Transfer gearbox warning light

[Frontier1]

Hi All,

I got a nasty red warning light staring back at me from from the dash which looks like a temperature warning for the transfer gearbox on my '93 Disco.

I recently had a problem with one of my front brake calipers so I was dropping down a gear or two to assist in stopping the car.

I have fixed the brake problem a few days ago but now this warning light started today. I have just checked the T/gearbox level and it did need about a 1-1.5 ltrs of 80w but now that it's topped up, it still showing the warning light after a drive of about 2k's or so.

I got a big drive ahead of me tomorrow so now I don't know what to do.

Any ideas guys?
Chers, Pete'

[Frontier1]

Just had another thought too. I know that this warning light also activates off the engine oil temp. I had the radiator off recently and repaired. A bit of oil was lost when this was done.

I am wondering whether an "air pocket" in the oil pipe could have made it's way to the oil pump and this is now stopping the oil from circulating properly.

In the workshop manual I see that it has a pressure relief switch and valve. Is it possible (or advisable), to release the valve and in doing so, release any air that my be trapped in there?

Is this the problem do you think?

Pete'

[Graeme]

My 84 RR had such a problem but it was water/dirt shorting the contacts of the unused auto xmsn hi-temp plug near the bottom of the radiator. The D2s use the light for the xfer case and the auto oil cooler, once again at the bottom of the radiator. Are you sure this is not your problem also?

[Quiggers]

If the tfer case is full, I'd be looking at other issues, like dirty or clogged sensors or pickups.

GQ

[Frontier1]

Hi Guys,

I took the return oil pipe off the rad' anyway and kicked her over, no shortage of oil pumped out so the pump and oil circulation in general is not the issue. (much to my relief).

I'll check the sensors guys and see if that is where the problem is. I was actually unaware that there was a sensor at the bottom of the radiator as when I took it out a while back, I didn't see any connections down there that were off during or from removal.

[byron]

The Temp or Overheat Warning light on a 93 Disco V8 Auto warns of 2 things: [1] Overheating Transfer Case OR [2] Overheating Auto Transmission........[1] has the sensor in the passenger side near top of Transfer Case and [2] has the sensor in the Automatic Trans. cooling line going to the radiator, under the alternator.....

.......from experience the auto cooling overheat sensors can get "overly sensitive" and also get stuck on........if you were 1 1/2 or so litres low on TX case oil, you could have run it hot and it also may get "stuck" in the on setting.......

.......in both cases the only fix is replacement of the bad sensor.

[Ace]

the t/c only holds about 2.2L of oil or there abouts from memory so running it pretty low will almost definitely have contributed to the problem.