Member Since: 23 Dec 2017
Location: West Dorset
Posts: 14
Gearbox/Transferbox Leak
Hi,
I've just purchased a 2006 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 S, and have noticed it has a leak!
I've crawled underneath and it appears to be coming from a sump just above and forrard of a cross member which is in the region of the front doors.
This is my first Discovery and indeed first 4X4 so I'm not sure if I'm looking at the gearbox or transfer box, it's leaking a clear fluid.
Is it fairly straight forward to drop the fluid, take the sump off and reseal? and will I need a gasket or are they sealed with a bead of goo?
Many thanks in advance!
23rd Dec 2017 3:34 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10360
sounds like gearbox.
Is the sump plastic with fins ?
or metal ?
If metal it has been replaced (which is good news). THe trouble is the metal ones tend to leak!
If its leaking a significant amount, I would be temped to go round the bolts and give them a tighten. (don't break um though!). Clean off the fluid, and monitor to see if you have improved it.
metal ones has gaskets.
plastic ones have a seal in a runner. But if its plastic, no point just replacing the seal
23rd Dec 2017 5:06 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10360
It's not easy to refit a plastic one as the cross member needs to come off !
23rd Dec 2017 5:10 pm
Nevets
Member Since: 23 Dec 2017
Location: West Dorset
Posts: 14
Hi Pete,
Thanks for your reply!
It's a metal sump and I crawled underneath just for a quick look today, so I'll do as you suggest and nip up the bolts a bit and see how it goes!
Thanks again and Merry Christmas!
23rd Dec 2017 5:27 pm
Nevets
Member Since: 23 Dec 2017
Location: West Dorset
Posts: 14
I did think that it looked very clean and new, so maybe it's recently been replaced and not tightened properly.... Wishful thinking?
23rd Dec 2017 5:30 pm
Nevets
Member Since: 23 Dec 2017
Location: West Dorset
Posts: 14
So I got underneath this morning, removed the under tray and managed to tighten all the sump bolts a fair bit.
So we'll see, hopefully that's cured it!
24th Dec 2017 2:01 pm
Nevets
Member Since: 23 Dec 2017
Location: West Dorset
Posts: 14
Well, all seemed well over Christmas and I did about 800 miles with no issues and no apparent leaks!
Since I've been home I left it parked for a couple of days and it's started leaking again! All the time I was away I had it parked on the level, but here at home it's parked on a steep hill facing upwards!
I've only noticed this afternoon that the leak has returned so I've left it in a different spot facing downhill, to see if there is a difference.
Does anyone know what the capacity of the gearbox fluid is? I'm wondering if when on the level the sump holds all the fluid, so I might be able to loosen all of the sump bolts and squirt a bead of Hylomar or similar to seal it?
A bodge I know.....
2nd Jan 2018 6:31 pm
Sea Raider
Member Since: 01 Nov 2016
Location: None
Posts: 4450
There is an electrical plug in the gearbox and the O rings are known to fail
Dont know much more than this I'm afraid as I had the gearbox serviced at a ZF dealer and they advised that the plug should be replaced at the same time as the service as they were prone to leaking
2nd Jan 2018 6:55 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10360
progress then....
All you need to do is park the car the correct way round
Good point about the plug seal. There is a plug at the rear of the gearbox, so if the car front is higher it could be that.
The gearbox level is well above the sump, so you can't drop it easily.
Roughly 3 litres in sump.
There is a level plug on the drivers side of the gearbox. And with the engine off, its much higher than that
2nd Jan 2018 7:23 pm
Nevets
Member Since: 23 Dec 2017
Location: West Dorset
Posts: 14
OK thanks for the replies!
I'm taking it to the local Landy specialists tomorrow to get it on the ramps. They're really a bunch of Defender guys and shuddered when they realised I was talking about a Disco 3!
Thanks for the pointer re the plug! Maybe when it's parked on the hill, there's enough pressure to make that seal leak. Anyway I'll be able to have a good look tomorrow!
2nd Jan 2018 7:34 pm
Nevets
Member Since: 23 Dec 2017
Location: West Dorset
Posts: 14
What is the plug plugged into?
Temp sensor? ATF Level sensor?
2nd Jan 2018 10:13 pm
BAZ8046
Member Since: 26 Feb 2010
Location: Chatham
Posts: 278
It’s the main electrical connector for the gearbox that tends to leak.
The seal fails and allows fluid to leak past.
If it is this then it needs to be changed from inside the box.
Not my picture but gives you an idea of location.
D4 2016 Landmark, Waitomo Grey.
D3 2005 HSE, Bonatti Grey, now sold but still comes back for servicing.
Defender 2002 Td5 Commercial, had a hard life but slowly being restored.
I only work so I can afford to repair my Land Rovers!
2nd Jan 2018 10:33 pm
Sea Raider
Member Since: 01 Nov 2016
Location: None
Posts: 4450
Managed to find the invoice - states Electronic Transmission Plug £36.63
2nd Jan 2018 10:44 pm
kajtzu
Member Since: 11 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6566
The part is TZV500010, I got a genuine for around €12.
2nd Jan 2018 11:00 pm
Nevets
Member Since: 23 Dec 2017
Location: West Dorset
Posts: 14
Thanks for that! Good forum this!
So it's been up on the ramps and it appears that it is that electrical connector that is leaking and possibly from the metal sump as well. The metal sump looks fairly new, so maybe someone has installed that in an attempt to cure the leak.
Anyway it's all been cleaned up and I've parked it back on the hill and we'll see what it looks like in a couple of days, but I'm fairly satisfied that it's the plug. Given that the sump has to come off to install a new plug then a new gasket, and possibly a bit of goo as well should seal that as well.
The Defender guys I took it to don't seem fazed by it, but he did mention a local Disco specialist that I didn't know about that I could take it to if they don't fancy it. So we'll see, I'll make other enquiries in the meantime as well.
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