Thread: strange juddering maybe gearbox

I have burnt two gear boxes now in the 4.4L V8 in around 120K kms.

Whilst the advice below may not explain the 40kph shudder, it may help you diagnose a common issue with the transmission.

First check your transmission oil for colour & smell, once you get over a certain temp., I think from memory it is 140°C, it burns and its effectiveness drops by half per 10°C over that...correct me if I am not correct here guys...
I was consistently burning oil on a new box, with speeds under 56km (the speed the torque convertor stops slipping & generating heat) before the dreaded stuck in 2nd/3rd gear problem activated by the trans ECU. The oil should be a champagne colour, not blackened as mine often became. Then there is the tell tale burnt smell in the oil. I kept a bottle of clean good oil in a plastic water bottle to compare with what was sampled out of the trans box, and became paranoid about checking it.

Second, check the magnetic oil plug of the "filled for life" transmission. If there is metal there, then you know you have a rebuild/replace ahead.

If the oil is burnt, an no metal on the plug, I would
1. change the transmission oil —edit— and flush the old oil completely —edit—,
2. replace the transmission filer,
3. put a new transmission cooler in, and
4. flush our & change the coolant (to BMW blue, NOT LR pink - that leaves a crusty white residue that builds up a layers of salts that inhibits the heat exchange from the cooler, radiator, and alternator).

Hope this helps.

I think that helps alot !
I have already emptied the coolant and used one of those flush type things which seemed to strip the white residue away...
It doesn't stick in third round town or even on the motorway .... I was towing close to 3 ton up hills..... well it said it was rated to ! lol
But it does do this funny juddering thing more and more often... I will check the magnetic sump plug.... where can I get a torque convertor in Oz (is it fitted to any other vehicles ?)
thanks very much for your help

The torque converter, as I understand is different for the L322 than for other ZF5HP24 transmissions, I think it slips at a rate of around 3% to save BMW having an anti-shunt device on the drive chain at lower speeds.

If you replace the box, make sure the torque convertor is also replaced.

Where to buy is another question... in Adelaide there is a wrecker that often wrecks the L322, but I've found that some of his prices are dearer than importing from England.

Phil
Give the boys at A&B a call they are ZF experts and LR nuts as well Their customer service is second to none !!!

A & B Automotive Remanufacturing | JATCO and ZF approved automatic transmission factory remanufacturer |

Laurie

Sounds similar to the issue we had on our first L322, revs would bounce as the torque converter locked and unlocked on light throttle. We would also occasionally get the trans overheat warning.

Cure for us was a replacement trans cooler & lines, full fluid flush and a replacement torque converter. Thankfully the gearbox itself wasn't damaged.

Right so things have been tinkered with ....
The juddering got worse and worse and started to make a kind of cattle grid sound when going uphill with slight throttle ...( I have read this is a sign of possible torque convertor)
Emptied the oil and it looked black to me (but i was expecting that as it cooked during towing couple of weeks ago)
The magnets did have a bit of fur on them but nothing that really rang alarm bells. So I replaced the filter and the gasket on the bottom topped her up....
I used MaxLife® DEX/MERC ATF available from stupid cheap as this is a direct replacement for the esso lt 71141 which is hard to get over here without going through the stealers.
Took her for a spin and seems ok to me (my box was perfect until the juddering happened a couple of weeks ago) but I shall keep a very very close eye on her ...... I will let you all know
Interestingly though the shift points seem to have changed as hills she used to climb at 60 kph would be 1800 revs (that's precisely where the slip was) She now climbs them at 2200 ??? seems better gear though
I will keep you all informed and thanks again for your help guys

I had lots of strange things happening with mine but no juddering. Blanking the EGR valve solved all the problems. Jim