Any who have driven the CRD tranny in another platform please post experiences here. Also, what model year was the debut of this trans? Please don't say 05.

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Matt B.

05 Limited CRD. Bought it new. 112k on the clock now.

GDE Eco-tune, rear differential drain plug (drilled and tapped the pumpkin), transmission pan drain plug, Fumoto oil valve, fuel filler neck restriction removed, front hitch, Hayden fan clutch, Sears P1 battery since 08, Mobil 1 5w40, 5 volt glow plugs, DIY timing belt at 109k

I had the tranny in hte '03 Ram that I traded in for this thing. Never had a problem with it. To be perfectly honest, it behaved pretty much the same as this one does. Different shift points, but then that thing is different as it learns anyway.

Paul

This tranny has had a lot of problems and there are TSB that cover the problems and if you look back at the TSB section here you will see it does include other vehicles with same tranny. I have a neighbor that got rid of his "Hemi" Dodge PU for a Ford F150 because of all the tranny problems he was having.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

In a way this is good. If the problems are more widespread than the CRD platform, the fixes should be faster in arriving. For what it is worth I'm happy with the tranny so far, at least as happy as I can be with an automatic. I've never seen a transmission that could see the road ahead or consistently predict my actions. I don't like adaptive programming. The tranny should shift when it is optimum for throttle, load, and speed. The driver should be the one with adaptive programming.

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Matt B.

05 Limited CRD. Bought it new. 112k on the clock now.

GDE Eco-tune, rear differential drain plug (drilled and tapped the pumpkin), transmission pan drain plug, Fumoto oil valve, fuel filler neck restriction removed, front hitch, Hayden fan clutch, Sears P1 battery since 08, Mobil 1 5w40, 5 volt glow plugs, DIY timing belt at 109k

My 98 Mercedes ML320 had a 5spd auto, not sure if the same. Never had a problem except it would shutter on tight turns(parkinglot). They finally replaced it around 50k along with the transfer case. Was about $7800 but still under warranty thank God.

I had the same transmision on my 02 gas KJ and it was rock solid. It is a good trans. The only big issue is the early production they put the wrong filters in and now have a service bulliten covering it. It is as good or better than anything Ford or Chvy has to offer. Except maybe the Allison trans you can get with GM Duramax diesel.

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Sold 05 CRD Patriot Blue, hole in the roof, Trailer tow, factory skids, LSD, Saris load bars, Michelin LTX M/S
Current Bright white 2010 Dakota Quad Cab 4x4 V8

I seem to remember talk about the transfer case being the problem on those vehicles. The W5A tranny is used in all the MB diesels currently and I think it goes back to the '98 MY cars.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

As far as I know the current 545RLE was never in the Liberty until '05 CRD came out, but I could have been told wrong.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

The early production Liberty's all had the 45RLE , then they started putting in the lighter duty 42RLE. in early 03 production.
The heavy transmission made it's way back for the CRD. The only thing different from the Dodge truck version is how they programed the transmision. In KJ's it had 4 speeds an alternate 2nd gear. I think in theory it could be reprogrammed to a 5 speed. Anybody tried that yet????

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Sold 05 CRD Patriot Blue, hole in the roof, Trailer tow, factory skids, LSD, Saris load bars, Michelin LTX M/S
Current Bright white 2010 Dakota Quad Cab 4x4 V8

That is the way the CRD tranny is used, it has two second gears. One is used when shifting up through gears and and a different gear when down shifting, allowing for a smoother down shift. The CRD uses the 545RFE and it is a different tranny then the 45RFE. That said they all have their parantage in the tranny used in early FWD Caravan/Voyager A604, the R just means rear wheel drive version. These trannys would have been called a 6sp tranny by any other mfg and 45RLE tranny was made to select either one of the 2nd gears depending on throttle response, but the 545RFE I believe does not have the same option and also has a second filter that the 45RFE doesn't have. Both are full electronic trannys and have been overall very reliable, but when you have a problem with one and it chews a a gear or disk up then you have a real problem and will probably never get all the junk out of all the little passages in the transmission and have failure after failure till full replacement is done from what tech's have told me. Also I think the TQ is bigger or heavier duty in the 545RFE then the 45RFE.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

Had the same 545RFE tranny in the '04 Dakota Club Cab I had, 4X4 AWD. Smooth as butter and not a problem for the 10K miles I drove it. Matter of fact, that was one of the factors in favor of trading the Dakota in for the CRD in my book, it had the same tranny.

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Mitchell Oates
'87 MB 300D Diamond Blue Metallic
'87 MB 300D - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Sport CRD Stone White
Provent CCV Filter/AT2525 Muffler
Stanadyne 30 u/Cat 2 u Fuel Filters
Fumoto Drain/Fleetguard LF3487 Oil filter
V6 Airbox/Amsoil EAA Air Filter
Suncoast TC/Shift Kit/Aux Cooler
Kennedy Lift Pump/Return Fuel Cooler

The only real problem has been tunning the tranny to the diesel torque range and people new to diesels learning to drive the diesel. The bad filters has really screwed some people as they went too long before having or being able to get the filter replaced before causing TC damage. Once that damage happens, seldom is tranny and the tranny cooling system cleaned well enough to preveny another failure.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

seems the more miles I put on my CRD, the worse and more noticable the 'shudder' gets....

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Ryan
2006 Ford F-250 PSD CC FX4
**GONE**
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD
SAMCO Hoses//GDE Tune//PML Trans Pan//TransGo HD Shift Kit//MBRP Exhaust

1986 2R Mustang SVO

I have had the reprogram TSB done some time ago and the filter TSB done last week. I believe I have experienced the shutter only a handful of times and perhaps once since the reprogram TSB. That being said, I drive the Liberty differently now and I believe if I drove it the way I used to I would get shutter. How so?

I experienced the shutter between 3rd and 4th, between perhaps 52 and 62 mph. I now push the Jeep up to 65 quickly then settle into about 58 after I am in 5th with cruise. I used to ease up into the 55/60 mph range and then I got shutter.

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Dave

'06 CRD Limited, Lt. Khaki, MOPAR Slush Mats/Skids, DrawTite Front Hitch, Mag Lite, Yakima Bars, Thule Bike Rack, Fumoto, ORM, 245/70 Revo 2

Wish list: Lift, Boulder Bars, Something Bigger in the Front and Back, More Lights