Thread: Disco 3/4 Automatic Transmission FAQ - 6 Speed

yep thats about on the mark 600-700

Upon further investigation my buzzing seems to be related to ventilation system stepper motor / actuator for the various flaps that direct air up down etc. looks like fun.

Thanks for the comment jonsey - pointed my mind in the right direction. Now that I think I know what it is I think I'll continue to ignore it until it presents an issue (ie can't cool my balls in summer or warm my toes in winter haha) !

Hey Epic - the A/C stepper motor in the D3 was known for failing and making "farting" noises. Well, that's what I had to say to SWMBO when it was failing!

Mine has been farting for years ... ! ... and I've been ignoring it because it looks a bit of bugger of a job to get my (not petite) hand in to lube it up so it farts more quietly.

Oh well, at least I think I got to the bottom of it (hopefully) and the only thing standing in the way of it being fixed is motivation ... I hadn't connected the farting and buzzing until your comment - a look in my logged faults seems to indicate stepper motor 'not happy'' !

Thanks again for the steer, really appreciate it !

The $1000 quotes, seems to be a WA problem, possibly because of limited dealer options, and many others seems to take their lead from the dealers price. Have had trans fluid sellers suggest they were doing me a "special" favour, offering to sell 20 litres lifeguard 6 at over $900.
Went elsewhere of course.

Originally Posted by vbrab

The $1000 quotes, seems to be a WA problem

Not just WA, was quoted $1000 by A&B Transmissions in Dandenong to supply and fit a steel pan and refill with 6 litres of Lifeguard 6

Spoke to Steve at Goulburn Valley Autos and was quoted $840 to supply and fit a steel pan, AND full flush with 12 litres of lifeguard 6, thats an extra 6 litres for $160 less...

I'm actually having the D3 taken to him and supplying my own oil, Nulon SYNATF, and he is S/F the steel pan and using my oil for $440. Full flush with the Nulon will cost me $680, plus will have enough oil left over to do SWMBO's Pug.

I spoke to a couple of the tech guys at Nulon for nearly an hour yesterday, firstly a chemical engineer, then a mechanical engineer. They described in detail how they have lab, bench and field tested the Nulon SYNATF in the 6HP26 box, the mech eng has been running it in his XR6T for 120k and sampled every 5 k, he states no noticeable chemical degradation yet. Also stated that they recommend changing the fluid at around 80k, including filter. They went into significant detail regarding viscosity at various temperatures in comparison with LG6, and how the box adjusts to the very slightly different oil.

I'm prepared to give it a try with the Nulon, and will report my experiences. Bear in mind that my box has 311k on it. Price difference is $31/L from the trans guy for LG6, vs $12/L in a 20L drum for the Nulon from Supercheap.

Originally Posted by EKK

Thanks for the links, weakestlink.

I know the handbrake is not related to the gear box. I was just saying that the noise I got when I put the car into reverse or drive was similar to the noise I was getting when I applied or released the handbrake.

Cheers

My advice to you would be find a Land Rover specialist or transmisson specialist and have it done, chances are the Dealer won't do the pan or even put the correct oil in, if they actually do it at all.

I'm wary of Dealers, some do nothing at all and say they have, some only do part of the job, very hard to find a good Dealer these days.

Baz.

Originally Posted by winaje

I'm actually having the D3 taken to him and supplying my own oil, Nulon SYNATF,

Why would you be prepared to to risk a $4000-$8000 repair to your gearbox using untried oil to save a few $$$ in oil cost. Experiments with different oils on the Disco3UK forum have generally come to grief.

Do you have written advice from Nulon that they will warrant your gearbox against failure either now or in the future - sorry the risk is too great.