So, long story short I use my 03 Disco as an everyday driver and trail runner, and far it’s been great; until about an Hour ago when I’m pretty sure the tranny just went. Well $#/% So join me as I try and diagnose what the hell is going on and if I have to replace the tranny god forbid as I swap it out. Never done something this in depth but I feel like it’s something I need to learn to do considering I want to keep this car. I freakin love it man. So if you got any advice or just wanna laugh at me go for it! I’ll read through all and reply as I can, plus lots of photos. So yeah first thing tomorrow morning I’m getting a started so, wish me luck
-R

This is the Bastard

 

Plus I’m gonna do some diff work and suspension soon that’s why it’s in this thread forgive me Mod Gods

 

Have you checked the fluid level, it must be done while running. Start engine, run through the gears (with foot on brake or using parking brake), then put in park, remove front plug from trans, fluid should just barely drain from the hole (if vehicle is level and correct fluid level). If nothing comes out, you are probably low, add until fluid comes out the fill hole, a stream about the diameter of 1/8 inch.

Also, are you getting any codes?

Brian.

EDIT: if you posted this info in the Dll section/forum...you'd get more responses. Wish I knew how to move it myself...but I'm not seeing anything that allows.

 

Moved it for ya Brian

 

Thanks for moving it, and that was my first thought exactly I didn’t update that morning because I was kind of pissed and here’s why. It’s a little bit of background the previous owner of my D2 at one point snap the front driveshaft and as we all know that has a tendency to damage the transmission so when I bought it all I saw were some scuffs on the pan and some dents but nothing serious and I’ve done transmission work before haven’t had huge issues, but looking at it this time around when I dropped the pan yesterday the transmission housing was straight up cracked so, When it Got hot it must have just made this crack that already exist even worse and it’s pretty bad, I’ll throw a picture up but I’m definitely gonna have to at the very least

Drop the transmission but I’m pretty sure it’s cooked

 

@rovingaz Ryan

What are your symptoms ? Sorry you posted as I did, yup that is pooched you will need a new transmission

When you check the fluids the engine has to remain running, I suggest the process :

1. Get under there and loosen the filler plug engine off DO NOT REMOVE it just a turn or so
2. put some cardboard underneath
3. Now start the Disco up and put it in each gear count to 3 and into the next one
4. Back into park
5. Get a white piece of paper
6. Crawl underneath and remove the filler plug if you get a thin stream great
7. Catch some fluid on the paper - it should RED, not brown or brownish red
8. Put the filler plug back in.
9. Shut down

 

Thanks Richard for the information, back when I did my filter and gasket I pretty much did the same process but I did like the idea with the white piece of paper, I pretty much had a limp home the last like 20 miles so in that picture if you look you can see the fluid is basically burnt to hell it’s brown and that fluid probably only had less than 1000 miles on it, oh well that’s a bummer 🤷*♂️

Well the route I think I’m gonna take, because to tell you all the truth I am not a wealthy individual I just love these cars, I think I’m gonna pick up a used tranny on eBay, and then go to a local shop that has always done me really really solid with any of my cars that I’ve had and have them just beef it up a little bit make it to where I really don’t wanna have to worry about The “new” transmission. If any of you guys have any recommendations on things to do while I wait I’d love to hear it. I’ll probably start a checklist on here. For sure I’m doing head gaskets because I don’t know if the prior owner ever did it

 

I would just get a used one from Will Tillery, they almost never wear out. He has low mile one pretty cheap.

 

Anyway to contact this guy directly all I’ve seen are people happy with his stuff

 

Emailed you his number.