My auto box/transfer box/axle (delete cheapest) has gone bang on the way home this evening..

Autobox began getting juddery pulling away from lights and seeming to slip. Had a period of clutch plate burning smell and I think a bang then all seemed OK - drove fine, kicked down, etc but slipped when moving away again.

Got home tried to turn around to park and no reverse - goes in fine but wont move and stalls. Problem is now I m across driveway against fence with no reverse - cant push it so try to tow with landrover/ winch it but wheels seem stuck solid and ended up dragging it backwards - still goes forward fine.

Quick look - (2300hrs) with torch - seem to have oil around front axle/transfer box and autobox pan - difficult to tell if fresh or if from one particular place.

Anyone any ideas that might be simple - rather than pay to have it recovered to garage?

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Orvis 4.0L auto box, permant 4 x 4.

Thanks.

W.

Once upon a time all there were Series 1 2 and 3  Landrovers or Landrovers or Landrovers and I might have been able to help.Best of luck

Phil

Sorry to hear about that Wolfie.

I re-built an auto box many years ago, not sure what is in the modern ones but I wouldn't be suprised to find a defective valve and a mashed up brake band.

Best of luck

Chas

Only repair shop I can find in the area says not to bother trying to repair... cost of refurbed one is £1560+ VAT for fitted.

Think will be scrapped - only paid about £1000 more than that for it last year

W.

If you want a good 4x4 look at Nissan Terranos-you can pick them up for little over £2000 10 plus years old and if you get a low mileage Eg.they are a very quite drive and give you about 30mpg on a simple turbocharges indirect diesel.

I still miss mine four years on-particularly the very quite drive and really good handling -the body is slung on rubber dampers and ride is far less truck like than say Discovery.

Phil

The questions are:

Is the vehicle in good order apart from the gear box?

Could you go out and buy another one in good order for £1,560 + VAT?

Will the repair shop do a cash job?

Have you tried the internet for a gear box from a scrapped vehicle?

Is what you will be able to buy for the cost of the repair going to be as good as your vehicle if the repair was carried out?

Cheers

Chas

Answers!

Reasonable but high mileage.

Possibly from Ebay or similar.

No.

Yes - got  2 quotes so far - £270 and £690 - worried due to hugh difference in price that 1st might be crap although comes with 90 day warranty.

Not sure.

Trouble is being stuck on a sand spit 6/7 days makes life difficult when thing like this happen...

Not sure if I have sufficent confidence in my ability to do it myself...

W.

My Volvo's got over 200k on the clock and still seems fine.

It's the choice between the devil you know and...............

What's the warranty on the fitted refurb one?

As for a second hand box: You can find out if the boxes are normally reliable or prone to any particular defect by going on the internet. Do you know what vehicles they have been removed from (condition / milage etc). Did they ever change the gearbox type? (Don't wan't to go and buy one then find it won't go in)

Confidence or not it doesn't sound like you've got time to do it!

Know any mechanics who'll do it privately for cash?

You could be pi55ing around for ages, it may be easiest to bite the bullet, get the garage to fit the recon box and be done with it.

All the best

Chas

Time isn't a huge factor but the pi$$ing about worries me too... but cant afford nearly 1 1/2 months wages for it...

Lots of different gearboxes fitted to them

W.

Right, a change of car sounds out of the question really then!

1. Check out weakness on the web just to make sure that a second hand box isn't a potential time bomb.

2 See how many are suitable for your vehicle, which types.

3. If they're OK find cheapest correct type 2nd hand box with least milage / abuse.

4. I bet one of your crew will know a mechanic who'll help you do it for cash and not too much. Maybe none at all because you are a lifeboat man.

It ain't that hard, you've only got the gear box out then change it. In fact, see if you can get the workshop manual then study it; you may be able to fix yours. If time is not the major factor, you may as well get it up on ramps and start removing the old one now. You've got nothing to loose mate. I rebuilt an auto box when I was about 20 it isn't magic but you do need the book.

Best of luck

Chas

1. Don't think theres much in it - looks like maybe mine has blown seal and 'making progress' on the motorway has done the damage

2. Only one fits!

3. Working on that...

4. The problem is that there just isn't anyone local... nothing is local to here!

5. Got the Haynes manual and doesn't look too bad, but not something I ve done before.

Unfortunatelty Jeep dealers seem to have a closed shop on spares except for Ebay. Recently brought new brake calipers - quoted £120 each (!) in this country from a local factors, refurb kit was £30 ish. I had a pair shipped from USA for just under £50.00 including delivery, via Ebay.

We re off to California in September but think gearbox might take us over our baggage allowance!

Anyway watch this space - once I can get it into the garage and start fiddling I m sure I ll get the confidence to do it myself. Thanks for he encouragement and advise.

W.

Update on the gearbox problem!

... found a cheap one which turned out to be different despite coming from the same year/model and Jeep assuring me it would fit.

... removed old one OK - few really awkard bolts.

... fitted right one with Dad's help - they re heavy!

... right fluid only available from dealer - over £5  a litre!

... cost - around £400 plus sore arms, back, neck and lots fo swearing!

... in future - need ramp/dry garage with no leaks in roof!

... saved around £1600 but lots of hassle and would have been problem if time critical.

W.

Well done Wolfie, I knew you could do it.

It's not in the nature of the RNLI to whimp out!

Cheers

Chas

Yeah, quite a feel good factor when I drove it out of the 'garage' and down to the worshop to wash it.

W.

PS Possibly not RNLI much longer - at least not full time - been offered Skipper's job on survey/wind farm servicing boat/relief Mate on the company's large survey vessel...

Great Yarmouth

Waiting to see if we can find somewhere to live first... complete with rabbit, horse and large fish tank!

W.