Transmission Overheat - Reversing Up Hill

[GP1200]

Just returned from a camping trip today, backing 2013 D4 with the Jayco Swan up our very steep driveway, transmission warning light comes on, steam / something burning from beneath the hood, car decides to stop just near the top crest of the driveway. Turn it off and pop the hood, steam coming from left rear bottom of the engine, and the left front guard very hot.

Take a deep breath..... The Jayco is not quite up the hill with a dead car...:censored:

Wait 20 minutes and car starts, no warning lights, roll down the driveway and take it for a 10 minute drive to get some more cool air into it.

Got home ok and it backs up the driveway with no issues?

Couple of questions, did it just have a moment? It wasn't that hot today and we had only had a easy 1 hour drive back from the campsite, so it hadn't been working hard.

Our driveway is very steep, just wondering if it would be easier on the D4 if I engaged low range? It's been backing up our driveway a dozen times before with no issues, but would low range be better for the drive train?

As it recorded a warning, the dealer will see a a fault when I take it in, so they
hopefully they should be able to fault find quickly.

Went for a drive late this afternoon and performed faultlessly.

Thanks
Jack

[scarry]

Doing something like that low range is a must,so much easier on the vehicle.

As for the heat,don't really know,maybe too much slipping inside the auto.

Others will chime in.:)

[lambrover]

Yeah you made the auto oil really bloody hot and she said time out. As mentioned you should have use low range this would have been far nicer on the auto.

[Plane Fixer]

At this point as you have overheated the transmission fluid, it would be in your best interest, and that of the transmission to have a full service on it.

[SBD4]

Yep, get it serviced. Doing that task in high range, the transmission will never lock up fully. It will be the constant slipping that over heats the oil. Using low range will allow lock up to occur and also lower to mechanical stress on the transmission due to the lower gearing.

[strydes]

I had an incident a couple of weeks ago where we went down the wrong driveway with our 2.5t van on the back. It was about 600m back to the road and no place to turn around, the first 200m a steep incline.

As I started moving in reverse I could feel pretty quickly that it was needing too much revs to move and the gearbox was working hard so dropped it into low range. Made it a lot easier to control the throttle with smaller inputs and gearbox felt a lot happier.

I'd suggest for any even slightly inclined reversing with a lot of weight on the back using low range is a good idea, you'll feel when its no longer required.

[simmo]

Agree with all the comment, it makes the life so much easier for the toque converter & oil, etc. If you get a high tempo light, the best thing to do is select neutral or park and fast idle the engine to keep the oil circulating through the cooler.

I think you'll find by using low range for any heavy trailer maneuvering a slow speed its also easier for you as well. I especially like to reverse in low range, it gives me easy control and minimum use of the clutch. But you did the right thing, you got a warning and listened to it. So probably no harm done.

cheers simmo

[LRD414]

But what about the steam from left bottom rear of engine in OP?

Something else heated up by the hot transmission?

Scott

[scarry]

Agree with all the comment, it makes the life so much easier for the toque converter & oil, etc. If you get a high tempo light, the best thing to do is select neutral or park and fast idle the engine to keep the oil circulating through the cooler.

I think you'll find by using low range for any heavy trailer maneuvering a slow speed its also easier for you as well. I especially like to reverse in low range, it gives me easy control and minimum use of the clutch. But you did the right thing, you got a warning and listened to it. So probably no harm done.

cheers simmo

That is exactly what it says in the D2 handbook,i had the light come on a couple of times in low range,ambient around 40 degrees,and in very soft sand.Went off pretty quickly idling.

Must check the D4 handbook,but i have never had the light come on.

For interest,many Paj models stop when the tranny overheats,won't move until the fluid cools down,not good on an incoming tide on the beach.:(

[BobD]

I always use low range when reversing the caravan / trailer up even the smallest hill. Just so much easier on the transmission and very easy to control.


Same in soft sand. I do anything possible to reduce the load on the transmission and low range is the best thing there is for doing that.

[Melbourne Park]

I have always used low range to reverse my van. Because its easier to go slow - its a close gap from my house to the fence, my house being a 1920's build, cars were narrow back then.

But ... shouldn't we be talking about an additional transmission oil cooler? It sounds to me that if on sand, we may need high range, and perhaps then the tranny will over heat?

Going in reverse would surely effect the cooling though - there must be less air available to the radiator?


I have read too, that if you stick the tranny into gear - say low first for reversing - then the gearbox will not slip, and it is the slippage that heats up the tranny most. But in first, slip might be mandatory ??? Which is the slowest speed and what gear, where the gearbox can lock up the gear???

[DiscoDB]

But ... shouldn't we be talking about an additional transmission oil cooler? It sounds to me that if on sand, we may need high range, and perhaps then the tranny will over heat?

I think you make a very good point. Given what the OP has described, seems to have over heated pretty quickly.

[LandyAndy]

Personally I believe being in hi range caused the heat build up,and it would quickly at idle speed.
The steam,no room for expansion in the overflow tank due to the vehicles bum being in the air,I doubt there has been any damage done.
Having once lived in the same area,I know there are some steep driveways there;););););)
I always use low range to reverse a trailer if the vehicle has one,makes life so much easier;););););););)
Andrew

[rar110]

Interestingly, on the weekend I had a rare opportunity to drive the BILs new D4 SDV6 on Straddie both in high and low range at varying speeds in softish sand at road pressures. There was a sort of burning smell when working hard at low speed in high. No transmission warning though so I assume it was only new car coating being evaporated off something. I was very impressed with its performance all at road pressures.

I also left the RRV TDV8 at road pressures. It was equally impressive which was nice seeing its soon 8 years old. High range seemed easier in the RRV.

[GP1200]

Thanks for the replies and advice, went off to work today and was all good,
So selecting Low Range when reversing with the camper van on from now on,
Do I just use the normal setting, or do we reach for a special program ?????

Jack

[Bytemrk]

Straight low range should be fine...no need for any special terrain setting

[SBD4]

....I have read too, that if you stick the tranny into gear - say low first for reversing - then the gearbox will not slip, and it is the slippage that heats up the tranny most. But in first, slip might be mandatory ??? Which is the slowest speed and what gear, where the gearbox can lock up the gear???

Am I missing something here? Only one gear for reverse then the choice of low or high range. The lowest gear will give you the quickest lock up.

6 speed gear ratios:
6th (High/Low) :1 0.691 / 2.020
5th (High/Low) :1 0.867 / 2.540
4th (High/Low) :1 1.143 / 3.350
3rd (High/Low) :1 1.521 / 4.460
2nd (High/Low) :1 2.340 / 6.860
1st (High/Low) :1 4.171 / 12.220
Reverse (High/Low) :1 3.403 / 9.960
Transfer box ratio High :1 1
Transfer box ratio Low :1 2.93

8 speed gear ratios:
8th (High/Low) :1 0.667 / 1.954
7th (High/Low) :1 0.839 / 2.458
6th (High/Low) :1 1.000 / 2.930
5th (High/Low) :1 1.285 / 3.765
4th (High/Low) :1 1.667 / 4.884
3rd (High/Low) :1 2.106 / 6.170
2nd (High/Low) :1 3.143 / 9.208
1st (High/Low) :1 4.714 / 13.812
Reverse (High/Low) :1 3.403 / 9.970
Transfer box ratio High :1 1
Transfer box ratio Low :1 2.93

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5G2zQ_3xTc

[Melbourne Park]

Am I missing something here? Only one gear for reverse then the choice of low or high range. The lowest gear will give you the quickest lock up.

6 speed gear ratios:
6th (High/Low) :1 0.691 / 2.020
5th (High/Low) :1 0.867 / 2.540
4th (High/Low) :1 1.143 / 3.350
3rd (High/Low) :1 1.521 / 4.460
2nd (High/Low) :1 2.340 / 6.860
1st (High/Low) :1 4.171 / 12.220
Reverse (High/Low) :1 3.403 / 9.960
Transfer box ratio High :1 1
Transfer box ratio Low :1 2.93

8 speed gear ratios:
8th (High/Low) :1 0.667 / 1.954
7th (High/Low) :1 0.839 / 2.458
6th (High/Low) :1 1.000 / 2.930
5th (High/Low) :1 1.285 / 3.765
4th (High/Low) :1 1.667 / 4.884
3rd (High/Low) :1 2.106 / 6.170
2nd (High/Low) :1 3.143 / 9.208
1st (High/Low) :1 4.714 / 13.812
Reverse (High/Low) :1 3.403 / 9.970
Transfer box ratio High :1 1
Transfer box ratio Low :1 2.93

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5G2zQ_3xTc

I had brain fade!!!

However - first is lower than reverse ... and more so with the 8 speed.

Some people have an attachment on their front bull bar, for easier parking of vans when they have difficulties at home ... interestingly, that would give them a lower ratio, first being lower ...

No one has yet explained the "steam" coming out of the engine bay either ...

[LandyAndy]

I had brain fade!!!

However - first is lower than reverse ... and more so with the 8 speed.

Some people have an attachment on their front bull bar, for easier parking of vans when they have difficulties at home ... interestingly, that would give them a lower ratio, first being lower ...

No one has yet explained the "steam" coming out of the engine bay either ...

I did.
I suspect that having its bum in the air simply put coolant into the discharge chamber of the overflow bottle.Have a look at them,they are an interesting design.
Andrew

[GP1200]

The Jayco went for its first service this week, reversed up the drive way in low range, was so much easier to control, no issues at all, all is good with the world again, thanks all for your tips,

Jack :)

[dazray]

I always use low range when manoeuvring the Van.
So much easier to control and easier on the D4.