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

holdmybeer · Mar 4, 2023

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 · Mar 4, 2023

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

PPE Heavy-Duty Cast Aluminum Transmission Pan, ZF 8-speed transmission, permanent replacement pan, Holds 1.0 extra quarts, high-strength aluminum, external cooling fins, optimal heat dissipation.

ppepower.com

Michael H. · Oct 1, 2023

The required socket size is 13mm.

anand · Oct 1, 2023

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 · Oct 1, 2023

Wayneos said:
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

PPE Heavy-Duty Cast Aluminum Transmission Pan, ZF 8-speed transmission, permanent replacement pan, Holds 1.0 extra quarts, high-strength aluminum, external cooling fins, optimal heat dissipation.

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. · Oct 1, 2023

anand said:
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 · Oct 1, 2023

anand said:
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 · Oct 1, 2023

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

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

DenisM · Oct 1, 2023

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

depends on what school you attended

Disco Dave · Oct 1, 2023

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

Nah, a spaniard.

NQ94 · Oct 1, 2023

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

ECrider · Oct 1, 2023

NQ94 said:
A Shifter a shammer and a Leatherman will get even the biggest machines going again.

and a lump hammer

emax · Oct 1, 2023

AnD3rew said:
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 · Oct 1, 2023

Would a metal cover dissipate heat any better?

anand · Oct 1, 2023

Krabby said:
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 · Oct 1, 2023

emax said:
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 · Oct 1, 2023

AnD3rew said:
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

Jean Mercier · May 4, 2024

holdmybeer said:
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

I would like to reopen this discussion.

Our French forum member @Virginie had a week ago a problem and could not get her car towed.

https://www.theineosforum.com/threads/panne-démarrage-startup-failure.12415439/#post-1333272310

I thought it was only necessary to put the transfer case bolt in neutral like explained in the manual.

But she said a “special hook” was necessary to put “also” the ZF gearbox in neutral, and as her car didn’t respond electrically, she couldn’t put it in neutral.

So my question is, in case we need towing the car is it necessary to:

Put the transfer case in neutral as explained in the manual?
Also the ZF gearbox in neutral (not mentioned in the manual)?
Or both?

@holdmybeer did reference (first post of this thread) a video “How To Put The ZF 8-Speed In Neutral Using The Neutral Safety Switch Bypass”.

Fairly easy, but, not for the Grenadier, no such bolt, as shown in the video, but the lever is indeed visible:

To check if I had to push or pull the lever to put it in neutral, I started the car and did put the inside BMW shifter in neutral, and this was the position:

Therefore pulling the lever should do it!

Then, car motor off, I did put a hook in the lever and hung 5 kg weight on it, not enough to reach the position of the former picture, but yes, it moved.

In fact, I am worried: what if I have a dead battery or another electrical problem, car wash function will not work: can I get my car towed or not!

And – if indeed mandatory – what is the easiest way to pull that lever downward. I have already an idea, but not that easy. No I will NOT carry a chain and a weight of 20kg in my car for in case of!

Virginie · May 4, 2024

Jean Mercier said:
J'aimerais relancer cette discussion.

Notre membre du forum français @Virginie a eu un problème il y a une semaine et n'a pas pu faire remorquer sa voiture.

https://www.theineosforum.com/threads/panne-démarrage-startup-failure.12415439/#post-1333272310

Je pensais qu'il suffisait de mettre le boulon de la boîte de transfert au point mort comme expliqué dans le manuel.

Mais elle a expliqué qu'un « crochet spécial » était nécessaire pour mettre « aussi » la boîte de vitesses ZF au point mort, et comme sa voiture ne répondait pas électriquement, elle ne pouvait pas la mettre au point mort.

Ma question est donc la suivante : au cas où nous aurions besoin de remorquer la voiture, est-il nécessaire de :

Mettre la boite de transfert au point mort comme expliqué dans le manuel ?

Egalement la boîte de vitesses ZF au point mort (non mentionné dans le manuel) ?

Ou les deux?

@holdmybeer a fait référence (premier message de ce fil) à une vidéo « Comment mettre la ZF 8 vitesses au point mort à l'aide du contournement de l'interrupteur de sécurité neutre ».

Assez simple, mais, pas pour le Grenadier, pas de boulon de ce type, comme le montre la vidéo, mais le levier est bien visible :

View attachment 7855768

Pour vérifier si je devais pousser ou tirer le levier pour le mettre au point mort, j'ai démarré la voiture et j'ai mis le levier de vitesses intérieur BMW au point mort, et voici la position :

View attachment 7855769

Par conséquent, tirer sur le levier devrait suffire !

Ensuite, moteur de la voiture éteint, j'ai mis un crochet dans le levier et j'y ai accroché un poids de 5 kg, pas assez pour atteindre la position de la photo précédente, mais oui, il a bougé.
View attachment 7855770

En fait, je m'inquiète : que se passe-t-il si j'ai une batterie à plat ou un autre problème électrique, la fonction de lavage de voiture ne fonctionnera pas : puis-je faire remorquer ma voiture ou non !

Et – si c’est effectivement obligatoire – quelle est la manière la plus simple de tirer ce levier vers le bas. J'ai déjà une idée, mais pas si simple. Non, je ne transporterai PAS de chaîne et un poids de 20 kg dans ma voiture au cas où !

Merci Jean

Très intéressés par les différentes solutions car c'est bien ce levier sur ces photos qui est très compliqué à manipuler et qui à obligé le dépanneur à déplacer la voiture avec des chariots ….

Jean Mercier · May 5, 2024

This is the translation of the post above (Google translate):
Thank you Jean
Very interested in the different solutions because it is this lever in these photos which is very complicated to handle and which forced the repairer to move the car with trolleys….

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

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