Transmission Fault Warning

[DiscoWeb]

Today I was out playing around Tom Groggin on the NSW/Vic border, drove up to Davies High Plain Hut and then on to Mt Pinnibar.

Whilst the drive up to Pinnibar is pretty steep in parts I was suprised to see transmission fault message come up near the the top. I stopped and the message centre said "transmission fault limited gears available" or something like this.

I felt it was probably due to being a bit hot, so I let it sit for a while and then continued the last 3 -4 km up to the summit, by the time I got there I got the fault warning again about 100m from the summit.

I could hear it whinning and clicking when I stopped so let it cool for a good 45 min before attempting the steep decent.

No messages on the way down but I did nurse it out, using HDC instead of first low for speed control on the very steep bits back down and coasting in neutral where ever possible.

Question is, do I need this seen to ASAP or was it simply a case of overheating?

Also is this a common problem experienced by other.

Regards,

George
TDV6 SE 2008

[Tote]

I have had the transmission fault appear a couple of times recently, it's off to the dealers for a service in a week or so, I'll post the results. Symptoms appear to be similar, twice it has been after a fairly steep pull in low range and once with a trailer on the back. On a training day a few weeks ago someone with a late D3 also had the same issue in similar circumstances.

Regards,
Tote

[DiscoWeb]

I spoke to the dealers about this and they suggested it was probably just overheating as I concluded.

My theory is that as it was a long and step uphill grind in low range the transmission fluid was most likely not able to circulate as easily as it probably should have which mean the heat transfer effect of the fluid was negated and this may have attributed to the overheating.

Still a bit suprised as whilst the country is quite steep I was not driving hard and had almost no load on board, would hate to think what would happen fully loaded.

I drove back from Thredbo today and everything ran perfectly so will get it checked at the next service unless I get another fault warning.

Regards,

George

[rbb]

Was it this problem- posted by rmp?
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/93017-whos-seen-before.html
The "F" fault- locks itself into 3rd gear low range when climbing.

Cheers

[DiscoWeb]

Was it this problem- posted by rmp?
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/93017-whos-seen-before.html
The "F" fault- locks itself into 3rd gear low range when climbing.

Cheers

Thanks rbb, I do recall reading that thread some time ago but had forgotten it.

Based on the first few posts of the thread and what I experienced it would appear that D3's transmissions do not like long uphill stretches in low range as it over heats the transmission or something like that and prompts a warning.

Anyway out again this weekend around Abercrombie National Park on Saturday and then Mount Walker in the Lidsdale State forest near Lithgow on Sunday so will see if it happens again.

Regards,

George

[chuck]

I recently came back from a trip around the Thompson Dam with long steep uphill climbs.
I was in low 2nd using comand shift & experienced no transmission warning messages.
I have comand shift to be the best options for both up & down hill work.

I rarely use drive when in low range.

Regards

Chuck

[DiscoWeb]

Chuck,

Both times I had the warning appear I was using command shift and in either 2 or 3 low. I did not have it in any of the TR settings at the time either.

As you note, I rarely just stick it in D for drive except when it is reasonably flat.

Regards,

George

[rbb]

Hi George,
It's bets on that it will happen again.
I don't believe it is heat...just some hypochondriac sensor, probably unrelated to the transmission!
Like rmp, take a photo of the warning and take it back to LR for them to diagnose the problem.

Cheers
It will happen in D or command shift in my experience

[Tote]

Had my service yesterday, there were lots of codes possibly not related to the gearbox fault as it had a hissy fit with a trailer on the back and I'm prepared to blame the trailer wiring. However I did get a possible theory on the transmission faults I have seen on mine and another D3.
The story I got goes like this....
The transmission monitors input and output shaft speeds on the transmission and knows when a clutch is slipping. The theory is that under some conditions there may be a momentary cavitation or starvation of fluid which releases pressure on a clutch causing a slight slip which is detected by the speed difference and then the transmission goes in to limp mode.
Restarting the car fixes it immediately so it's not an overheating issue.

The dealer couldnt offer any more suggestions except to monitor it and return for a closer look if it faults again.

Regards,
Tote

[DiscoWeb]

Tote,

Interesting feedback, just goes to show how complex these cars really are, so many potential little quirks and the answers is turn it off and restart, like and old and not so old IT operating system.

Last weekend I was out in Abercrombie NP near Oberon,NSW and had a bit of fun playing on some steep(ish) country with no problems at all so I will only start to panic if it starts happening more often.

George

[stig0000]

cheak the rear brake light blubs, for blown/ incorect fittment/ wattige,

this is a farly commen fualt and can bing up the same fualt you have,,

im NOT joking:D,, cheak the rear blubs

[Garry]

My D3 V8 just left landrover with a new brake switch, which was the cause of my transmission fault, not to mention the loss of cruise control, HDC, suspension lowering and another light which evades me at the moment

Apparently the computer thought I was accelerating and braking at the same time and was trying to protect the transmission

Also, the guy in town told me to watch the battery as this to can cause problems if the voltage drops.

On the bright side I found a mechanic who knows what he is talking about, I will make sure I ask for him again next time my car is in

G

[Ashes]

I recon this is a pretty common gremlin in the D3 and is caused by a variety of sensors giving bad readings. I've had the lights come on after starting the car in a carpark after it had been sitting for 4 hours. Fixes itself with a turn off of the ignition.

[rmp]

Today I was out playing around Tom Groggin on the NSW/Vic border, drove up to Davies High Plain Hut and then on to Mt Pinnibar.

Whilst the drive up to Pinnibar is pretty steep in parts I was suprised to see transmission fault message come up near the the top. I stopped and the message centre said "transmission fault limited gears available" or something like this.

I felt it was probably due to being a bit hot, so I let it sit for a while and then continued the last 3 -4 km up to the summit, by the time I got there I got the fault warning again about 100m from the summit.

I could hear it whinning and clicking when I stopped so let it cool for a good 45 min before attempting the steep decent.

No messages on the way down but I did nurse it out, using HDC instead of first low for speed control on the very steep bits back down and coasting in neutral where ever possible.

Question is, do I need this seen to ASAP or was it simply a case of overheating?

Also is this a common problem experienced by other.

Regards,

George
TDV6 SE 2008

I suspect it's just a D3 gremlin and it's being cautious about something overheating. I've seen this on several D3s now in similar circumstances.

Having said that I have driven a Sport 2.7 along that exact same track with no warning, but it was just me in it, lightly loaded and moving along nicely. Last time I did that track we gave up after the snow got deeper than a metre ;-)

[stewmair]

Seems to be normal when doing hard climbing...happened to two out of three D3s Labor Day Weekend at Dargo. Turned off, swore, started again and all was O.K. Quote "put it in the 'no worries' file".

[boolyb]

Hi guys, I have seen "F" faults and limited gears available shown for a large number of reasons, brake swithes, rear bulbs incorrect, loose battery terminals. poorly fitted trailer wiring and brake controllers and the odd unexplained comunication brain fart beetween modules.
If the system detects exessive heat "H" should be shown on message centre and system should lock in m3 untill cool down. this rarely seems to happen ussually goes to 'F" first ?? dkw..
Always worth getting it checked out!.
I also reckon additional cooler very good idea :cool: