Thread: HELP PLEASE! DRY GEARBOX!

Hi guys need some help. Started a service on my 2000 defender TD5 this morning, had the car a short time and wanted to go through everything to make sure it was "right". it had a service from the "dealer" before i picked it up, i noticed the fuel pressure regulator was leaking on test drive and had them fix that as well before i drove it home some 1500kms.

Anyways alls going well this morning changed the coolant,drained the sump, replaced the mass oil filter, then the centrifuge filter, checked the turbo and wastegate as ive had surging throttle issues, and found a delaminated elbow hose on the turbo - no worries glad i found it. so i gets to the gearbox i ondo the drainplug and NOTHING! bone dry! after losing my mind fo a minute and cursing the son of a bitch that did the service i get some fingers up in there and the oil is thick like grease. I have had no shifting issues high or low range, no grinding gears, had it on the beach for about 3 hours the other day, tempo always sits like a rock never a drama.. thought it was too good to be true. anyways i pull the fill plug and get out my oil syringe, as soon as i start to fill it i notice its pouring out the bottom from a slot about 10mm long between the two plugs right at the base next to the drain plug. Can someone tell me am i missing something here? this is my first defender so its all new to me, but it doesnt look like a hole or crack it looks like this little slot is in the casting? i could be wrong and maybe i just have a massive hole in the bottom of the housing? any help would be appreciated, its currently sitting on the street with the bonnet tied up offending the neighbours.

Originally Posted by Graeme

No need to remove any bell-housing plugs because the drain is always open.

That must have been a new feature introduced on TD5s?
At the very least you should poke something up the drain to make sure it isn't blocked.