I have been reading these forums since i bought my 2005 jeep crd new but have never posted yet. My crd has 95,000 miles on it. At around 55-60mph the transmission feels like it down shifts for a split second and goes back in gear. The rpms go up about 500 and then back to normal.Sometimes the tires chirp but its only for a second. I have been to 2 transmission shops they can't figure it out. We changed the transition oil and re flashed the tcm and it did the same thing. No codes are popping up and with the snap on scanner in place we drove on the highway while it did it again and again. The tech says all clutch packs are working and the torque converter is to. They do not know what is causing it. Has anybody had this happen or know what it can be?

At that speed, are you manually turning the overdrive back on by pushing the button on the shifter?

If not, I cant explain why its doing that.
It normally shifts from 4th to 5th at 61 mph. So its not likely the 5th gear clutch pack.
My only other guess would be the torque converter lockup clutch failing.

As usual, check fluid level and plan to change the fluid and filters if it hasnt been done recently.

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update after driving it the symptoms occur at around 63-65 mph. or after going into the final gear.

Might not be as odd as you think. On a CRD with the full F-37 ECU/TCM flash the final shift/lock-up point is ca. 63 mph depending on the speedo accuracy; when it locks up the RPMs should drop a bit. If I was to guess if you are having this problem at that speed the tranny is popping in/out of overdrive, assuming you are not messing with the button on the shift knob.

Speculation:
1. a problem with the overdrive button on the shift knob such that without pressing the button the tranny is popping in/out of overdrive.
2. similar issue "in" the tranny. Note - once in overdrive the tranny should stay in overdrive down to say 57mph.

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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

I'm suspecting a torque converter clutch problem.

In the transmission, two clutches are applied for 5th gear. The OD clutch and 2C clutch.
If the problem was the OD clutch, you'd also notice a problem with 4th gear.
If the problem was the 2C clutch, you'd notice a problem with 2nd gear.
If neither is the case, then its not a problem with either of the clutch packs.

First thing to do is check the fluid level.
With the engine cold and idling, trans in N, and parking brake on. If the fluid level is not at the full-hot mark, add more ATF+4 until the level is above the full-hot mark.
These transmissions seem to work better when slightly over filled.
You can also try adding some LubeGuard instant shudder fix.

Its possible that the problem is in the valve body. Like maybe there is a bad seal or a sticky accumulator. Or maybe the solenoid pack. But I doubt it because you'd notice problems in other gears.

When or if you decide to replace the torque converter, definitely replace the transmission pump. Most of the valves that control the TC are in the pump.
And if you do get a new TC, I recommend getting the Ram 1500 "Hemi" torque converter. Or contact Florida Torque Converter to see what they recommend.

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U.S. Army Retired

If the problem was with the OD button switching off, it would downshift to 3rd and rpm would shoot up by almost 1000.
Also, there is only about a 200 rpm difference between 4th and 5th at 60 mph.

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U.S. Army Retired

Don't laugh; clean both + & - battery cable connections on the battery and make sure all ground connections from (-) negative side of battery are clean and good an tight!
Report back after doing this and if it cures your problem, I will explain.... It is worth a try!!!

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Supporting Vendor and Moderator of LOST
05 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited
Ironman Springs/Bilstein/Shocks
Yeti StgIV Hot Tune
Week's BatteryTray
No FCV/EGR
Samcos/ProVent
SunCoast/Transgo
Carter Intank-pmp
2mic.Sec.Fuel Filter
Flowmaster/NO CAT
V6Airbox/noVH
GM11 Bld.fan/HDClutch
IronrockArms/wwdieselMount
98 Dodge Cummins 24 Valve

I tried the fluid additive today and it didn't do anything. i took a video hope this helps. You will notice the rams rev when it after 60mph and other opinions guys? Thank you click on the picture and the video will play.

Based on the video, I no longer think its the TC.

It looks to me like the 4th gear clutch is releasing, there is a slight delay, and then the 5th gear clutch applies.
This souldnt happen. 5th should apply with no overlap and no delay.

As the transmission wears, the TCM is supposed to learn and make adjustments so that it always shifts the same.
So, either:

A. The TCM needs to learn
B. The clutch is worn beyond the point of adjustment
Or
C. Something else is going on.
Its possible that the problem IS in the valve body.
An accumulator that is sticking, has a bad seal, or a broken spring could cause this.
So could a bad solenoid pack.

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U.S. Army Retired

i would like to add that it doesn't do it all the time about 75%. If I'm accelerating hard it won't do it as easy. If I'm going easy it will do it all the time.

Update took it back to the transmition shop and they say it pulled a code for the solenoid pack quote $500 to replace and clean out the valve body. Does this sound right?

Sounds like a fair price.
You may want to consider having them also install a TransGo shift kit.

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U.S. Army Retired

is the transgo shift kit the way to go?

Picked up my jeep today after the transition shop change the solenoid and the same thing still. At around 62mph when the car is going in to overdrive the rams speed up 500 and back down like it slips out and back in all within 1 second. The tranny shop doesn't know whats causing this and recommends a tear down inspection $600 does anybody have any idea what could be causing my symptoms?

Check the for sale section.
Someone has a listing, parting out a crd, and is selling the transmission.

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U.S. Army Retired

has anybody had a similar issue like my transmition?

Could be a worn transmission. I chased problems with this transmission for nearly two years. I finally ordered a low-mileage 45RFE from a Dodge ram for under $500. This solved all my issues, and I couldn't be happier with the hemi torque converter from the Dodge Ram. See my posts for details.

Really not that hard to swap the transmission if you have the tools and time.

Could be a lot of things, which might cost a lot of money to find. Probably cheaper to swap the tranny if you are doing it yourself...

Might want to try determining why you have a check engine light to be sure this is not contributing to the problem. The transmission control modules on these vehicles receive various inputs from engine sensors. This is detailed in the Chrysler service video series on the 45RFE transmission;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3DChfRRzi4

Ok after still going nuts trying to figure out what is going on theres a new twist. Every time at around 62-63mph that my transmission seems to downshift or come in and out of gear the front tires chirp. The car is NOT in 4wd mode when it does this. Does anybody here have a clue as to whats going on? None of this happens under a heavy acceleration either.

That makes no sense.
More likely that your sepentine belt is chirping. Not your tires.

Even a 500HP race car would have a hard time chirping tires at 60mph.

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U.S. Army Retired