ATF temperature warning light

[jkseries]

Hi all I'm in need of a little wisdom.

On my way home yesterday (20 min drive) a little red light came on on the dash of my M plate 300tdi.  I looked in the handbook and it says it's the ATF temperature warning light. I risked it and took it the rest of the 5 mins home and left it to cool. The cooler in front of the rad didn't seem hot. IE I could touch it easily.

I then checked the ATF condition and level. The ATF was a little dark but still very red and was sat at the 2nd dot on the dip stick.

I left it for 5 hours then went back out to the car and the light is still on. The cooler at the front is cool to the touch. So I left it over night and the warning light is still on.

I guess my questions are

1. Could the temperature sender be broken? If so where is it because it doesn't seem to be listed in the book of lies or the rave CD i have?

2. Could the pump have packed up?  I know I can test that by taking off one the fittings on the bottom of the box but I need to have it running for that and will that do any damage.

3. Could it be something else I haven't thought if?

Any advice is gratefully received.

J
 

[trecfive]

A 20 min run shouldn't heat the oil to the extent of illuminating the warning light unless you have a problem with the autobox(rough changes,slipping).The switch is located just under the radiator on the passenger side. I would guesstimate that the switch has collapsed internally or is it soaking wet and shorting across the terminals?

[BigA]

i had a similar problem on mine a year or so back. as trecfive suggest, the rubber cover that "protects" the sensor connectors was full of mud. i cleaned it all out, gave it all a good dose of WD40 etc. re connected and all has been fine since. I did seal the cover a bit better with tape and cable ties afterwards also.

[jkseries]

Brilliant thanks guys.

What a wealth of knowledge.

My job for the morning.

[Rossko]

On viscous coupling transfer boxes (do you have this in a 300TDi?) there is a second temperature sensor.  This is stuck in the back of the T-box hidden behind the handbrake backplate.  It's very tight and the heavy rubber boot pushes the wires against the backplate, eventually wearing/melting the insulation and shorting out to bring the 'transmission temp' light on.   Push a scrap of plastic (e.g. offcut of old RAC card) up between the wires and the backplate, it will last for years.

[jkseries]

Fantastic advice from the site as always.

Located, cleaned and refitted and voila  ....  no light.

Just need to make a decent seal around it and the problem's gone.

J

[BigA]

Fantastic advice from the site as always.

Located, cleaned and refitted and voila  ....  no light.

Just need to make a decent seal around it and the problem's gone.

J

Glad you sorted it. Loads of insulating tape and a couple of cable ties

[landroverkeith]

God Bless Cable Ties

[jkseries]

I think it's also worth noting that on mine it was a VERY POOR connection.  With it all cleaned up and sealed all i have to do is touch the wires going into the top to make the light come on.

Further investigation is required I think.

J

[BigA]

if i remember correctly  :-k the connector block that plugs in has two spaded connectors in it. is it possible to close them up a tad with some pliers to try and tighten the plug ?

[RichardM]

I had a similar problem when I first got my Disco, but the leads from the sensor had frayed, rubbing against the power steering pipes