'99 DI Shift Kit

[JamesVee]

I"ve narrowed my transmission problems down to a valve body. I plan on ordering a new/rebuilt valve body sometime before the end of the month. I was wondering what you guys thought about ordering a shift kit with it as well. Has anyone done this?

[Rovin4life]

james, I dont want to sound like the party pooper but how do you know its the solenoid body.

Did you have it diagnosed by a professional.

And do you even know how to change one and top off your transmission.

You said you have mechanical ability yet you have come upon the diagnosis of a solenoid.

You stated that three tranny shops couldnt do anything.

Yet, you havent taken it to the dealer.

Remember Service writers cant diagnose. Its the technicians job too.
I know you are worried and scared about going to the dealer but you will shoot yourself in the foot.

Remember and ounce of prevention is better then a ton of cure.

Put simply a proper diagnosis by a trained LR technician will solve the problem in the cheapest way. Not uneducated guesses and hints on the internet.

I may know alot about LRs but without the vehicle in front of me with the diagnosis of testbook and other equipment I cant say what the problem is.

Seriously James, you are screwing yourself. Dont do this without proper diagnosis.

[Muddy Oval]

Was there a thread that listed the symptoms etc?

[Rovin4life]

symptoms mean nothing.

Remember he could read all of the symptoms and swear up dand down its the problem. But they may not actually be the symptoms. he may be telling himself thats the problem to calm his nerves.

As a technician if I went by symptoms and nothing else, would you trust my diagnosis. Would you want to spend the money on an internet thread.

Diagnosis is the only sure fire way to fix the problem.

Throwing parts at it and using internet conjecture is not fixing a problem. Its the parts stores way of fixing it. Every problem will fix itself if you throw enough parts at it.

ALot of you dont agree with me on issues relating to diagnosis but if don't advocate it how else are you going to trust me and Frickjp. Diagnosis is the cheapest fix. Id bet my career in this business on it.

[JamesVee]

I brought it to Land Rover in Madison. He told me that if I were to fix it there, that it would cost me $9,000 for the transmission. Then that same tech also told me that it was more than likely my valve body, and getting a new valve body would more than likely fix my problem. No guarantee, but more than likely. My question here was not one asking as to what my problem is, as I believe it has been properly diagnosed. But a question about throwing a shift kit on.

[Disco Mike]

James,
I have this great swamp land I am trying to sell in Arizona, can I put you down for some.
Quit trying to waist alot of money with, as Bezzel keeps telling you, get it checked.
You don't want to buy a valve body and have it installed, especially with whatever kit you have mentioned, and still have the same problems.
By the way, trannys don't cost $9000, unless you are signing up for the swamp land also.
Go do your homework, and don't get back to us until you have exact tranny faults.
Mike J.

[Muddy Oval]

I figured I missed a discussion about what it was doing, but apparently not. I agree about diagnosing it properly. I can't think of any situation where one could pinpoint the valve body as the problem based on symptoms alone- just hoping he'd share the process of deduction.
If the same tech that wanted $9K for a transmission job told me the sky was blue, I'd go outside and check- cause he's full of it.
OK- back on topic- Shift kit. Who makes one for Land Rovers? Some people adjust the bands and stuff to make 'em shift harder which is harder on the entire driveline and annoying to passengers. I suggest not doing it. If you were trying to lay down some power in a car, then fine. Why take a luxury rig and make it bang shifts?

[JamesVee]

Wow, did you guys miss the part about me bringing my disco to Land Rover in Madison and having a Land Rover tech diagnose it? In order to get a new transmission from Land Rover for a '99 DI it will cost you between $8,000 and $9,000. Of course, you always run the option of going to a transmission shop and having a rebuilt transmission put in for about $2,000. I was told that my problem is my valve body, and instead of getting a new transmission through Land Rover for $8,000, to order a valve body on my own accord. I figured that since I am going to get the new/rebuilt valve body, that I could more than likely find a shift kit to go along with it. My question, once again, was asking whether anyone has done this and what their experiences are.

[afirover]

wtf
why do you feel the need for a shift kit ?
did the tech offer to do the work at home for you ?
and I would call around and find a used trany and put it in the dame truck is not worth droping 8k into it and its only worth what the next guy will pay for it so keep that in mind look on ebay you can get a low miles trany allmost any day for less than 5oo bucks and then shiping and pop it in and your done
just my $.02

[Disco Mike]

Originally Posted by JamesVee

Wow, did you guys miss the part about me bringing my disco to Land Rover in Madison and having a Land Rover tech diagnose it? In order to get a new transmission from Land Rover for a '99 DI it will cost you between $8,000 and $9,000. Of course, you always run the option of going to a transmission shop and having a rebuilt transmission put in for about $2,000. I was told that my problem is my valve body, and instead of getting a new transmission through Land Rover for $8,000, to order a valve body on my own accord. I figured that since I am going to get the new/rebuilt valve body, that I could more than likely find a shift kit to go along with it. My question, once again, was asking whether anyone has done this and what their experiences are.

"It was more then likely" the valve body. That is a quote from your last post and what we had to go by.
By the way, I believe Rover will sell you one of their remans. before they sell you a new one. The sale of new trannys is done usually when the old tranny has experienced such a hard part failure that the core is no good.
Go buy yourself a good reman from a supplier that will give you a good warranty and be done with it.
Mike J.