the gear changes are just rough and clunky... Is this the beginnnig of the end of my TC or gearbox??
There is enough oil in the box, and the computer in the garage didnt give any faults on the gearbox....

Any thoughts and suggestions would be highy appriciated!!

Thx

Gordon

Unfortunately it quite often happens after an oil change - the detergents in the new oil dislodge all the detritus that has accumulated inside the box and it finds its way into the valve block - I've seen many a thread describing the same symptoms you have.

I don't have a solution for you short of a rebuild but someone with more experience will be along soon to give advice I would imagine.

Maybe be worth another oil change or a good flushing before rebuild/recon/replace... .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Sorry, must agree with Katash: I had a box flush and filter on a previous RR by auto box specialist, came back with a noisier valve block and gave problems. To be fair, it was 106k old - and the auto box guy had initially advised I save the money to put towards a full recon when it was needed. But I knew best....

I had mine done recently and noticed that first thing in the morning upon selecting 'drive' I can count to 4 before it drives away. This never used to happen until I had the gearbox oil / filter change..... is this a tell tale sign of the gearbox starting to give in ?


I had it done @ 95000 miles and Ive driven 3000 miles since

@ katash and Padeldamage; only thing to do is a refurb..?? A 2 nd or even 3th iol change wont help get rid of the slush and this problem then? I dont mind spending another €600 on 2 oil changes instead of a € 3000 rebuild !

So Land Rover was right all along on the gearboxes..: "Sealed for life" Because when you service them, then they start to play up!!
So leave them alone!!

@ Mustard ; yep! thats the problem with mine to! and it engages with a big big push then..

I hope RRphil has a solution as he seems to know his RR's inside out.. c Can you PM someone on this forum..?
thx

G

You can drive to Germany to the town BIELEFELD, there is a specialist, who repairs in one day incl. cleaning the pipes and changing the oilcooler (the importantst!), you will pay cash incl. new oil and service-work and NEW torque converter around 2.500,-Euro (2000 GBP), and you drive back to GB in the evening very happy....

Forget the oilchangings in the edge of 10 years old gearbox, if you would have changed each two years from begin on, then it would have no problems..., best rgs, Uli L405 SDV8 2017 + Lancia Flavia Coupe 1964 + RRS L494 3.0 SDV6 + C220CDI Convertible 2021

The sealed for life quote is actually not correct. There is a oil change recommendation (pretty hard to find) of 100,000 miles or 10 years if I remember correctly or (as my dealer put it) "when the gearbox had a hard life" i.e. lots of heavy towing, high speed driving.

Now I have my own fair share of gearbox related problems, not linked to the oil change I did a few years ago (granted I have the "better" 6 speed ZF box) and my oil change resolved some of the other issues I used to have. I contacted the dealer in Holland at that time and that's when the above came up on oil change intervals (my FFRR is a May 2005 build and only has 87k kilometers on it and only 78k at the time of oil change).

The amount of kilometers you did is very respectable in my opinion for the GM 5 speed with its "soft" valve block. If you trawl the forum you see many remarks about it being made of a too soft alloy and wearing relatively quickly. So a rebuild at 180k + kilometers is quite good IMHO.

Maybe the clean thin oil of the oil change highlighted the problem that already started forming, maybe it hastened the problem, maybe it has nothing to do with it.

RRPhil has been a great help for me sofar and when I mean great I truly mean GREAT. He doesn't respond to PMs as he reckons the discussions on the forum help other members as well, hence my regular updates on the progress with my troubles. Also he is quite busy, so it can take a bit of time for him to respond. He is by far the most knowledgeable person on these boxes I have met, due to his work, experience and background. So I'd suggest, just wait for him to pick up on this issue and I'm sure he will give you his suggestions.

In the mean time, my suggestion is, go for the recon as it is clearly time for the box to get another lease on life. If you use the Sonax valve block it is probably good for a few 100k kilometers again.

I have had several GM boxes in US cars I owned and all of them lasted for several 100k kms before they needed work but they had the "better" valve blocks and regular oil changes (plus filter). The GM 5 speed is of the same heritage just with an alloy that is a bit too soft, reputedly to save cost in the manufacturing process.

Good luck and please keep us posted. MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

As Ebajema has already stated, 114,000 miles for a 5L40-E in a Range Rover is pretty good going actually (assuming that your transmission hadn’t already been reconditioned before you bought it). The usual rules apply, I’m afraid – you need to drain the fluid and check for ‘glitter’ in it. You’re looking for any indication that your torque converter lock-up clutch has worn through its friction plate lining and filled your sump with metallic debris which is now finding its way into your valve block assembly.

In case it’s helpful, I made a few observations about the transmission here : http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-...rdown.html

Phil

@ RRphil ; thx for your help. SO ive checked out that company in Bielefeld Germany. They supply a refurbed gearbox incl a new TC for € 2400... Do you think this is the way forward?

I suggest that is the way forward. I would suggest to find out if they use the Sonax block but considering that the current one lasted so long with the original you theoretically have another 180k to look forward to  MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

So on the basis that most people are in a forum because they've had a problem at some point, I wonder if there are any TD6 owners who don't have a PC let alone even know what a forum is with 10 year old /120k+ miles TD6 / GM 'boxes who are blissfully unaware of any problem?!

I'm just hoping as mine is 10 years, 125k miles and all original....... 2006 4.2 SC
2019 Renault Zoe Dynamique Nav

Perhaps after 150000 miles £2k is not too awful if it lasts another 150k.....

Just not on your watch I guess.

PS: Yes there many (the majority) that carry on regardless to a ripe old age. Especially the motorway cars and the non towers.

Gaz,

Totally agree, I think the cars that have not towed and spent their life on the motorway should last a bit longer.

I also heard that smaller alloys (18s and 19s) help. I guess there is less 'twist' required to get them off the line. I remain open minded on that one!! 2006 4.2 SC
2019 Renault Zoe Dynamique Nav

Well, had the gearbox done 2 weeks ago... Woow what a difference!! Think its was a great deal! € 2000,= for a complete overhaul, including new TC, new valvebox with Sonnax valves, new everything.. Did the drive back from Holland to Monaco... 31 mpg !! If anyone is in need for a new gearbox look for Boon Transmissions, +31487540570. Great service!!