auto box help

[denviks]

hi all....i have the discovery 3.9 v8 twined with the 4 speed auto box. tonight on my way home i saw a red light flicker on the dash and then come on full time. its the red cog with the the thermometer inside it. i have found out this is to do with the gearbox....( i think  :lol: ).... i have checked the oil level and this seems to be fine....i did top it up a little....


but the light remains on... :?

can anyone in the know of the mystery of the auto box point me in the direction of things to check tomorrow  

[Kaneda]

That could be a few things :

1. Dodgy wiring to the temp sensor on the gearbox.

2. Possible clogged atf cooler - or no fins!

3. Something more sinister that is overheating the box.

Only check the ATF fluid when cold, park level. Cycle from P to 1, then back - repeat twice. Check level.

[denviks]

..i will double check in the morning.... thanks mate.... i am worried as its a new truck to me really..... but the light flickered and then came on... it now stays on even if i let it sit for an hour  :? ...as soon as i put my keys in the ignition its on....

[Kaneda]

Sounds like wiring. Just get under there and make sure everything is snug.

[denviks]

cheers mate ...will report back what i find  :D  :D

[denviks]

the wiring seems fine ...its nice and clean under there.... pulled the connector off and its spotless in there  :roll:

[freelanderpx54]

Don't you need to have the engine running to check the auto box level?

[denviks]

i did that earlier.... the box now feels cold....but the light is still on... so am i right in saying its got to be electrical and cant be the box overheating?

[Kaneda]

AFAIK the temp sensor is in the pipework - near the actual cooler. I could be wrong.

[denviks]

so not on the gearbox side then :? ... ok m8... i will have a good look in the morning when its not so damed cold out side ,.....



thanks again bud    :D  :D  :D  :D

[denviks]

just been out to check a few bits on the auto fluid system..........so first things first... i checked the gearbox oil level....i dipped it 3 times and got 3 slightly different readings but all within the levels....all nice clean sweet smelling oil..

so i had a look at the connector and found that it was pretty clean ..... ( can i run an electrical check on this to make sure its right?)

so i turned the vehicle ignition on with the connector on the sensor......the warning light is on.......if i pull the connector off the light goes out ...


so would i be correct is saying its the sensor at fault?...after all the engine and gearbox are cold and have not been moved for over 12 hours now....

is there a test i can run on the sensor?

as i say above the truck drives well .....was just a bit worried to see an extra red light on the dash.....if i leave it disconnected now do you think i will be safe enough driving it around until i get a new sensor??


any advice very welcome

[Kaneda]

In the 10 years I've had my V8 auto I have never seen the red light, and that includes one lunched autobox.....

[denviks]

cheers mate..... with any luck it will be fine then until i get another sensor ordered  :D  :D ...thanks again for all your advice.... feeling alot more relaxed    :D  :D  :D

[denviks]

sensor now ordered.....for future reference


main dealer price is £15.42+ vat

all ordered and will be fitted next week  

[muddyjames]

Yup I had exactly the same thing happen to me except I was towing my caravan too  :roll:

It came on so slowed down on motorway then came off on my exit and sat in a lay by for an hour then limped to the camp site 10miles away. Next morning the light was on. Called RAC out to the field I was in and he said it was the wiring stat switch thingy and said it was a 3hour job to replace. I bought one and took 5 minutes to do!!    This genuinly is a 5 minute job!!! :lol:

the sensor incase you found something else is under the engine on the passenger side. If you follow the autobox pipes back from the rad you will see something on 1 of the pipes about 1-2ft from the rad. It should have a rubber cap ontop and 2 wires with push fit conections. My problem was finding a spanner big enough. I used a swan necks in the end.

Top tip though. Once you start undoing the old one the fluid will pee out all over you, so keep your head well clear and have the new one ready so second the old is out the new can be put in. It takes ages to wash the oil out your hair    Push connections back on and jobs a gooden :D

[Range Rover Blues]

Just to reasurere you, I've never had the light come on in any of my RRC, my caravan weighs 2 tonnes and the LSE has the TVR lump in it, the engine overheats but the auto box doesn't.

The only way I can get it to come on is by doing the stall speed test, for about 5 minutes 8-[ , ie brakes full on, handbrake on, stick it in D and floor the throttle.

I'd be confident it's the sensor from what you have said, unless one of the pipes is blocked somehow.

Apparently the oil cooler is on the return (low pressure) side of the gearbox plumbing.  I now have an extra cooler in mine, making 3 in total.