DEFENDER2.NET - View topic - R380 2nd gear problem

↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home · FAQ · New Posts · My Posts · PMs · Search · Members · Map · Calendar · Profile · Donate · Register · Log In

Home > Technical > R380 2nd gear problem

Page 1 of 1

Print this entire topic ·

souster4

Member Since: 11 May 2014
Location: West midlands
Posts: 153

R380 2nd gear problem

Hi all.

Im having trouble with 2nd gear on my 1995 defender 300tdi 130k miles. When the vehicle is cold or it has been standing, 2nd gear is near impossible to get without forcing it. It feels like something is blocking it from going into gear. When i first bought the vehicle i didn't experience it this bad, which was about 6 months ago. All the other gears are perfect, warm or cold.

After a couple months of ownership I changed the ATF in the gearbox with new ATF.. It seemed to improve the 2nd gear change when warm quite considerably but made it worse when cold. It takes a good while for the 2nd gear to loosen up and go into gear decently, approx 10 miles. But the last month getting worse.

So a couple of days ago i decided to give MTF94 a try, after ashcroft transmissions and several people on here recommended to me.

The outcome of MTF94 im quite disappointed with. When cold its no better at all. When warm it seems to go into 2nd gear but it goes in notchy (can sort of feel the gears mesh). Yet Going from 1st to wiggle in neutral to 2nd does seem to improve the change however.

The two different fluids are giving both fors and against when the vehicle is warm. With ATF i seem to be able to go through the gate 1st to 2nd with care, and it will crunch about 25% of the time.

MTF i seem to be able to rev higher in 1st gear, to change into second. But it wont do this smoothly unless i wiggle it in neutral before going into 2nd.

What do you guys think i should do? Could it be remedied by anything outside the gearbox such as a slick shift modification, Or anything in the gear stick housing thats causing it to select poorly. There is a fair amount of slack with the gearstick, however when i bought it - it changed gear great, despite feeling like a stick in a pot of grease. And ive only done about 1000 miles in it.

many thanks in advance

17th Sep 2014 9:45am

landy andy

Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 6054

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver

Mine was massively improved by using fully synthetic oil and additives.

Andy

17th Sep 2014 12:34pm

stevie d

Member Since: 09 Nov 2009
Location: Bishops Stortford
Posts: 342

use MTF 75w80 or 75w90.

Why are you using ATF in an R380 gearbox?

Steve

Defender 90 TD5 Station Wagon
Discovery 3 HSE
BMW 330i Coupe

17th Sep 2014 6:41pm

souster4

Member Since: 11 May 2014
Location: West midlands
Posts: 153

Steve

Read the thread. ATF was in the box from new i guess. I replaced it as per rave.

Im now using MTF94

Thanks guys

17th Sep 2014 9:38pm

silky16v

Member Since: 11 Aug 2014
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 99

2001 Defender 90 Td5 X-Tech LE Blenheim Silver

stevie d wrote:
use MTF 75w80 or 75w90.

Why are you using ATF in an R380 gearbox?

Steve

not in a R380 gearbox the oil is too thick use MTF94 or at a push try 10w40 fully sync engine oil (temporarily only)

23rd Sep 2014 1:00pm

Defender-Stu

Member Since: 14 Jun 2012
Location: South West England
Posts: 1320

I had the same problem in my D2 and the 2nd gear was no where to be seen until the car had warmed up, took it to a landy indy and we drained the box and put in ATF, the change was 90% better but the damage had already been done due to MTF being put in it but this was a R380Q box not just a R380

23rd Sep 2014 1:32pm

Page 1 of 1

All times are GMT + 1 Hour

Jump to

< Previous Topic | Next Topic >

Posting Rules

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum