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

If it is just after starting - it is probably the fan.

Had a "noise' that usually came with morning start up, then faded when car got warm.
Seemed to come from near alternator, sounded bit like stiff bearing/squeak or such, but usually shut up after a few minutes running, did not return unless starting cold car .
Bought new alternator (for standby), made tool for removing fan, all just in case. But did not swap alternator, as no time.
2 months later, noticed small leak of water on ground under motor passengers side (not aircon).
Traced it back up to water pump dribbling out of hole designed to alert of seal failure. On pull down, found that the "noise" was likely the dried coolant that had been dripping for some time on to drive belts and such.
After replacing water pump, all noise stopped.
Perhaps run your hand around bottom of water pump. (my W pump was less than 12 months old when it failed)

Originally Posted by WhiteD3

I have to disagree, sorry My D3 has done 97k without a shudder or any other transmission issues. I've never towed anything so maybe this towing is a qualifier re the timing of the ATF change?

Mine got a slight shudder at 180,000 km. I think the point of the 50,000km would avoid problems not how far we can go before we have them? My new gear box will have a pan and service at 50.

Thanks guys - it does sound like it comes from the centre stack / glovebox general area. It starts when the car is started (sometimes) and goes for varying lengths of time (up to about 10secs) no rhyme or reason to it. Does sound fan like but is not influenced by having the blower on if the noise occurs. Does the fan cycle sometimes when the car is started (by its own inner logic) anyone know ? Anyone know if there are other fans under the dash ?

My first chnage was at 180K, but NEVER towed anything in that 180k and changed sweetly, as had spent 99% of its life in top gear highway running. Fluid came out looking like black used diesel oil.
Now at 300k have done 2 more fluid/filter changes, and trans still changes sweetly.
Would still go with looking to change fluid at least by 80k.

Not sure if this is related to my problem but ...

My handbrake was making a similar whirring noise when I activated or released the handbrake. When I put the handbrake on there would be a whirr then a clunk. British Off Road gave the handbrake a service, in the hope that that would fix that problem. (The cost of the alternative was frightening)

The noise from the gear change sounded similar to this. So today I started the car, took the handbrake off and then put it into gear - no noise.

I did this a couple of times. Start the car - release the handbrake - select reverse or drive. No noise when I put the car into gear.

This afternoon, the whirr with the handbrake has returned. So when I release the handbrake I get the whirr-clunk but no gearbox noise. B*gger

I will try it over the weekend and see if I can replicate the noise. The problem is the noise is random.

I admit up front it might all be coincidental and my knowledge of cars is zilch. So this might make sense to someone.

Cheers

im thinking we should up our service price! $1000!!! i know they're expensive but we've never charged that much even with genuine zf fluid and new pan

Originally Posted by shaunh

im thinking we should up our service price! $1000!!! i know they're expensive but we've never charged that much even with genuine zf fluid and new pan

What do you charge?

My quote is $600-700 with a new steel pan and genuine fluid.

$1000 does seem expensive however I think dealers are farming the job out and putting a margin on top.