'99 Black Box Transmission

[JamesVee]

Since nobody in my surrounding area can properly diagnose my Disco I called the Land Rover dealership in Madison. Told them my symptoms and asked if they could diagnose it. They reassured me that they could diagnose it, but the bad news was that if I had any sort of a transmission problem they would have to completely replace my entire transmission. Reason being, the transmission on my '99 Disco is a Black Box transmission and they don't go inside them do the repairs. Ouch!

[texasrover]

That sounds like you may want to ramp up a search for a reman tranny on the web... if it needs to be replaced. I would also look into finding an indi-rover mech to fit it for you... less you can change it out yourself.

[Disco Mike]

James,
So what is your tranny doing? How many miles on the truck? How often do you service the tranny?
Any trannsmission shop can plug in and diagnois your tranny problems, you may want to start there.
Mike J.

[JamesVee]

All of my symptoms suggest that of a transmission solenoid. I've had the truck into three transmission shops and nobody has the machine needed in order to diagnose my problem. I also called in with a place called "Foreign Affairs" which, as the name suggests, caters to only foreign vehicles. They wouldn't have any of it either. So hi-ho it's off to Madison I go.

[texasrover]

Originally Posted by JamesVee

All of my symptoms suggest that of a transmission solenoid. I've had the truck into three transmission shops and nobody has the machine needed in order to diagnose my problem. I also called in with a place called "Foreign Affairs" which, as the name suggests, caters to only foreign vehicles. They wouldn't have any of it either. So hi-ho it's off to Madison I go.

Exactly what are your symptoms????? I have re-read the post looking for something of a symptom... I think you are leaving something out... the important part... what is it doing?

WIth out this information all we can do for you is tell you, "Good luck with the new tranny" or "Have a safe trip to Madison".

[JamesVee]

Shifting problems. My symptoms are as follows:

*vehicle "doesn't know" whether it wants to be in OD or 3rd gear when traveling 45-50mpg. Constant shifting back and forth.

*When coming to a complets stop and then when proceeding to go again the vehicle does not downshift properly, likes to stay in 3rd gear.

*When shifting from neutral to reverse the vehicle does not always go into reverse.

Those are the majority of my symptoms. The vehicle shifts fine when manually shifting and goes into reverse with no hitch when I'm in Low Range. I've checked the MAF sensor and it appears to be functioning just fine. I have a '99 DI with just over 80,000 miles on it.

[Rovin4life]

first I would check for codes.

I bet their is a code 0734 and 0733

but if there is something else then testbook will tell you where to go.

How do you know the MAF is working fine. Did you check codes and check MaF at different temps and RPms.

[JamesVee]

Codes have been checked:

P-0158 Oxygen Sensor High Voltage *codes* B D
P-1138 Oxygen Sensor Rich *codes* A D
P-1193 Oxygen Sensor Heater Circuit Open Downstream
P-1317 ABS Rough Road Line Low Fault

[Rovin4life]

Well James I can see you have a problem with your ABS system you dont want to do something about or just recently had fixed.

Thats the 1317.

the other ones sound like 02 sensors.

Now you could have a D2. is the four letter in your vin a T or J.

T is disco two. J is a disco one.

[texasrover]

The problem between 45-50 is not that uncommon. It really does not know which gear it wants to be in depending on the grade, resistance or pull you apply. I really dislike running right at 50 because of the constant shift to and from OD. I believe there was several others with the same issue a while back.

The issue of not shifting down when stopped is something! As well as not wanting to shift into reverse. It is not uncommon for these things to "clunk" into reverse because of slop in the drivetrain.

Do you notice any slip or over revs when you try to engage the "passing gear". Do you have over revs or slip between any gears?

Have you at least gone through the simple tasks first... ie, servicing the tranny, replacing the filter (making sure the filter is still in place) and flushing the tranny cooling lines.

I dont mean to insult your intelligence but... Have you checked the fluid level with the tranny cold/ engine running? Taken note of the color and make sure their is not water in the tranny fluid?

I am really hoping it is one of these things because the finger is pointing in the direction of an internal problem if all else is clear.

Not sure how much help we are but we do like to try.

If you happen to actually need to replace that tranny... make sure they (who ever does the work) flushes the cooling lines before install the new tranny.

"When a transmission is replaced, it is possible that contaminants present in transmission lines and cooler as the result of mechanical failure, could damage the replacement transmission".

[JamesVee]

You're not insulting me one bit. I am not mechanically inclined, and do not want anyone here to think I am. I am here to learn.

*P-1317 came about after I dc'ed my ABS. I pulled the 5amp fuse, and tested my disco driving in icy conditions without the ABS.

*My disco is a '99 Disco Series I SD. My understanding is that it comes equipped with a 3.9 liter.

*I've done all of the things that I believe I can do about diagnosing the problems: I've had the transmission serviced/flushed. Checked transmission fluids, and they appear to be of the right color and correct levels. I've also tested the MAF sensor, and cleaned it off as well.

*I can manually shift from 2nd, to 3rd, to 4th and everything runs smoothly. There is no slippage between shifting ( I believe this is a good thing). When I shift into low range, getting into reverse is always immediate. No problems in low range.

*I appreciate the responses thus far. Thank you already.

[Badger1]

In a 99 D1 you have a 4.0L V8, not the 3.9. The 3.9 were in the 94-95 series 1 Discos.

[Bene]

if you do need a new tranny, www.phoenixhardparts.com by far has the best deals on the Disco's ZF trannies, that i could find.

but heres hoping it doesn't come to that

[Rovin4life]

james, take care of the check engine light first it might help some of your problem.

when the vehicle doesnt want to shift does the rpm guage rev up.

a slipping tranny is characterized by a raising in RPMs as it compensates for the extreme pressures put on the engine coaping with the lower gear.

[Rovin4life]

So did you get the vehicle diagnosed or just stuck on throwing a parts at it till you have fixed it by blind luck.

I see you wanted a tranny then you wanted a solenoid.

fixing the problem requires diagnosis.