Transmission not quite operating the way it should

**ahebron** · 22nd April 2012, 07:05 AM

Today I became a true L322 owner.
My 2003 TD6 decided it did not need reverse gear this morning.
It can creep backwards in low ratio but not very well.
The other gears have obviously got a bit of sympathy and have decided to not shift as sweetly as they have in the past. Did an oil and filter change 5000kms ago
Only had it since January and love the stupid thing.
It has been very fortunate as it has 235000km on the clock and 10000 of those I put on.
Now I have to find a rebuilder of these boxes in NZ and hopefully Wellington. Oh the joy and fun now begins.
I am thinking of getting modifications to make it a better gearbox but just need to know what is recommended.
Oh and I will need to buy another vehicle as I cannot see this being a quick fix.

Adrian

tebone · 22nd April 2012, 07:19 AM

Sorry to you are having problems.

Did you do the service yourself?
Firstly I would check the oil level because the box would behave like that if its low?
Look on google for the Refilling oil procedure.
Hope its a simple fix

Cheers Paul

**ahebron** · 22nd April 2012, 09:04 AM

Hi Paul
Thanks for that but I did follow the refill procedure regarding correct gearbox temperature, engine running, run through the gears, etc.
I put about 8 litres of correct Texaco oil in till it ran out the fill plug.
I do recall a very brief screeching noise when reversing the day before though.

Adrian

**PAT303** · 22nd April 2012, 10:16 AM

8 litres is not enough. Pat

**ahebron** · 22nd April 2012, 11:36 AM

Rave states 5.3 litres for a refill and 9.7 from dry.
So as I dropped my sump and replaced the filter I would expect 8 litres with engine running to be sufficient. Especially as I cannot get more oil into a gearbox when it is pushing oil out of the fill/drain hole.
I did not flush as I could not get enough oil to flush.

Adrian

**glenhendry** · 23rd April 2012, 06:44 AM

I believe that it may depend on how much remained in the torque converter? Have you checked to see if the trany will take more fluid? Using the filler hole you cant really overfill it, but if some of the original fluid has been taken in by the torque converter, then maybe your pan level is low again?

**ahebron** · 23rd April 2012, 08:23 AM

Well we shall soon see what is wrong. I have booked it into a local specialist tomorrow. Going from all the excellent info I have gathered from this and many other sites I asked them a few questions that they answered to my satisfaction. If it needs a complete rebuild they use Sonnax parts and machine in shop.
Fingers crossed I will not need to spend the $6000-$7000 quoted but I did factor it in when I bought the car.
I was told if it was a V8 it would have been cheaper by $1000-$2000.
SWMBO has just bought a Mini One and the previous owners had the CVT gearbox rebuilt for the same cost, my parents had a VW Golf auto box rebuilt for the same cost. Seems modern auto rebuilds cost that much over here.

Adrian

**Homestar** · 23rd April 2012, 12:46 PM

I feel your pain, and the pricing sounds like it could be right. I spent about $6K all in getting mine done. I did have some upgrades done to it though. Ask whoever looks at it if they can instal the Sonax valve kit when they rebuild it - it is designed to seal in the worn bores of the valve body better - well worth the trouble, and not very expensive. I had some uprated frictions from a Commodore also installed in mine - they are not a straight swap, and need to be machined to fit, so not something everyone will or can do. Also, the torque converter was uprated when rebuilt - not sure exactly what was involved here, but the claim the rebuilt unit is a lot stronger than the original.

Best of luck - hope it turns out to be something less expensive - I feel your pain.

Cheers - Gav

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