Hello,

This is my first post on this particular Jaguar forum, and I know that I'm reintroducing a topic that has been brought up before "all over the place." What I'm hoping might occur is that some information on this issue might get integrated into a single thread from those who've "been there, done that" over the last several years. Most of the material I've found is more of the question than answer type, and there are many dangling conversations.

I have a 1999 XJ8L that threw its first GEARBOX FAULT amber alert on June 15th. I immediately scheduled an appointment with our local Jaguar expert (and, in this case, he actually is). He was utterly convinced that he would find a specific OBD code (or codes) related to the power train and gave the "A-drum" diagnosis before he even connected the diagnostic computer. The computer he has is definitely not your average over-the-counter OBD/CAN code reader. I own an Innova 3130 and was unable to pull anything useful with it. Long story short, he didn't find what he thought he was certain to find and given the age, mileage (151K), and overall condition of my car (mechanically very good, cosmetically, not so much) I wasn't willing to just throw money at it in an effort to fix what had not been definitively diagnosed.

Since that time, the car has given this fault again, not particularly frequently, but frequently enough. It is virtually always at start up, before the transmission is ever shifted. The only other time I've had it come up is once when I had not come to a perfect stop after reversing out of a parking place and shifted into drive. On that last occasion I experienced what many have described as the non-engagement of the transmission followed by the loud "clunk" plus alert and instant limp-home mode.

In every case, if I turn the car off and start it again the fault clears itself and everything works perfectly normally.

It's clear that many have experienced this fault. I don't know if there is anything in common between the XJ/XK and X-Type as far as this fault goes.

If people are willing to share their complete stories, from first encounter with this fault through either fix or transmission failure, this would be most helpful to those of us going through this now. It would tie up a lot of loose ends and give a better sense of what can or cannot be done to resolve this.

Thanks,
Brian

 

Welcome to the forum, Brian. When you have time, please visit the new member area and introduce yourself. Link below:
New Member Area - Intro a MUST - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum

You are right about this issue being discussed endlessly. If you use the search function you will find a lot of information. The causes are many, everything from a weak battery, faulty rotary switch, dirty connectors and low fluid to the dreaded A drum failure. I'm sure you find assistance here.

 

RJ,

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I absolutely agree that there is a lot of information, and most of it useful, scattered among the various forums here. I've been reading more since posting.

I still hope that this thread might end up becoming a "central exchange" for information people have learned over the years this has been happening. There are usually "telltale signs" for the specific failure modes that aren't really known (or at least recognized) during the initial rounds of failures. If people have specific "telltale signs" they've experienced for the various failure modes those would be most helpful to have aggregated.

Thanks Again,
Brian

 

I have just experienced the same code on my 2.2 automatic X Type. I phoned the garage who asked me to switch the the ignition off and on five times (apparently this sometimes cures it-or at least gets rid of the message) but this did not work. I took it into the garage (one in Edinburgh who specialise in Bentleys and Rolls Royces,and much cheaper than the main dealer) and he diagnosed , with his machine, 'Turbo Cooler Fault' which he had not come across before. He told me that 'Gearbox Fault' also acts as a default for different problems to put the car in 'limp mode', it did that all right and I had a slow drive (168 miles) back to Edinburgh.

 

Robert,

This is a "new one" in the list of causes for the GEARBOX FAULT message, at least as far as my reading has indicated.

I absolutely hate it when either generic messages that could indicate any of 20 different (and unrelated different) things could be the root cause or, worse, incorrect messages that suggest one issue when it's not really that issue. Why, oh why, is the firmware not set up to give messages specific to the root cause?!! Two less related things than a gearbox problem and turbo cooler fault are impossible for me to think of!!

 

What DTC is logged in the TCM and/or ECM??????

P.S.
The X-Type gearbox HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE X308!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The diesel engine has a turbo but the V8 does NOT!!!
The X308 has a ZF 5HP24 and the X400 has a JATCO JF506E (Jaguar, Rover, Land Rover, Ford, Mazda, VW & Seat)

bob gauff

 

thank you Brian . I have exactly the same issue. Gearbox fault light after not coming to a complete stop and putting the car into reverse. A clunck sound followed by light and limp mode. Mines a xj8 3.2 1997 130,000 kms .
The engine sounds like it's brand new. The car drives beautifully, smoothly until the dreaded clunck. I'm attempting to avoid the usual pouring good money after bad but I do love the car. Anybody else had a similar situation and a good outcome. Cheers Richard

 

You are responding to a thread that's over ten years old. It would be better to start a new thread. Also, when you have time please visit the new member area and introduce yourself and your car.

New Member Area - Intro a MUST