Thread: Long Way From Home and NEED Auto Trans Help Bad

Originally Posted by Tins

Just my two bob's worth, but I would seriously recommend upgrading the cooler. I have been told that a cooler out of a P38A can help, or a custom one.

Thank you for the heads up - was wondering whether the standard one was effective enough.
Cheers
HunterJ

Originally Posted by HunterJ

Thank you for the heads up - was wondering whether the standard one was effective enough.
Cheers
HunterJ

Well, I cooked mine towing. Of course, as I didn't know it's history, it might have been on the way out anyway, but I doubt it.

Originally Posted by Tins

Well, I cooked mine towing. Of course, as I didn't know it's history, it might have been on the way out anyway, but I doubt it.

Were you towing in third locked up if so it shouldn't over heat, they usually cook when driven towing in 4th without lock up.

Hey Hunter.

As you already have the necessary stuff, I'd also recommend that you use the Auto trans ECU out of the V8 in the TD5 too.

I recently did this to mine(mapped) .. and it's made the most significant difference to the way the TD5(mapped!) drives and feels.
Prior to the auto ECU change, the TD5 held onto lower gears far too long, and nothing I could do, manually, to get it to change earlier.
Mapped TD5 has so much more pulling power, doesn't need 2500-3000RPMs to glide along.

Anyhow, easy change. Trans ECU is under the passengers seat. If you remove the donor cars pass seat, it's easy to see the three nuts that hold the ECU in place. Large multi connector needs a bit of care in removing .. it has a zigzaggy removal/refitment manner about it .. it'll make sense if you do it yourself.
But that you have easy access to the donor car, you don't need the seat out of the TD5 to remove old one, and refit the V8 Trans ECU .. just have 1/4 drive tools .. easy as.

The difference in how it drives was night and day. Changes much earlier now. locks up clutch much earlier now. When brother drove it again with the trans ECU .. he reckons had he done this(which I recommended to him anyhow .. ) he may not have let it go.

Some other guys that have also done the change report both good and bad responses tho .. so if you do try it, and don't get a good result .. easy to change it back.

My major issue just after the trans ECU change tho was that the cruise control acted weird. Far too eager to stick the boot in, change down unlock torque converter and race its way to 3500RPM .. when coming over a very slight crest .. like a gentle freeway overpass... 2 or 3 meters in about 500 kind of gentle.
For me, it was undriveable with CC.
Luckily member Shack came to the rescue and offered his services to remap the TD5 ECU to get it working much nicer. Now, it's 99.99% perfect.
As I read tho, you have an MSB ECU being an earlier model TD5 .. so this could make a big difference compared to an NNN type like I have.

But I reckon it's worth the 30mins of effort to give it a go, and see how it works for you tho. Maybe better than I found(incl the CC operation) .. like I said tho, if you don't .. just go back to the TD% auto ECU.

There is a thread that discusses the Auto ECU swapping and some of the results that I and others got.

Originally Posted by Pippin

Were you towing in third locked up if so it shouldn't over heat, they usually cook when driven towing in 4th without lock up.

No. I was new to Discoveries, I towed in D. Thing is, most newbies here now are also new to them , as I was then.

When you buy a vehicle with a rated tow number you could reasonably expect it to do it. My handbook does not say I should tow in "3".

They did not do it well, IMO.

Originally Posted by Tins

No. I was new to Discoveries, I towed in D. Thing is, most newbies here now are also new to them , as I was then.

When you buy a vehicle with a rated tow number you could reasonably expect it to do it. My handbook does not say I should tow in "3".

They did not do it well, IMO.

Your right the Handbook is totally deficient on this. Even though there have been threads on this issue over the years, how to tow without over heating the transmission is not front and centre to new owners when they join AULRO. Maybe make a Sticky?

Originally Posted by Pippin

Your right the Handbook is totally deficient on this. Even though there have been threads on this issue over the years, how to tow without over heating the transmission is not front and centre to new owners when they join AULRO. Maybe make a Sticky?

Not a bad idea.

This was the beginning of the end for mine, 700 km in hot weather:
IMG_7633.jpg
It had been serviced maybe 6 weeks prior. I started noticing things like hard shifts, and it would go into limp home mode, which could be cleared by restarting, usually. Dropped the oil, which was badly burnt and stank. I kept it alive through frequent oil changes, The fact that I was away a lot with work helped as I wasn't driving it. This trip was done before I joined AULRO. I simply drove the car as I expected it could be driven...... When it failed the A clutch was basically non existent.

Originally Posted by Pippin

Were you towing in third locked up if so it shouldn't over heat, they usually cook when driven towing in 4th without lock up.

Hi Pippin
Is your question was I towing at the time?
Wasn't towing at the time, but have towed close to 2 ton in 4th (D) at all times previously. Some reasonable trips done, mostly Tamworth - Sydney return a few times, one trip Tamworth - Sydney - Phillip Island return and a trip Tamworth - Sydney - Mount Gambier return.
Cheers
HJ