Thread: D2 Autos...why don't I like them?

It in 3rd untill you get onto a couple of the short straights then changes up then depending on how hard the corner is it can go back to 3rd, when towing and we have a hill i allways use sport, i find when using cruise control it very rarely goes over 3250rpm to regain speed so i have adopted this and it seems to work very well, not lost power

Originally Posted by Shenanigans Ride

Does it stay in 3rd or change up to 4th? Which do you find better with the van on Sport or normal mode?

The box will also lock up in 3rd so if you don't want it to go up to 4th just stick the lever in 3 and the TC will lock up.

Originally Posted by Shenanigans Ride

I find that when I accelerate at 80-90 the torque converter usually does not lock. It never kicks down a gear, just revs high until I back off. Car has done 179000Km should the box need an overhaul at this stage? it performs perfectly in every other way. Could do without any big bills at this time so fingers crossed

I remember reading in another forum a while back that this is an issue with D2 Autos. Lock up in 4th is around this speed and especially when towing at these speeds the box tends not to lock up (a real issue for the horse box towing aristocracy in the English countryside )

The advice was that because of this the auto tends to run hotter for longer periods than designed, and what it meant was that one just had to change the transmission fluid more regularly than recommended, especially in the hotter Australian climate. Do this and all should be OK. As an aside, the warning was also to make sure that the correct AT fluid is used when changed……. Apparently the D2 auto boxes are sensitive that way…….

Love my manual, test drove a couple of autos first up but I could not gel with them, felt right soon as I pulled away in the manual.
I like how I can put it in fifth at 60kph and leave it there as long as I like, providing the motor is spinning over 1500rpm I never change gears.

The V8 will drop into top below 60,,
though its walking a fine line to keep it there---
(yes to both!)

Originally Posted by DiscoSaffa

As an aside, the warning was also to make sure that the correct AT fluid is used when changed……. Apparently the D2 auto boxes are sensitive that way……. [/FONT][/COLOR]

The auto tranny fluid in the 01 D2 i had was burnt after 40k,no towing,but a lot of hard sand work in hot weather.
The advice was use synthetic fluid & have done so since,no probs at all.Have used this fluid in the 04 Disco since new.

I don't have any probs with the D2 auto,have had them for over 10yrs now.Don't recon you can go past them in sand or slow rocky type 4WDing work.They do use a bit more fuel than a manual,particularly doing continual slow type work such as tottering around paddocks shooting for example.
On a run the fuel difference is negligable,particularly as the 'box is locked up.

The ZF boxes are one of the best around,and very reliable,as with any machinery,must be serviced correctly.
They also suit turbo diesels well,due to the turbo lag.

Beats replacing clutches anyday.

On another note,fuel use in my brother in laws GU is almost identicle to my D2,and also mine would pull away up the Toowoomba range before it was chipped.His is a manual

I bought my D2a 8 months ago threw the camper on and went with family. Up hills the auto was all over the place i could not predict what it would do, sometimes pull like a train others rev its guts out. Took it too dealer who sent me to Landrover specialist in Frankston he gave me the. Not satisfied i read about the MAF on this site, cleaned it. Wow the car pulls like a train all the time, the transmission is now predictable and holds up most hills. I suspect many cars that you would be testing may have this problem, therefore not giving you the full capability.

Regards

Originally Posted by Shenanigans Ride

Will be taking mine up Cunninghams in a couple of weeks pulling an A'liner. I'll be interested to see if mine behaves so well

How did you go up Cunninghams, iam interested to hear if you could get a good run aswell