Looks like it's my turn for tran problems. I did some searching and it seems like a failing/failed A-Drum is common, but I saw that there are other things that can cause it as well.

What I don't know is what to look at outside the transmission to rule out before I tear into it. I saw something about connections, but I don't know where to look ettc.

Right now the only noticeable symptom that something is wrong is that when shifting from 1st into 2nd there is a slight delay and a pop as it slips into gear. I think it might be revving a little high too, but I'm not sure.

I was at 3.5k RPMs at 60mph on the way home.

As always your help is very much appreciated.

 

Rick:
There have been some posts on your tranny lately, including the repair manual.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...y-issue-66715/

The A drum issue is for the ZF tranny found in NA cars. Yours has the MB transmission.

Good luck with it ans keep us posted.

 

The problem got much worse. I checked all the electrical connections and the fluid. It was about a quart low so that's what I added. I took it for a quick spin around the block to see if that would do the trick and around 30mph it shifted a little rough, but the RPMs were a tad high, by 50mph RPMs were at 4500 and white smoke was coming out. I immediately pulled into a parking lot and turned the car off.

I haven't had time yet to pull the pan and check it, but it's sounding like I'm looking at a tranny rebuild. I've done trans work before on an old chevy, but never on anything like this.

What kind of project am I looking at cost wise and are there tranny rebuild kits for this make/model? Also, is there anything else I should check at this point?

 

These gearboxes are generally bombproof. They're fitted to many different makes and models, from 911 Porsche to Merc Sprinter Vans.

The type of fluid, and the level is critical. What type of fluid did you use, and how did you check the level. It's an involving process to level check correctly.

Flat level car - initial level check at 25 deg, in gear, and level check at 80 deg, in gear. People have used I.R. temp guns, but the correct way is with IDS software (factory/dealer diagnostic) to measure the temps.

I'd recommend having an expert do a fluid/filter service before deciding to remove/dismantle the gearbox.

Smoke? was this out of the exhaust? or from under the car?

Don't be too quick to assume it's in need of a rebuild - a couple of hundred bucks against 2-4k is a fair start. If it hasn't gone into trans fault - failsafe mode, get it serviced.

 

Make sure its not the battery... I had intermittent gearbox faults due to bad cell in battery (tested fine with volt meter but any kind of load would dip the voltage enough to go into fault + limp mode). Pop the cover on the battery and make sure water levels are ok.