Member Since: 07 Oct 2013
Location: Perthshire
Posts: 19
New torque converter
I just thought I'd post a quick summary of my journey to a new TC in case anyone's in a similar situation.
TDV6 SE ('05) was bought in 2013 with 105,000 miles on the clock. It had very slight judders uphill after very long runs so I added Dr Tranny and all was well for about a year before the judders started again. Disco Mikey did a full flush and oil change and the judders disappeared again, but re-appeared about 9 months afterwards and a second application of Dr Tranny made no difference.
I phoned a very good local garage but they did not want to change the TC as they did not believe that it was at fault - rather that it would be the gearbox. I tried Charles Butler in Forfar but they wanted £4,500 to change the gearbox and would not entertain changing only the TC. So I tried Mackie Transmissions in Glasgow, who said that they would not pre-judge until they had driven it. They duly did drive it, and agreed to change the TC and (on my request) change the gearbox oil and filter at the same time. £1,400 later I have a Disco that is smooth, quiet, and with fuel consumption that has jumped from 22 mpg pre-op to 28 mpg post-op!
I always think it's useful to pass on good recommendations. My two recommendations are Disco Mikey and Mackie Transmissions. It's always too easy to moan about bad work but much more important to praise the good.
Hope that's useful. 250,000 miles is the aim. I also have a V8 SE that's of similar vintage so I should probably book Mackie Transmissions for its TC in due course!
Shuggy.
11th Dec 2015 10:24 pm
anjo14
Member Since: 27 Apr 2012
Location: Lanarkshire
Posts: 562
Mackie transmission quoted me last year approx £2300 for transmission rebuild and new TC they know what they are talking about as they are ZF agents and also do work for main dealers but instead I got DM to do a flush and so far all is well with just a slight judder.. D3 TDV6 S MY2005
If you have a slight judder, IMHO, you need to get it booked in for a TC change now - otherwise you will be in to a full rebuild as the clutches will burn out.Mark.
2006, D3 SE Auto - gone but not forgotten.
2014 BMW 530d M Sport Tourer.
1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500
_________________________________________________
Disco Picture Website Here
12th Dec 2015 10:49 pm
MGCarr
Member Since: 15 Jul 2014
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 703
+1 for anglefire's comments; my Discovery 3 started juddering under light load, up hill, last year at around 140,000 miles and a double drain of the auto transmission oil plus the addition of Doctor Tranny got rid of the symptoms. They returned a few weeks ago at around 150,000 miles but fitting a reconditioned torque converter has transformed the car to driving like new and significantly improved the fuel consumption.
The company I used (BA Transmissions in Keighley) showed me a stripped down torque converter and the thickness of the friction material on the lock up clutch, when new, is only around 3mm, I think that all Dr Tranny does is reduce the friction and allow a worn lock up clutch to slip without juddering thereby delaying the inevitable but increasing the risk of debris from the friction material clogging up the rest of the gearbox
Replacing the torque converter also got rid of a very annoying metallic rattle that sounded like a loose heat shield when going from drive to overrun and back.
1997 Defender 90 for the kids and I to have a go at some competitive off road RTV and Tyro trials, daughter picked up her first trophy over the August Bank Holiday.
Previous Land Rover history
1996 P38 4.6 V8 Autobiography
1996 Discovery TDi 300
1972 Range Rover 3.5 V8
LWB Hard Top Series 3
LWB Truck Cab Series 2A
Not been without a Land Rover for over 40 years - I must need therapy!
13th Dec 2015 3:27 am
Weedyapl
Member Since: 23 Sep 2015
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 81
+2 for angelfire
I had judder/hunting so had a flush then it removed judder and hunting. I still experienced a very occasional slip that most people who drove it didn't perceive but I certainly did about 2-3 times a week along with that I also getting that horrid metallic noise.
Shoot forward to Monday 6,000km after that transmission failure warnings, F, now it slips pretty much on every change and literally jolts into first 5 seconds after stopping so violently it feels like I'm being rear ended. Its not drivable and is getting towed to transmission specialist luckily the place does cheap pick ups less then half the price of a normal towing company.
Just figure out if you want to keep the car and get it done cause I think you will only just end up like we have anyway. I'm taking it back to the ZF specialists who flushed it and as a result they are giving me a discount of $500 AUD off the trans rebuild/new TC so that's something else to consider. All up I have been quoted $6000 AUD or £2,872 for you northern folk.
Mine was used for towing a caravan in hot far north Australian climate by the previous owner. It had the metal sump but who knows if they did proper maintenance with all that towing and heat. A bonus to that down side I guess is that you should see underneath the thing it looks like its only 3 years old at most.
16th Dec 2015 2:35 am
Barn1e D3 Decade
Member Since: 28 Aug 2006
Location: Mid-sussex
Posts: 2021
I can only speak of my personal experience and research done before my TC was changed:
1. Flush every 75k miles to prevent the judder
2. If you get the judder, treatment like Dr Tranny will alleviate the problem, but it will return. Once you have had the judder, you will need a new torque converter
3. If you leave it too long to change the TC, after having the judder, you will need a transmission refurbishment.
Option 1 costs perhaps £300. Option 2 about £1100. Option 3 about £2200.2005, TDV6 S, Auto, 190k miles, owned from new, V8 Brake Upgrade, Nancom Evo, RLD protector, BAS EGR blanking & Remap, separate ATF cooler, changing all the fluids ahead of time.
Ditto the above, though I would say 50k would be a more reliable interval for a flush. Current: Discovery 3 06MY (55 reg) HSE Auto Zambezi Silver Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
Freelander 2 2007 HSE Manual Tambora Flame
Previous: FL2 56 reg SE Manual Black (written off )
Disco 3 06 reg B7S Manual Rimini Red
Disco 2 TD5 Y reg ES Manual Blue - Chipped
Several Discovery 300 TDis
16th Dec 2015 9:02 am
fino
Member Since: 28 Feb 2014
Location: Middlesex/ Surrey
Posts: 163
If the TC is changed at Bristol transmissions? what have people gone for? a new torque convertor or the one which is 'modified to prevent lock up judder'?
Mines got the judder coming back, following a gearbox flush (16k miles later) and Dr Tranny some 8k miles ago.
Last edited by fino on 16th Dec 2015 12:18 pm. Edited 1 time in total
16th Dec 2015 12:16 pm
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20853
The ZF intervals are already 50-75k miles, or as low as 30k, if doing lots of towing, off roading or high speed driving My D3 Build Thread
If the TC is changed at BA transmissions? what have people gone for? a new torque convertor or the one which is 'modified to prevent lock up judder'?
I opted for a brand new unit (not at BA Tranmissions, that is) - saves any concern over quality issues, balancing etc.Current: Discovery 3 06MY (55 reg) HSE Auto Zambezi Silver Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
Freelander 2 2007 HSE Manual Tambora Flame
Previous: FL2 56 reg SE Manual Black (written off )
Disco 3 06 reg B7S Manual Rimini Red
Disco 2 TD5 Y reg ES Manual Blue - Chipped
Several Discovery 300 TDis
16th Dec 2015 12:26 pm
A.J.M
Member Since: 31 Oct 2009
Location: Carluke
Posts: 2855
Good to hear of another Mackies good story.
They will be getting both my car and a mates next year to sort out.
Shall get them to drive the cars but they both are juddering badly and oil changed haven't helped.
16th Dec 2015 1:07 pm
DALEK
Member Since: 28 Jul 2011
Location: Near Stockport
Posts: 633
I, and a number of other forum members have gone to BA Transmissions in Keighley and the results have been excellent and very fairly priced, so +1D3 HSE ........................Gone!!!
?
I sometimes have a slight shudder at slow speeds possibly 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st, not under load normally when breaking.
I think it may have always done this?
Is this torque converter related or just the autobox finding a gear?
Now on 132k, autobox gets a single flush every 10/15k and has done since original oil was changed at 60k.
Steve Discovery 3 HSE - sold
Defender 90 TD5 Station Wagon - sold
Mini Cooper Clubman
Discovery 4 XS
16th Dec 2015 4:13 pm
MGCarr
Member Since: 15 Jul 2014
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 703
DALEK wrote:
I, and a number of other forum members have gone to BA Transmissions in Keighley and the results have been excellent and very fairly priced, so +1
I would certainly recommend BA transmissions at Keighley, they supplied and fitted a reconditioned torque converter and fitted a new sump pan and filter,that I had already bought, to my car for a very reasonable price
The car has been as smooth as silk and a bit better on fuel economy ever since.
1997 Defender 90 for the kids and I to have a go at some competitive off road RTV and Tyro trials, daughter picked up her first trophy over the August Bank Holiday.
Previous Land Rover history
1996 P38 4.6 V8 Autobiography
1996 Discovery TDi 300
1972 Range Rover 3.5 V8
LWB Hard Top Series 3
LWB Truck Cab Series 2A
Not been without a Land Rover for over 40 years - I must need therapy!
16th Dec 2015 4:21 pm
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20853
Lost for Words wrote:
fino wrote:
If the TC is changed at BA transmissions? what have people gone for? a new torque convertor or the one which is 'modified to prevent lock up judder'?
I opted for a brand new unit (not at BA Tranmissions, that is) - saves any concern over quality issues, balancing etc.
This was also my logic
The factory see all the returns and failures, and have upgraded the parts that do fail for a better service life
That said, nothing beats an early oil change to prevent the damage happening in the first placeMy D3 Build Thread
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Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
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