Thanks @whowa004 ! I think I have my final answer. This has been driving me nuts for the longest time and I found out some kinda nifty stuff- especially being a former BMW nut. Apparently the ZF 4HP22E transmission was also used in the E34 chassis BMW (I wonder if this is part of when BMW had Land Rover) and I finally found a thread on some BMW forum about rebuilding it and came up with these 2 pictures:





In the first picture, looking to the far right you can see the connector to what I believe is the VSS, and that harness and such looks very similar to the diagram in my last post. That picture is looking from the bottom up.

If you look at the second picture you can see the top of the VSS on the right and it looks very much like the PN I found from the last post.

So this leaves 2 outstanding questions:
1- Obviously, do I need to take the valve block out to access the sensor? I don’t think so as there is a clip there holding the plug in place (from the first picture) and what looks like the screw holding it in place is all accessible once the pan is down.

2- Is this even the correct part to replace? Based on the last few posts I’ve made I think it is, but I want to be sure. Again, based on my research, the ECM receives 2 speed signals: one from the SLABS, and one from a “VSS”. I think that VSS is this one as it feeds the transmission controller, but I wish I could verify that.

Bottom line, it looks like I was correct in my analysis from probably a couple years ago, but it looks like I have a good bit more definite data to support it, and the only outstanding item is to confirm the VSS that is the second reading is in fact this sensor.

I’d just hate to pull the pan and determine it’s not the fix. I don’t mind doing another tranny service, and the part is only $50-80 is looks like, but I never like to throw parts at things.

 

if pulling the pan find a classic or d1 trans pan with a dip stick and make your life easier. Junkyard, will tillery or Roadside may have one...maybe one day I'll install the one sitting in my shed

 

I know. It’s in the back of my mind, but Jordan verified he thinks the valve block needs to be dropped to get to it. Bummer. Well, we’ll see when I get home and the weather breaks in a few months…

 

I’m back!!!!! For good this time!!!! (Even though the boss is determined to get a place in Tuscany and we go there at some point…. <shaking head> ). NO MORE MOVES!!!!!!!

Aaaaaaanyway…. I picked up the Disco. It was much less dramatic this time as the guy pulled it out and fired it the day I picked it up (not entirely happy about that as I like to check things over prior to firing an old car, but whatever). The only bummer was somehow the rear bumper got cracked really bad. The parking sensor ones are unobtanium, so I’ll most likely be going to a steel bumper of some form. I wanted to keep the Alveston mostly stock looking and leave the “modifications” to the Giverny, but this will change that tack just a bit.

I was able to pick up the boss’ horse trailer and although it tows like a dream, my tires suck when the snow gets deep. I actually had to unhook and get the Jeep to put the trailer in position. Also, those traction boards are beyond useless in snow. This is like the 3rd time I’ve tried to use them in snow and they’ve been annoying more than anything. Perhaps in sand they might be OK, but they are nothing more than a hipster accessory when it comes to snow. I just need to get the Comets refinished and put real tires on them.



A definite downside of living on a dirt road when the temp breaks after some healthy snow.



Yes, those traction boards are worthless. The Jeep didn’t even slip a tire and I only put it in 4 high and no lockers and drove through deeper snow. I REALLY need better tires…



Grrrrrrrr….

 

Glad to have you back in the US of A! You should come out to sunny San Diego for a weekend before the Boss gets stateside. We can play with Discos and eat unhealthy steaks and tacos...

 

Stop with your enablement! I’ll finish getting settled and start to look around. They are looking for office space for me currently, so my working from home days are probably numbered.

I’ve gotta get a pick and post it of the Jeep and Disco in the garage. I was able to get the Jeep in there even with the rack on (probably only a couple MM clearance, but now it can dry out from the big workout it got in the cross country drive).

 

They both fit! As per usual, I’m going to keep barking about the barn not being finished, but that is more financial at this point than time oriented. Either way, both get a bay for a few months until the boss and kids get back.

 

I gave the Alveston its first full detail in who knows how long. I got some enzyme cleaner and left it in the carpet overnight and I think I got the smell out. I probably spent 2 hours vacuuming alone.

I’m very happy with where it is and once things fully settle, I’ll get back on track with finishing the work on it.

It looks really nice when cleaned up.



It’s good to be home.

 

looking good. gotta retrofit those headlights and holy cow I know they aren't "cheap" but the SS3 pro fog lights I put on the classic bumper from Diode dynamics are worth every freaking penny (4th of july sale last year was substantial). Would be awesome to either put those in the highbeam portion of headlight or in place of bumper fogs. Daily usable lights are worth the extra squeeze imo.

 

Oh man, I seriously need to do a headlight upgrade. You know where I live and how dark it gets, and the ones in there now are pretty bad. Some time back you had an extra set of facelift lights ripe for putting in projectors. You still have them?

I’ve been spoiled by the S4’s headlights over in Deutschland, and in the States been driving the Jeep until i picked up the Disco and I put hot rod LEDs in it years ago (best lights of all the cars), so I’m not used to lame headlights. I run the OEM fogs most of the time, which help a good bit, but I swapped the LED bulbs from the Giverny to the Alveston and the are WAY too cool in temp to be useful (too blue). Headlight upgrades may get higher on the list if I’m going to be driving the Disco at night for the rest of winter.