No reverse gear on P38

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N

NCW

New Member
Posts
7
Location
Boston, Lincs
Hi All,

After years of owning Classic Range Rovers I've treated myself to a 97 4.0L P38. It has been trouble free for the last 5 weeks now, until yesterday.

I've lost reverse gear, all others are fine. The dash display is indicating that it's in reverse so guess that the linkage is ok. It has on a couple of occasions been a bit slow to engage after putting in reverse, this has never been an issue with any other gears. There are no horrible noises or anything like that.

I have ordered a new transmission filter and will see if that helps. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Many thanks.
 
I've just gone and tried to move the Rangie and reverse is now fine. Would really appreciate some of your thoughts on this, I guess I will have to be careful where I park.:rolleyes:
 
NCW said:
I've just gone and tried to move the Rangie and reverse is now fine. Would really appreciate some of your thoughts on this, I guess I will have to be careful where I park.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

XYZ switch. Main reverse clutch is selected manually but there are also electrical servos that need to activate other clutches to give you drive.
 
Oil level is spot on. I have a new filter on the way so will change oil and filter over the weekend. I went out in it today and reverse has been fine however is does seem to be slipping in first gear when pulling away. Its not done that before.
 
NCW said:
Oil level is spot on. I have a new filter on the way so will change oil and filter over the weekend. I went out in it today and reverse has been fine however is does seem to be slipping in first gear when pulling away. Its not done that before.
Click to expand...

Main reverse clutch and main forward clutches are different units. You may have a sticky valve block. When you do the oil change stick some Lucas in it.
 
when I first got my p38. I couldn't reverse it off the drive of the buy I bought it from!!

I fiddled a while, and when moving from P to R I felt some differences, I got the right movement and all was well for the rest of the time I had it.

However. Now that you have a problem with going forward things could be different.

However x 2 it could be two separate problems...

Best of luck
 
Changed the oil and filter on Saturday and OMG was it ready for it. I've seen some mucky transmission fluid in the past but this was well past it.
IMG_4119.jpg
Did the transfer case at the same time and it was worse.
Anyway I took it for a drive and there was little improvement, still no reverse and still slipping when pulling away. However I've done about 60 miles since then and the box just got better and better. I now have reverse, no slipping and the changes are tighter than they have ever been, it really does feel like a different box.
Thanks for all the suggestions and I'll keep my fingers crossed thats it's sorted.
 
Last edited:
NCW said:
Changed the oil and filter on Saturday and OMG was it ready for it. I've seen some mucky transmission fluid in the past but this was well past it.
View attachment 54242
Did the transfer case at the same time and it was worse.
Anyway I took it for a drive and there was little improvement, still no reverse and still slipping when pulling away. However I've done about 60 miles since then and the box just got better and better. I now have reverse, no slipping and the changes are tighter than they have ever been, it really does feel like a different box.
Thanks for all the suggestions and I'll keep my fingers crossed thats it's sorted.
Click to expand...
Did you add Lucas?

Change the oil again in a couple of weeks as you can only get half the oil out. I did mine 3 times.
 
Yes I did. I'm driving up to Scotland this weekend which is almost a 1000 mile round trip so was planing on changing the oil again when I get home.
 
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