Procedure to shift into Neutral with a dead battery (fiddly but doable)

[holdmybeer]

If your battery is dead and you need Neutral for a tow or a roll or whatever, sounds like a 5mm hex socket and access underneath the truck is required. With the Grenadier's clearance (compared to any other ZF vehicle), hopefully this doesn't mean jacking it up.

It's such a common transmission that details are around the internet, but here's one article: How To Put The ZF 8-Speed In Neutral Using The Neutral Safety Switch Bypass

 

[Wayneos]

And while you're under there, replace that plastic tranny pan with something more robust.

2010-2024 w/ ZF-8 Speed Heavy-Duty Cast Aluminum Transmission Pan

Transmission Pan for ZF 8-Speed - Heavy-Duty Cast Aluminum Specifically designed for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, PPE has engineered an exclusive removable and replaceable oil filter. That means unlike the factory part, there’s no n

ppepower.com

 

[Michael H.]

The required socket size is 13mm.

 

[anand]

As @Michael H. stated, on the Grenadier you use a 13mm wrench not the hex socket as on the traditional ZF 8HP... The wrench is included in the factory tool kit and has a substantial offset on the wrench to reach the required bolt. If memory serves me correctly, it is actually on the transfer case, to place it in neutral

Also, you can easily reach it without lifting the vehicle

 

[AnD3rew]

And while you're under there, replace that plastic tranny pan with something more robust.

2010-2024 w/ ZF-8 Speed Heavy-Duty Cast Aluminum Transmission Pan

Transmission Pan for ZF 8-Speed - Heavy-Duty Cast Aluminum Specifically designed for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, PPE has engineered an exclusive removable and replaceable oil filter. That means unlike the factory part, there’s no n

ppepower.com

I did this with my Land Rover D3, hopefully there will be this option for the Grenadier as well. Will definitely do this when one becomes available

 

[Michael H.]

As @Michael H. stated, on the Grenadier you use a 13mm wrench not the hex socket as on the traditional ZF 8HP... The wrench is included in the factory tool kit and has a substantial offset on the wrench to reach the required bolt. If memory serves me correctly, it is actually on the transfer case, to place it in neutral

Also, you can easily reach it without lifting the vehicle

Thanks for that @anand.

I hadn’t realised that the spanner (wrench) was in the factory tool kit, and I just put a 13mm socket and ratchet driver in my tool kit.

 

[DenisM]

As @Michael H. stated, on the Grenadier you use a 13mm wrench not the hex socket as on the traditional ZF 8HP... The wrench is included in the factory tool kit and has a substantial offset on the wrench to reach the required bolt. If memory serves me correctly, it is actually on the transfer case, to place it in neutral

Also, you can easily reach it without lifting the vehicle

#Multiple cultures separated by a common language:
Translation: wrench = spanner

" you canna hand a man a granda spanner than a Sidchrome that's the brand the experts choose... ""

 

[anand]

#Multiple cultures separated by a common language:
Translation: wrench = spanner

So in Australian that'd be a spanny, right?

 

[DenisM]

So in Australian that'd be a spanny, right?

depends on what school you attended

 

[Disco Dave]

So in Australian that'd be a spanny, right?

Nah, a spaniard.

 

[NQ94]

A Shifter a shammer and a Leatherman will get even the biggest machines going again.

 

[ECrider]

A Shifter a shammer and a Leatherman will get even the biggest machines going again.

and a lump hammer

 

[emax]

I did this with my Land Rover D3, hopefully there will be this option for the Grenadier as well. Will definitely do this when one becomes available

While I would, like you, also feel better with something made of metal, I have to say that the ZF oil pan is recessed so far up that there is little risk of damaging it. If you come over an obstacle with the front axle, I can't imagine how the pan can still be in the danger zone.

 

[Krabby]

Would a metal cover dissipate heat any better?

 

[anand]

Would a metal cover dissipate heat any better?

It would, however, I'm not sure that these vehicles truly need it. Of course, someone monitoring trans temps while doing a low speed Summer desert crossing would be more appropriate to monitor the temps and report back

 

[AnD3rew]

While I would, like you, also feel better with something made of metal, I have to say that the ZF oil pan is recessed so far up that there is little risk of damaging it. If you come over an obstacle with the front axle, I can't imagine how the pan can still be in the danger zone.

I don’t disagree it is not that vulnerable, but the other benefit is the replacable filter. ZF used to, probably still do cliam these are sealed for life. However smart owners will do a flush and replace of the fluid at 50-70,000 km and that is the time to replace the pan (you would have to replace even with the plastic one if you want to change the filter as it is built into the olastoc pan, which then means future fluid changes just need the filter changed not the whole pan.

 

[emax]

ZF used to, probably still do cliam these are sealed for life.

Definitely never has and still doesn't. It's the car manufacturers which claim this. Changing the oil in a ZF auto is a critical task as it's a complicated procedure which has to be followed meticulously. Nobody wants to take over responsibility if something goes wrong. That's why the car manufacturers claim they have a lifetime oil fill.

ZF has always published maintenance intervals for their gearboxes like you have written: around 70K to 100K Km depending on the type.

The oil filter is integrated in the original oil pan. But the costs are moderate in face of the long maintenance intervals. A complete set is on the free market below 250€, including the oil and all gaskets and seals. Only parts, work goes extra, of course.

addendum​