Background: bought the CRD new in late 2006 (one of the last ones left in the US) and it currently has 33k on the clock. Have driven it sparingly my wife's work car (we live close to work usually) and we have take a few longer trips in it (usually less than 1k). We are both active duty military and it has sit for as 15 months (un-driven) when we have both deployed 2007-09. Have changed oil annually using synthetic 0-40, etc. and to date have had no problems.

Yesterday with 85 miles on my GDE tune, and on second trip of the afternoon (vehicle warm having driven about 7 miles city driving - less then 40mph) heard a clunk (sounded like a hard shift on a manual tranny without using the clutch) while driving at 35mph. CEL came on and I noticed a decrease in acceleration when I accelerated from the next couple of lights on my way home. It drove okay for the 4-5 miles home, but performance was diminished.

Checked code and only P0700 comes up, tried to clear three times (both while warm and later while cold) with no luck. While still hot, checked tranny fluid level both while running and not - and fluid is clear (red) and at the right level (I have never changed it). Tranny dipstick was about 2 inches out of place as if it had not been replaced properly - I do not remember it being like this previously.

I checked with Keith at GDE and his thoughts were bad torque converter and that I need to have dealer read the codes to get specifics.

Does anyone have experience with a bad torque converter?

Anyone have any further home diagnostic ideas?

Anyone have experience with dealer or national transmission shops that they would recommend to do this potentially painful ($$$) job?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Garth
Tampa Bay Area, Florida

2006 Liberty CRD

P0700 is a generic transmission code that is stored in the ECU to tell you that there are transmission codes that need to be read. Unfortunately only a dealer or and independent with similar equipment can read transmission codes. Could be a TC but it's awfully low mileage for that but also could be simply clogged filters from sitting so long (not impossible that the flat filter has split at the seam).

Bottom line is Keith is right - get the codes read and go from there.

_________________
Sold to LOST member my 05 Ltd, GDE Stg II turbo + TCM tune, SunCoast TC w. Transgo kit, Steiger window regulators, Samcos, Fumoto valve, 2nd gen filter head with Lub. Spec. bleeder, Hayden clutch & 11 blade fan, inverted spare, P-1 battery, BF Goodrich Long Trail TAs, Etecno1 glow plugs, timing belt at 50K miles/8 yrs

P0700 is a generic transmission code that is stored in the ECU to tell you that there are transmission codes that need to be read. Unfortunately only a dealer or and independent with similar equipment can read transmission codes. Could be a TC but it's awfully low mileage for that but also could be simply clogged filters from sitting so long (not impossible that the flat filter has split at the seam).

Bottom line is Keith is right - get the codes read and go from there.

_________________
Sold to LOST member my 05 Ltd, GDE Stg II turbo + TCM tune, SunCoast TC w. Transgo kit, Steiger window regulators, Samcos, Fumoto valve, 2nd gen filter head with Lub. Spec. bleeder, Hayden clutch & 11 blade fan, inverted spare, P-1 battery, BF Goodrich Long Trail TAs, Etecno1 glow plugs, timing belt at 50K miles/8 yrs