I was finally able to duplicate on demand the last sound I need to figure out.

When going uphill I took my foot off the acclerator and slowed down, then I pushed the accelerator down real easy and I got the mystery sound that I've heard once in a while before. If I am more aggressive when getting back on the accelerator it will downshift into a lower gear and not make the nasty sound.

I think maybe when I take my foot off the pedal that the tranny upshifts, then when I get back on it real easy it doesn't downshift. If I get back on it more aggressively it downshifts. Does that make any sense?

I thought it was impossible for an automatic to be in the wrong gear and lug the engine, but I've always driven a manual so I have no clue.

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2007 Jeep Liberty Sport
Not Just Red..............Inferno Red !
Automatic, 4WD
Mopar Skids, Tow Hooks

Oh it can definitely be in the wrong gear.

What noise does it make? Is it ping from the lugging or is the tranny grinding (not enough line pressure to shift a low throttle?).

You can always shift it manually if you want, if you can see that it's going to need to downshift say from 3rd to 2nd, you can just reach over and pull the stick back to second - before the engine lugs...

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'03 Reny Cactus Green - All the comforts, Escape Hatch, Trac-lok, Selec-trac, Full disk brakes + 45RFE (built Sept 2002).
Had: '98 Dodge Ram 1500 SWB RWD 5.2L - I will miss you...

The sound is hard to describe. I would say it's pretty similar to when a manual tranny is in 5th gear, but should be in 3rd. I can get it to downshift just by pressing the pedal faster or harder, so that's no problem. I just want to know what it is. I've heard it about 4 times while going up winding forest roads, and it always freaked me out. I think maybe as I was going around corners I'd back off the accelerator, then get back on and it'd be in the wrong gear temporarily. I had no idea an automatic could ever be in the wrong gear. Hope that's what it is. I can work with that.

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2007 Jeep Liberty Sport
Not Just Red..............Inferno Red !
Automatic, 4WD
Mopar Skids, Tow Hooks

Normal..

Push the little button on the side of the gear shift and see if it still does it.

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LOST KJ'S
Where are you going???
Current Jeep: 2004 Jeep Liberty
-Atlantic Blue
-Air Ride Rear Suspension ; OME/Rustys Lift ; Powertrax Locker ; Moog Lower Ball-Joints ; 245/70/16 Yokohama Geolander A/T-S's on MOABS ; Flowmaster 50 SUV
Lost #007082
http://www.cardomain.com/id/jeepjeepster