Jaguar XJ slipping gearbox

20th januari 2009

In September 09 I changed the gearbox for the one I got from Marius.. (a while ago collected in Heerlen) But last December the rear gearband started to slip. I decided to get the gearbox reconditioned. Ingmar Elfering in Ede did the job. (850 euro including btw) Torque converter also reconditioned, all brake bands, clutch plate, the bearings and also the rubber seals. Two week ago I brought It on a Wednesday, got the box back the next Wednesday, build It back in…last Monday I drove to work….PERFECT!!

A while ago:

The jaguar XJ is now unused because the gearbox slightly started slipping. I have a good gearbox ready and in the process of removing the old gearbox.

Normally (when no spare box around) slipping gearbox has two possible fixes. Tightening the brakebands is one the other one is to replace brakebands and cluchplates. The first is easy the second is labor-intensive but NOT hard to do. (I’ve done it once). You can take the gearbox appart as long as things that need not be disturbed are not disturbed. When the “brain” is removed the two gearboxes are accessible. As long as one works clean and registers where the things go there is no problem. After reinstalling the box in the car the oil system has to be flushed. fill the box up and remove the oilcooler return line from the box. start the car and catch the oil that is pumped out and add as much oil as you can sacrifice.

Here’s the steps I’ll take:

• -Put the car on high axle stands
• -Create a rig to support the back of the engine
• -Remove middle section of exhaust
• -Remover main propshaft
• -Drain gearbox oil
• -Support the gearbox
• -Detach rear gearbox supportbracket
• -Disconnect battery
• -Disconnect electrical connections from box incl speedo at rear
• -Disconnect and remove startermotor
• -Disconnect kickdowncable at throttle
• -Disconnect Shiftlinks from box
• -Disconnect oiltubes from cooler
• -Remove coverplate bellhousing
• -Remove bolts from torque converter
• -Remove bolts from bellhouse-engine
• -Lower rear and slide box from inputshaft.

 

4 jan 2008 I Still need to “pul” the governor. But first the head has to be done. After the leaking radiator had to repaired and since I brought the cylinder head to Paul for a reckon the priorities have shifted. The car has to be prepped for the MOT in January 24th first.

10 nov 2007 Box is in place and I’ve driven it 3 times by now. Everything is fine except the the box doesn’t shift right. “would not upshift from 1st to 2nd when cold. Only after driving ~1/2 mile would it finally shift, and then almost immediately into 3rd and would then not downshift without the use of the shift lever. After the engine/transmission warmed up, the transmission operated as expected. These symptons seemed to indicate a sticky governor.” I read this on the jaguar forum and it’s exactly my problem. sticky governor.

25 okt 2007 Last week I installed the “new” box. I also installed the “new” main driveshaft. I made the alignment tool described in the haynes manual. The shaft is not alligned. I used up all the movement in the oval boltholes but the front is still 4mm off. I wander what the consequences will be.

I ordered 20ltr type-f ATF. Why so much? because I want to flush the gearbox. Especially the cooler and torqueconverter are still full of old and conteminated oil.

Flushing the box means filling the box with clean oil but disconnecting the returnline from the cooler to the gearbox. (just above the gearselectorlever there are two pipes attached to the box. The rear pipe is returnline and the one detached.)
Then the car can be started. With a hose connected to the returnline which goes into a container. The oil is pumped from sump through the box and through all the oilcoolerlines and hopefully the new oil forces the old dirty oil out.

17 okt 2007 I ticked all the boxes above.. or: the old box is on the garage floor. I can’t get it out of there because the car is not jacked up high enough to roll it out on the jack. I can slide it over the floor but getting the new box positioned would be a problem too. I’m doing this job by myself and lifting it onto the jack laying under the car…I’m not sure I’ll manage.

22 sept 2007 Started preparing for the swap. formulated the steps at the top of this chapter. I’ll have to correct a few things on the tvr first. I’ll do that sunday (23rd) then the jag will go inside.

18 sept 2007 Sunday and monday evening I started tydiing my garage a bit. I pulled the spare gearbox out of it’s corner and made a start with cleaning. Using carb cleaner works fine but is dissolved the garagefloor paint. wednesdaynight I will use the pressurecleaner. Next thing I will do is park the jag inside and propperly lift it for acces to exhaust, propshaft and gearbox.

24 juli 2007 Since the TVR is almost on the road I will be able to use the garage again.

GEARBOX: The jag is now unused because the gearbox is slightly started slipping. I have a good gearbox ready so asap I will swap them. This is the first semi major job….I think it will be about a weeks work (no problem) this time I will not renew bands and plates. so should be straightforward.

CYLINDERHEAD: New valve seats are needed because the current onces ar not hardened and need replacing because of the lpg use.

Here is the spare box