Thread: L322 2003 4.4V8 gearbox woes

Gday guys, I'm having so many issues lately I dont even know where to start.

History: Car got an unusual small metallic noise in the drive system which I figured was trans related. I pulled it out, got another trans from a wrecker and put that in. It shifted horribly, squealed like as tuck pig and was a disaster, but the small metallic noise was still there so not trans related. I kicked myself in the arse and then put my original trans back in.

But, I screwed something up fitting to torque converter and fried my trans. Cooked it proper within 2kms so I must have damaged the pump gears behind the converter. I said **** a whole lot of times then went and got another tranny.

So I pull the pan off and its clean, like nice inside. 168km vehicle and maybe been serviced at some time as the converter had written markings indicative or a reco unit. I toss it into the car, I'm getting good at this now, and ensure the converter is really seated this time and all looks good. Drove it a few minutes ago and first impressions were good. Shifted well, drove well, all good! BUT..............slip the shifter to the side and SPORT comes up on the dash but car doesnt feel any different to drive. Then try and manually select and no change and nothing on the dash. So no manual selection.

So I stop and select manual and I briefly see a 1 on the dash but as I start rolling it goes but I'm in first and it wont shift, so I slide the selector back to D and it came home fine.

Is the SPORT / MANUAL selection done via the XYZ switch or is it done via the solenoid plug? I did use the XZY that came on the trans rather than swapping mine over but before I get under it and try and get to that horrid bloody XYZ plug on top of the bell housing I figured it's best to ash here.

One other concern, and I dont say 'small' concern, was that at one point I turned the car in a driveway and as I took off a bit quicker to enter traffic stream the trans squealed fr a brief second. I got straight off the gas and then re-applied accelerator gently and it was fine. But it did worry the hell out of me that the last two transmissions both squealed on take off, but this third one far less so and only once. But I'm scared to give it a bootfull from a stationary position now.

Hi mate,
If you go to "fullfatrr.com" and sign up(its free) then you could put your question to the community over there(UK).
There's a bloke there - rrphil- he's a genius in the g/boxes on the early L322 beasts, both the TD6 and the V8. He should be able to help you fix your problem(s),(hopefully without too much cost).
If you do a search on the forum,there's one where he shows the complete breakdown of the V8 box.
Hope this helps you find the problem(s).

cheers DG