ZF gearbox service

[Belfry]

My 2007 4.2 ZF auto had some sluggish gear changes yesterday. At 98,000 miles, it must be overdue for a gearbox fluid change.

I was going to replace the fluid, filter, gasket and sump plug washer, but I've noticed some kits online that include a new gearbox sump and the 20 bolts securing the sump.

On other cars I have not replaced the sump before. Is there a particularly good reason to change the sump and bolts too?

 

[Ebenezer]

Not sure if it affects things, but the gearbox parameters can be reset which changes it's learned behaviour. If you are always pedal to the metal it'll change down earlier, and hang on to the gears longer before changing up. If you are driving Miss Daisy however, it's likely that the auto behaviour will be more relaxed. I don't know about the actual speed of the gear shift itself, which is likely to be quicker at higher revs.
Eb

 

[Ebenezer]

And you might feel that you will benefit from shelling out and installing the Formula Dynamics DBW gizmo. I have this and can't remember what it's like to not have it! Improves throttle response and kicks down more urgently when pressing on.
Eb

 

[markiii]

And you might feel that you will benefit from shelling out and installing the Formula Dynamics DBW gizmo. I have this and can't remember what it's like to not have it! Improves throttle response and kicks down more urgently when pressing on.
Eb

thats good to hear its on my list

 

[Belfry]

Thanks for the advice. I went for an MOT yesterday. The garage is about 30 minutes drive away. The gear changes were fine on the way to the MOT but were certainly different on the way home. For example, when I drove away from the MOT test, the car held second gear until I manually changed gear, using the paddles at around 4000 rpm. It did this a couple of times before settling down.

The car failed on handbrake performance, so I'm not able to drive the car very far to retest the auto performance.

 

[Belfry]

Oh, and should I change the mechtronic sleeve and seals while I have access?

 

[conaero]

My 2007 4.2 ZF auto had some sluggish gear changes yesterday. At 98,000 miles, it must be overdue for a gearbox fluid change.

I was going to replace the fluid, filter, gasket and sump plug washer, but I've noticed some kits online that include a new gearbox sump and the 20 bolts securing the sump.

On other cars I have not replaced the sump before. Is there a particularly good reason to change the sump and bolts too?

The kit is the way forward, just make sure you don't over torque them, there should be a guide on here somewhere to do it.

Getting the oil level spot on is imperative.

 

[philw696]

The reason you change the sump is the filter is built into it.
As Matt said above get the level right very temperature sensitive.
Use diagnostics to get live data and you will be fine.
I always measure how much oil comes out too.

 

[modelT]

I feel guilty plugging my video at this point (note I do not get anything at all from them), so I will just link the thread below and say that it is possible to go for integrated plastic sump, but the metal pans we have are good. Land rovers change to the metal pan as the plastic sump has a big tube connected to it that means with the Land Rover, you have to drop the subframe a bit to get it out - someone in the design process not thinking there…
Watch out for kit part numbers, I have them in the video.
I thought it was a good idea to change the sleeve and the sleeve Kit £28 also comes with the small rubber gaskets. These can leak after a few years and apparently cause gear change issues, it’s not too horrible to do, I fussed as it was winter, I was on the drive with only 35cm to squeeze my large tummy in. My gearbox was good before the change of sleeve and gaskets and it was even better afterwards.

my attempt to change the oil is in here:

https://www.sportsmaserati.com/index.php?threads/a-video-about-fixing-my-2008-granturismo.38033/

 

[Belfry]

The gearbox service kit arrived today. Before doing the service, I went for a quick drive to check that the gearbox was still acting up...

Everything is working perfectly again, just like immediately prior to the MOT.

I wonder if the MOT might have temporarily upset the gearbox. It is working beautifully now.

 

[cheshiremaserati]

Leave it alone if it is fine. Have a SD diagnostic read for any auto box-related codes (if such codes exist). And if all well, leave it alone.

 

[Belfry]

No gearbox codes. So, would you not bother with the gearbox filter and fluid change?
At 98,000 miles surely it’d benefit from a gearbox service?

 

[philw696]

Having serviced quite a few ZF transmissions leaving it alone will not show you how filthy the fluid is.
Everyone I've done has been dirtier than previous girlfriends.
If you have the service kit get it done is my advice as a fully skilled technician.

 

[Belfry]

Having serviced quite a few ZF transmissions leaving it alone will not show you how filthy the fluid is.
Everyone I've done has been dirtier than previous girlfriends.
If you have the service kit get it done is my advice as a fully skilled technician.

Thanks for the advice.
I did this on a Cayenne turbo a few years ago and it was pretty straightforward. Just waiting for Amazon to deliver a new torque wrench that'll go as low as the 12Nm setting for the metal oil pan bolts.

 

[philw696]

Thanks for the advice.
I did this on a Cayenne turbo a few years ago and it was pretty straightforward. Just waiting for Amazon to deliver a new torque wrench that'll go as low as the 12Nm setting for the metal oil pan bolts.

Just compare the old fluid with the new and if you feel brave send a sample of for analysis.