Gearbox - limp home mode grrrrrr

[johnny_quattro]

Hello to all. My old girl is an A8L FL 2000 model, 4.2

Can anyone offer advice with regards to the A8 gearbox entering limp home mode? I was just outside of Gatwick and went to pull away at the roundabout. I heard an enormous thump and lost drive. Put my HWL on and then noticed all red lights ablaze on the dashboard (PRND432). I managed to pull away with about 2000 rpm (going nowhere fast) and managed to get back to a friend's house.

I noticed a couple of days ago a slight non-output of power when changing gear. MY gearbox has always thumped a bit when drawing up to a junction, I suspect when changing down from 2nd to 1st gear. Nothing since apart from today's experience.

First off, I'm going to try to get back home which is a 15 mile journey. Is there any danger in attempting this? Secondly, will a gearbox fluid change help in any way or am I going to be throwing money away? I say that, because I read something on Paul Waterloo's audipages.com site about something similar and the chap in question managed to fix his problem with a fulid change. That would be a right result compared to the cost of either a repair or reconditioned gearbox.

If a gearbox recon looks like the only option, does anyone have any recommendations for companies in the South London/Surrey area?

Thanks in advance for any insights or assistance.