Auto Box off road

Marcus, you can range change in the auto without going into neutral, it's all a matter of technique. Just come off the throttle and push the stick through into the required range in two stages as the load comes off the transmission. Low to high is easy and can be achieved at a reasonable speed. High to low can be slightly tricky occasionally - timing is critical - and is best done at about fast walking pace to allow for the increase in revs when low engages. (OK granny, you can now suck eggs. Sorry)

I hope you are looking after our "Puke G". Good init? Get some decent lumpy tyres on it, if you haven't already, and you'll be seriously impressed.

Take care,

Mike

You are right, Marcus, the official line is that you should stop to range change down into low, at least. However, with practice, you can do it the way I described above....or you can do it by knocking the primary box into neutral whilst the vehicle is still rolling forward at the proverbial walking pace, then make the range change in two distinct movements - high to neutral - brief pause - neutral into low, then, quick as you like, knock the primary box back into drive. Eventually you'll achieve the change without actually stopping.

There's a 13mm drain plug screwed into the bottom of the bell housing. Undo it and see if any Automatic Transmission Fluid (red liquid) comes out. There might be a small accumulation that needs draining out. If it gushes out in a thick dark stream....you've undone the wrong plug :lol: ...get it back in quick.... If the fluid is redish-brown, it may have a drop of engine oil mixed in it too.

Q

On Land Rovers, which are prone to leaking from the rear seal, it is usual to leave the plug out, unless wading, so that oil is not able to build up in the bellhousing and contaminate the clutch. On G-Wagens, rear oil seals NEVER leak (naturally), so it is perfectly in order to leave the plug in permanently and only remove to check once in a blue moon to ensure nothing untoward is going on. That way, the situation never arises when you might forget to put the plug in before wading.

You're showing your roots, Bill. Too much time with Land Rovers in the army.

;) Mike

Those were the days, Bill, indeed, those were the days.
Talking of Champs, I had one back in the mid 'sixties for a year or so. Fabulous beast.... way ahead of its time. Its only problem stemmed from it having been designed by a committee who got a bit carried away with themselves. Not that good in serious off-road conditions - wishbones too short and prone to falling over (not unlike its owner) - but the ride on rough tracks was superb. I also seem to recall (from a nineteen-year-old's perspective, anyway) that it sounded absolutely awesome driving home through the streets of Tavistock at 02:00hrs. Nothing like tall granite buildings to get a bit of exhaust "bounce-back". Did you know, you could wrap a salmon (don't ask) in bacofoil and stick it on top of the engine, where it would be held firmly in place by the bonnet? It would be cooked to a nicety by the time you got back home. Yes, those were definitely the days. Pity we have to grow up, isn't it? :)