auto box problems

Hi
I recently bought a 98 XJ8 sport auto. I've noticed when the car is cold the auto box doesn't change up as it should. It seems to hang on to 2nd gear for to long. Sometimes when i go to pull away it's as if there isnt any drive going to the rear wheels for a second or so then the drive kicks in with a clunk.
My first instints are to check / replace the fluid but I'm sure I read that these are sealed units.

Can anyone help.

Nick

Nick, not an expert on that auto box but it sounds like the pump is getting tired to me. The Jag boxes are usually signalling a rebuild when the start doing that.___FWIW---Keoke

Thanks for the advice but I would hope that a jag gearbox would last longer than 50k miles. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Nick,
I think that was about the mileage I had to have my type 65 Auto box rebuilt. Flat out stopped backing up and would not reliably shift through the gears. Oh, when it is hanging on to 2nd gear take your foot off the accellerator it may shift up then ,but its still gonna clunk---Keoke

The transmission can be drained and the fluid changed. The transmission in the XK8 is entirely different from the BW type 65. In order to change the fluid and filter, the transmission pan must be removed. In your case that would be the first thing that I would do. Usually when you have a transmission problem, the ECU will trigger a tranmission limp home mode. Do you have the transmission fault code being activated on your dash signals? If you have a transmission fault code being activated on your dash, you can scan the ECU for faults (even in memory) and that will lead you to the problem. The type of transmission in your car is very reliable with good service life. Most of the problems are electrical in nature.