Auto Box No Drive - D1 V8

[raglan_jack]

Hey Guys,

does anyone have any idea what has gone wrong with my disco?

car is a 1997 discovery 1 auto V8 - transfer / box / engine all standard as they came

the engine is running fine but i have no drive through the auto box / transfer case

the car still stops when in park but i cant get any drive through any gears in hi / low - lock / unlock

i dont think its the auto selector as i can still get park, CDL light still goes on and off when moving the selector

auto box oil is still up to level and transfer box oil is still smooth - no metal or anything

also auto box is silent - no grinding or crunching noises, happened pretty suddenly, drove out of my driveway in low then went to put it in reverse and nothing

has anyone come accross this or had it happen to them? any recomendations?

is there any way to check what it could be without going as far as pulling the gearbox and transfer out?

cheers

[harry]

have a search on '4hp 22 zf' auto boxes,
this box is used in a lot of other cars also, seems some time ago the yanks were having problems with the zf after roadworthy checks. i hope this is not your problem.
the transfer case is a different thing, maybe the transfer case selector has not let the gears mesh, most unusual for total auto failure without warning.

i would suspect that the transfer case is still in neutral.

[raglan_jack]

im not sure what it is but as i let the car roll forward slightly the CDL selector clicks into its spot so i was thinking it wasnt that the transfer was still in neutral

the diff lock light still goes on and off as i engage it but no drive locked or unlocked - high or low

hoping its something simple like just a slector lever but all seems to still be moving right under the car on the side of the box

[harry]

if it definatly is in gear, transfer not in neutral, and you cannot roll it in park, then you do have a problem with the auto.
in one of my earlier auto problems, the filter in the auto was full of stuff, and i was getting very slow changes, when i cleaned it things improved, but it still led to an auto box rebuild.
you can see the filter when you take the pan off, just unbolt the cross member, move it out of the way [big hammer] drop the auto fluid out the drain plug, and undo the pan.
once the pan is off you can unbolt the filter and inspect it.
just dropping the auto fluid may give you an idea of what is wrong.

[raglan_jack]

thanks harry

ill try that tomorrow night and see if i can find anything obvious wrong with it

if i cant it will be off to ricks

any idea off hand how much fluid i need to refill the box?

and would it be better to have the box rebuilt or look at a second hand box?

[langy]

I did a service on my zf yesterday - roughly 5L.( You can top up later).

But before you drop the x member, double check the linkages from under the vehicle. I've had my Hi/lo link falter. You might even take the linkage off and operate the hi/lo by itself.

[Blknight.aus]

did you check the fluid level with the engine running and on level ground?

try driving off with the box locked in 1. If that works try to get to 10 KPH in high range then select the next gear up.

assuming everything you can do without taking stuff off of the box has been done and is correct

you may have

1. dropped the pump suction which is usually a case of a cracked strainer casing letting air get to the pump instead of oil
2. a damaged pump/seal (its DIY but a 4/5 on the spanners to fix)
3. damaged the output shaft (but that should be making noises)

failing that its a failed member or clutch pack and the box needs an overhaul

[harry]

my first rebuild was about $2500 two or three years ago.

[redrover3]

Symptoms sound similar to mine a few years ago. Turned out to be a stripped spline in the torque converter. If this is the case, these are rebuildable. Still means engine or gearbox removal though.
Tony