Who has suggestions for local (West Sussex) ZF gearbox refurbishers or rebuilders?
I fear my box - 120,000 miles - is nearing its end.
Two problems, up changes, though smooth, are often made at 3,000 rpm rather than 2,000 ish rpm. Reducing the throttle during acceleration can help to achieve the change before 3,000rpm.
Changes using the manual Sport mode is quick and smooth and no hanging on of revs, so I think it is the mechatronic valves needing attention.

The other little niggle is every now and again, when towing a 3 tonne trailer there is a vibration that goes through the car like driving over a road of constant rumble strips! This happens at 40mph almost exactly every time and goes at a tad under 50mph.

I remember, when I had my first Disco 3 that this happened when leaving roundabouts with a slight incline. A gearbox mega flush cured this.
My TDV8 box has been flushed, so this is probably the torque converter showing its age. Nothing is loose underneath! Oh and it had a new rear propshaft because the centre bearing was shot!

Any ideas please.

Gearbox refurbishers near to me - West Sussex - would be welcome.

By the way my IIDTool shows no DTCs relating to transmission, just the standard remote key no set up DTC, otherwise nothing!

Ian

I think there's a gearbox specialist in Dartford people on the site regularly use.

The 3.6 is known for the torque converter issue however, it's quite an expensive part so, I would try an ATF and filter change plus a tube of Dr Tranny (supposed to help stop torque converter shudder) and see if It gives you an improvement.

The gearbox will upchange later if greater load is detected (you've referenced towing), if there is constant power demand (throttle command) and when it is cold, to get it to operating temperature faster. 2015 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 SDV8

Last edited by garyRR on 28th Aug 2022 7:41am. Edited 2 times in total

Dartford Transmissions and Autocare.
Chat to Martin Hind.
 Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
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Thanks to you both.

I'll give Martin a call on Tuesday.

I had the box megaflushed as a precaution soon after I purchased it earlier this year. The mileage was 105,600 when I bought it, so it was due in my opinion. Now at 111,500, with quite a lot of that 6,000 miles towing heavy stuff up from my place in France, Brexit has forced me to sell!!

The car had no tow bar when I got it, so hadn't towed, and I have no idea whether the box had been flushed before I got it.

It is the ideal car to use for this, comfortable and tows very well apart from these two issues! Fuel consumption isn't bad either for a 2010 facelift 3.6 TDV8.
Better than my old Discovery 3, also an excellent tow car.

Incidentally the high rev chance up happens when I am not towing, say entering a roundabout and halfway round it still hasn't changed up! Dipping the throttle momentarily and it changes up!

As I said using Sport mode it changes as soon as you flip the gearshift up. So in a roundabout if I am in Sport I can up shift at 2,000 rpm and it will happily change up instantly, no jerks or anything, smooth as you like!
So not too much wrong with it?

Suggest you chat to Martin and tell him what it’s doing and he’ll know exactly what’s wrong. He’s the gearbox guru  Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
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Last edited by DrRob on 28th Aug 2022 11:06am. Edited 1 time in total

It sounds like the gearbox is behaving more or less normally to me. The ECU is quite advanced on the ZF boxes. It will hold gears when it needs to, including when turning etc.

Given Dr Tranny is about £10, i'd give it a go.

But speak to the gearbox specialists. 110k miles isn't end of life to me. 2015 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 SDV8

When I got my 3.6 TDV8 I had random harsh downshifts 2 to 1 and rev flare 4th to 5th. I did a Fluid and filter change but also removed the mechatronic body and replaced the bridge and tube seals. Its been butter smooth since. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g-5uY_P7uA
 2007 TDV8 VSE
2003 TD6 gone.
2002 P38a gone
1999 P38a gone
1997 p38a gone
1993 VSE gone
1992 VSE gone
1966 Series 2a with V8 conversion gone