Ok was just told my 2005 LR3 needs a new trans, it has 165,000 miles on it but it looks great, any ideas of where to buy a transmission at a fair price? Any good mechanics in Louisville KY? Thanks for any help!!

 

http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/TGD500431RK.cfm

No idea on mechanic but hopefully someone else can chime in

 

Look for a true independent who has a lot of dead Mercedes and Audi's parked outside. Those guys will know your ZF6HP26X and will probably beable to fix it. Rarely is a rebuilt needed, only someone who can speak ZF.

 

Why do you need a new transmission? I would think that the ZF transmission would last a long time.

 

Someone from SoCal that worked in a transmission shop posted that they did theses Land Rover ZF transmissions and it was most likely a solenoid ($200) or the valve body ($1200).

Find a competent mechanic that knows Rovers is key

 

Ok I go to pick it up today and they tell me that the trans fluid is broke down and the torque converter is going out so that's why I need a new transmission. Please know that since 120,000 miles every oil change has been done at this dealership, and everytime we have asked "are you sure we shouldn't change the transmission fluid" to witch they have told us "No it's a sealed transmission you should never change the fluid" so today when they told me the reasoning it had to be replaced I nearly flipped my lid, I said "we've asked you many of times to change our fluid and you keep telling us you can't because its sealed" so I explain to they land rover recommends it be changed every 10 years or 150,000 miles, he says "are you sure? Let me look that up" he finds it on the computer then looks at me with amazement and says "hu that's odd, we just never have them in here with this many miles". I tell them I believe they need to do something about telling me the past 45,000 miles that they don't do something that would directly cause the issue I have now. They tell me to just leave it with them and they will see what they can do, what should I do?

 

The problem you have just run into is not unique to that dealership or Land Rover. That is the same answer you get at Mercedes and often at Audi dealerships as well. They just do not know anything about the ZF trannies.

It reminds me of the fifties when automatics first started to show up in American cars -the dealerships were the last to learn how they worked and how to fix - if even now. That is why the transmission repair chains were able to get going nationwide - they filled a void.

This is why I said you have to find a true independent tranny shop with a pack of dead Mercedes parked about. The Mercedes dealers only know how to remove old and install new/rebuilt.

Your dealer, and most other Jag / Land Rover / Audi / Mercedes dealers do not know how to change the oil. In your case, the odds are that is all that is needed, and a filter. The main problem is the engine has to be lifted a bit to get access to remove and replace the plastic oil pan - that is why the guys in Australia are changing to metal pans as they change oil maybe every 50,000 miles or less due to the harsh conditions.

Also there is no fill pipe - it is a threaded hole in the side of the tranny and the proper level is determined with a heat measurement gun, not your finger; also the drain hole can be a bit of a mystery as well.

I am beginning to think your cost of repair is going to be the cost of the oil change, but it is not cheap - figure a thousand dollars at an independent or two thousand from a dealer that actually knows how. Part of the reason for the high cost is the ZF recommended oil appears to contain a mix of stardust and Unobtainium.

The link below has a fair bit of material related to the tranny.

DISCO3.CO.UK Photo Gallery - ZF 6HP26 Automatic Transmission in LR3

Below is one of those internal documents that sure circles around reality but you know what ZF means.

Dear Distributor:

It has come to our attention there is confusion in the field regarding service intervals and fluid recommendations for ZF 5HP and 6HP applications.

ZF has promoted lifetime service for many 5HP and 6HP factory filled transmissions. Lifetime is not clearly defined and each OEM manufacture has there own philosophy. ZF stands behind lifetime recommendation where listed in the vehicle operator’s manual. ZF engineered and tested our fluids to retain its characteristics through normal lifetime operating conditions. However, a spirited driving style, special environmental considerations and other individual driving factors may place higher than normal loads on transmission fluids. To assure proper operation it is advisable to perform a drain and fill at 100,000km/62,000 miles or eight years.

Due to the complexity of operation, high output of current engine offerings and the expectation drivers place on their ZF equipped vehicles ZF only endorses the use of ZF Lifeguard Fluids and parts or OEM approved fluids and parts. Fluids and parts not approved for use by ZF or the original equipment manufacturers have not been tested and may not meet the required demands. Use of these fluids or parts will void factory warranties and warranties placed on aftermarket transmissions remanufactured by ZF. The use of any fluid additives is prohibited as the result will unpredictably change fluid properties potentially resulting in transmission failure.

Some fluids previously recommended were factory fill or available only in the European market. To simplify obtaining the correct recommended fluids ZF now offers Lifguardfluid5, Lifeguardfluid6 and Lifeguardfluid8.

Finally there are some customers that feel the need to perform a transmission oil service as part of their regular maintenance. Changing the fluid more often is entirely their decision. Properly performed oil service will not damage the transmission. Most problems occur due to improper refill procedures, incorrect fluid and or non OE parts or with transmissions that already have a drivability problem. Use of ZF or OE parts and fluid is strongly recommended for best results.

 

Backing up a minute, was there anything that indicated to you that there was anything wrong with the transmission? Like the revs climbing while at a stop, or the truck trying to take off at a stop? Any shifting issues? Loss of power? Slipping anytime during acceleration? Or did they just tell you it needed replacement?

Let them see what they can do, I guess? Does that mean they're doing it for free? They'll probably do a fluid change and change the pan/filter. Probably tell you that its the best they can do and you might have the tranny blow up later down the road and give it back to you. Charging you for the materials would be acceptable; labor would not be in my opinion. They should ask you to 'okay' any work prior, so you should ask about the payment terms prior.

 

What made us start asking about changing the fluid in the beginning (around 120,000 miles) was I had just had a transmission go out in my F250 ford pickup, at that time I had nearly 200,000 miles on it and was told that if I had changed the fluid in it the. It would still probably be ok. So this got me thinking I better change the fluid in all my transmissions, however the landrover dealership continued to tell me it should never be changed.

Now the reason I took it to them this week was because it had slop in the transmission when taking off from a dead stop and when I would stop occasionally it would attempt to lunge forward after I applied the break.

 

By any chance, is the tranny in your F250 some variant of the Ford 6R60? I ask that as the 6R60 is a license built version of the ZF 6HP26. I think Ford got tired of paying ZF for the trannys in their Expeditions and similar; hence the 6R60.

The two share a lot of parts - like near all. The oil is re the Ford is cheaper however.