Gearbox Overheating

[DiscoWeb]

G'Day, been awhile since I have posted on AULRO but after recently upgrading to a new D5 V6 HSE from my 10yr old D3 I took a quick run from Thredbo to Mt Pinnibar and back yesterday with my son following along in the D3 ( I wasoffered such a dismal trade in I kept it for him).

The D5 on stock tyres (at road pressures) drove up with little problem, my son following the D3 did it easier wiht AT tyres and the locking diff but overall pretty happy with the D5, super comfortable and very capable.

After a short stop we headed back down and that is when the fun started. About halfway down I got a gearbox over heating warning and then lost power and was locked in gear with nowhere to go. After about 5 min being turned off I got it out of park (had switched to park when off) and put in neutral and rolled back to a spot off the road. Turned off for another 10 min and then managed to get power and proceeded again,mainly left in neutral and hill decent got to the bottom of the track and with a 5 min run in high range on an easy fire road I thought issues were over but next little hill same issue.

After another rest managed to get going again and crossed the Murray at Tom Groggin, hoping that would cool things down and then onto the black top for the drive back to Thredbo. A few Kms down the road same issue so after a bit of cursing parked it and jumped in the D3 back to Thredbo.

i headed back out a few hours later and after the long rest drove back to thredbo with no issues.

Any thoughts on this, will get it checked out when back in town and can not see any fluid leaks and did not hit anything under the vehicle so either a fault sensor or a major issue, anyone had a similar problem or got some suggests ?

Thanks in advance.

[90 Rangie]

Very interested in what you find as I too have come from a very reliable D3 owner from new to the D5 I hope this is not common. Feel your pain hope it gets sorted fast

[discojools]

Head technician at my dealer told me that 90% of problems are software now. Very few mechanical.

[90 Rangie]

That worries me as I will have same software

[discojools]

I did mean that in relation gearbox as such, more overall. Very very few problems with the 8 speed ZF as far as I can see. Hopefully your dealer can sort it it. Where do you go?

[disco4man]

Hi There Discoweb,
My new D5 had same problem. I first noticed lack of power when trying to overtake.
I didnt think too much more about until I towed my boat up a big hill where my D4 had no issue at all it made 80ks instead of having to back off as I would have in my previous Disco so I thought it is just under powered. Then I towed my caravan up another very steep hill and only just made it and I stopped at the top and could smell very high temp from the trans engine stayed perfectly on the correct temp and didn't move at all. So now I knew something was really wrong you don't notice this under normal conditions but when under load the condition happens. However at no time did a trans warning come up.
Took it back to Solitaire and they diagnosed the water pump which I scoffed at and to make it worse it had been superseded and it was a two week wait but I guess it was a good thing to get the latest model as ther must have been an issue with the current series..apparently $2k to replace which is pretty scary. They replaced it and I immediately hooked up the van for a run up the big hill this time it was worse couldn't get half way up and so I u -turned and took it straight back threw my keys on the service counter desk and call me when it was fixed as they wanted me to book it in again.They finally figured out that the wiring loom had been pinched on install and shorted the water pump wiring- its electric and not only water but transmission oil apparently which pushes it though the air coolers in front of the front wheels.After they found this I had a huge amount of extra power even when not towing - Towed the van up the hill and better than the D4. I figure about 30% increase in power so it really makes a huge difference.
One thing I notice now however is when I turn the car off and it is hot (ambient say 35 and up) I hear a pump whirring away for about 2 minutes and then shut down so I am assuming this is the new cooling pump. Anyway, a bit of a saga I know and not an easy one to diagnose but at least it was found and all appears to be good now with fantastic amounts of power available that I didn't have before I purchased the car as a demo and the problem was there from the get go so it was lucky I had something to compare it too
Good luck l hope you find the issue
Disco4man

[WhiteD3]

One thing I notice now however is when I turn the car off and it is hot (ambient say 35 and up) I hear a pump whirring away for about 2 minutes and then shut down so I am assuming this is the new cooling pump.

I have wondered what that noise is!

[90 Rangie]

Is your car sorted yet ? I hope so, if so what was problem?