I have a 1999 DI with an ongoing tranny issue. When cold it would get stuck in reverse or first. After 5 minutes or so, it would shift properly. Well today, the other shoe dropped. I jumped in, tranny wouldn't shift into gear. I let it warm up a little shifted into reverse, backed up and into first, it was stuck in first, I thought, no big deal, it just isn't warmed up yet. Drove about three blocks, started up a slight hill, still in first, and BANG, the tranny got very loud, loud enough that two guys on the sidewalk stopped and stared, maybe it was the great looking Land Rover..., I turned around and limped home. What now. Anyone dealt with this issue before? The truck is a 1999 DI with 105k miles. Only other tranny issue is/was a hard shift from third to fourth. No leaks, no holes in case. Thanks Phil (so much for the deal on the 2000.....)

 

could of just needed some ATF fluid before the "bang" ..probably looking at a new tranny now

 

tranny fluid changed a few thousand miles ago and before that at 95k miles. Also added the Lucas Tranny treatment. Fluid level before BANG was at appropriate level. Phil

 

Best start looking for a good used tranny, the cost to rebuild is to high to justify doing that. Where do you live, have you called any local salvage yard for prices?

 

I will check around today. With the "cash for clunkers" program there seems to be an abundance of decent Discoverys out there. I am in San Diego and we have a number of wrecking yards down near the border. A used tranny should run around $500 maybe less.

Anything to look for in buying a used tranny? I assume:

1. the lower the miles the better,
2. check the fluid and see if it is clean and
3. does not smell burnt.

Thankfully the DI odometers are mechanical so if I can find one in a truck I can check the miles even if the truck won't start or the battey is missing. Anything else?

With the tranny out, are there any service items that I should do, rear main seal, isn't there a cross seal of some sort? Any tranny seals to change?

Mine is a 99 DI. Are there any differences in the 97, 98 or 99 trannys?

Thanks, Phil

1999 DI 105k miles
2000 DII 127k miles
2001 DII 80k miles

 

All 96 thru 99 D1's use the same tranny.
Drain all the fluid out, make sure you get another torque convertor, replace the engines rear mail seal along with the front and rear on the used tranny and flush out your tranny cooler lines to make sure you don't have a lot of warn material in them.

 

Change the filter in the "new" trans before you put it in.

 

I know when the tranny is installed, a drain and fill will only get out some of the fluid. When the tranny is out of the vehicle, is there a recommended way of getting all of the fluid out for a more complete refill? Thanks Phil

 

When you do a drain and fill you remove 60% or so of the old fluid, 20% or so of old fluid will remain in the torque converter.
Take that off and drain it.
Now you have drained out ~80% of the old fluid.
Now change the filter which will hold 5% of the old fluid.
Now you are at 85% or better of getting the old fluid out.

The only 100% sure fire way to get all of the old fluid out is to take it apart or to have it flushed by a trans fluid exchange machine.

Here is what I would do, replace the filter and drain the torque converter, you will need to refill the torque converter before putting it back onto the trans.
Put it back in the truck and fill it and forget about it.
Change the fluid every 30,000 miles and the filter every 60,000 and the trans should last you this side of forever.

 

thanks for the insight! Hopefully out and in over the weekend. Got to order some parts from AB this morning. I will return and report. thanks again. Phil