If fluid is dark, or smells like burnt coffee pot, that could indicate lots of clutch material floating around in the fluid, and it won't grow back. If linkage is correct (and that is certainly a place to start), and you are actually going into the forward gears, then time for tranny work. But normally (when teenage hormones are not involved) you get a warning over a period of time, like engine revs between shifts, slipping, etc. At the slipping point some tranny elexirs (Lucas, Dr. Tranny) will have an impact for a period of time that varies by vehicle and level of stress. Example, my Montero Sport was slipping, at 160K, added plenty of Lucas, and sold it at 298K, but I live on flat ground.

A used tranny from the boneyard can be had for $125 near me, u pull, and there are dismantlers that sell them from parted out Rovers. The dismantler has the advantage in knowing if the vehicle actually was driven in, boneyards don't always mark it. To be fair, most boneyard Rovers are there because of engine overheating.

Yes, you could buy a kit of parts to rebuild the tranny, but a ZF tranny is way past DIY for the average guy.

You'ld have to be the judge of putting $1500 for a shop rebuild into a vehicle. I only paid $1750 for my 97.

 

I agree and hope that it's something simple. It's at the tranny shop as we speak...hopefully they will get it figured out today. Down here in Mississippi the local dealership should be tried for rape...rates are stupid high. There are smaller shops willing to tackle rover problems but when it comes to transmissions there is only one or two reputable shops that can rebuild them. Ready for this??? They charge between $2500 - $3000 minimum.

I have a 97 Disco complete for parts with around 160K miles on it. The only problem it was supposed to have was ignition problems. The cheapest route to take is doing a swap but that is a 50/50 chance at best...risk one will have to take.

I have found transmissions for around $300 to $500 delivered. Trying to find them with low mileage is hard on one that old. If you know of any sources, please post them.

Thanks!