LR3 138K, tranny fluid never changed(as far as can tell)Changed the plastic pan out for the metal. Thought had filled with the same amount of fluid that came out,
(2005-2009 Land Rover LR3 A/T Fluid - Febi LRN13754, Notes: Automatic Transmission Fluid (1 Liter) -- Equivalent to: Shell M-1375.4., $13/quart
https://www.partsgeek.com/3dfr321-la...er+A%2FT+Fluid )

but upon first start, almost no forward gear grip. Put more fluid in, then ran fine, but developed no grip condition after stopping at a light, and upon start up.
Shifting up to neutral then back into drive would get it to grip and drive. Put yet more fluid in. Now,once driving, shifts fine, but still upon start up, need to upshift to neutral, sometimes twice, before
first gear will engage.

I realize the fill up on these is tricky, dependent upon temp, and car must be running, etc., etc. Am just thinking, somehow, there is not enough fluid in the converter upon start up, and the only way
to get fluid in there might be to engage first gear, and put fluid in while first gear engaged, in other words, sort of like bleeding the transmission.

Does this sound reasonable?

 

when you did the fill up, was it just with the car running?

you need to put the tranny in R, N, D for at least a few seconds each then back into park before filling to the right level.

That will suck fluid up into everything and make sure enough fluid is put in (all in all you should put roughly 6 qts of fluid in post pan change)

 

Did you perform ANY other maintenance or repairs during your trans service?

Did your clear the transmission adaptations after the service?

Did you follow the ZF transmission top off procedure? Temperature of fluid, level surface, etc?

 

Im not familiar with this transmission yet, but to me it sounds like the filter is not secured. On many trans, the filter is the suction pick-up.

 

Yes, got in car, cycled through the gears, then filled to overflowing. This helped a lot, as vehicle now finds first gear at stops, it still won't find first
upon initial start up, still have to upshift to neutral, then it gets first. I watched a vid where they did this,..... they had one guy in the car, shifting to first,
this of course sucked up the fluid, so the other filled while the car was in gear. This is what am thinking it needs.

I realize there are issues about the adaptive learning, etc. that might need to be reset, but it seems something like not getting first must be a mechanical issue to do with fluid level.

 

No other repairs, did replace the electronics module at the back, as per recommendations, and did change to the new metal pan.

Did not clear the adaptations. Basically followed guidelines from a tutorial by Atlantic British tech support, which included a video of the procedure.
They did not mention adaptation setting or temperature.
Have heard of the adaptations settings, but have not followed up on that, as yet. It seemed that not getting first gear would have to be a mechanical issue to do
with fluid. Adding more certainly helped. Did see a video of this procedure, where one person put the vehicle in gear, while simultaneously another filled
the tranny as the fluid was sucked up due to being in gear. Have also been advised this is what must be done on another forum.

Vehicle was on level ground. Did not check temperature. I realize this is mentioned as well, but none of the sources have used checked temperature.

Honestly, am certain am prejudiced by years of adding fluid to correct dipstick level....but with this vehicle, it seems it is not just a matter of getting the right amount of fluid in the trans.
but massaging the process with gear changes, etc. during the filling process.

If you could send references on resetting the adaptation setting, that would be appreciated.
Thanks.