42RLE Transmission Falling Out of Gear

NAMoulton1 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1054

This weekend I got a ECL code P0944 "Loss of Hydraulic Pump". This with now two instances lead to my belief that the oil pump on my transmission is failing. The first I started driving, 20ft later STOP sign and when I hit the gas to drive off, engine revved with no movement. It was as if it was in neutral (definitely wasn't). After the revs settled it popped back in gear (maybe 2 seconds in total). Happened again this morning except I had already started driving from a stop sign when it fell out of gear and revved, 2 seconds later it popped back into gear and off I went...

From my research this could happen due to low fluid levels, not very possible as I drained 4qts and put 4qts back in it. I also used the engine oil dipstick trick to measure the cold and hot levels-both good to go.

Called the dealership and because I'm still under the 100,000mi warranty they should be able to warranty her. We'll see later after I set up an appointment.

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2015 1:06 pm

Keep us posted with how everything goes. Good luck

Scar0 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2015 7:00 am

Just hope you used ATV(same color as from factory) when you put the pan back on the Trany. If it does not look OEM they may not honor the warranty.

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2015 8:30 am

After replacing my transmission pan, filter and fluid I had similar symptoms but once the fluid began circulating all was well and it began shifting normally.
Perhaps you have a circulation problem too.
When you changed your fluid did you see any debris in it?

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NAMoulton1 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1054

I have forgotten to mention that for the past few thousand miles I've had this "airy" noise in which something is spinning faster and louder than normally. I thought it would be the belt drive because it makes the noise even in park and neutral, but the torque converter and oil pump are actually attached to the engine and spin with the engine. I was hoping changing the filter and fluid would be adequate in fixing this noise. But alas, after this code it seems as that it's not.

ajohns1288 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 09, 2015 8:02 pm

Did you change your filter at the same time? I had the same issue during cold weather for the first shifts of the day and a filter/fluid change fixed it. 4 qts seems a bit low though, mine took closer to 6 to fill up.

Does the airy noise you describe follow the AC compressor? It might be on its way out. Also a bad water pump will make a similar noise.

NAMoulton1 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1054

ajohns1288 wrote:

Did you change your filter at the same time? I had the same issue during cold weather for the first shifts of the day and a filter/fluid change fixed it. 4 qts seems a bit low though, mine took closer to 6 to fill up.

Does the airy noise you describe follow the AC compressor? It might be on its way out. Also a bad water pump will make a similar noise.

I drained out 4 qts, and put in 4 qts. Filter was swapped at this time too. Cold and hot levels check out.

The compressor is okay, it's pulley is squeaking so I have to grease it every so often. I just did a forced coolant reboot due to overheating the engine-impeller wheel on the water pump was not in a good condition...

Erikg84 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 10, 2015 9:45 am

NAMoulton1 wrote:

I also used the engine oil dipstick trick to measure the cold and hot levels-both good to go.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but please explain this trick to me. I recently changed both the transmission output shaft seal, and the t-case input shaft seal because of a leak. I think the transmission fluid is a little low now because there is a knocking noise coming from my transmission only when the fluid is cold, and when it's in reverse. I'd like to check the levels to see where they are at.

NAMoulton1 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1054

Erikg84 wrote:

NAMoulton1 wrote:

I also used the engine oil dipstick trick to measure the cold and hot levels-both good to go.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but please explain this trick to me. I recently changed both the transmission output shaft seal, and the t-case input shaft seal because of a leak. I think the transmission fluid is a little low now because there is a knocking noise coming from my transmission only when the fluid is cold, and when it's in reverse. I'd like to check the levels to see where they are at.

I actually learned the trick from DredNot on JeepForum. But when everything is cold use the engine dipstick and shove it all the way in the transmission tube (cleaned off of course) and that's your cold level line. Drive until everything is hot and do it again, that's your hot level line. Everyone's transmission and way of doing things is different though.

I also do not recommend this, just saying what I do...

Gageraid · **Posted:** Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:42 am

Different animal, but on my last Mopar, mine was doing this and the transmission finally failed.
I changed the fluid and filter 3 times that week.
I'd either add a little bit more fluid, or go ahead and change the filter and fluid again.

NAMoulton1 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1054

Soooooooooooooooooo

Jeep's 5 year/100,000mi warranty expired in June...looks like I'll be dropping this transmission...

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 14, 2015 2:23 pm

Time for a stick? Lol

NAMoulton1 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1054

Bmxer524 wrote:

Time for a stick? Lol

Thought about it, but I already bit too much off buying all new gears and lockers for the axles. I am trying to get ahold of ATS Diesel Transmissions to see if they have a torque converter/oil pump replacements for our transmission. They make transmissions for the 42RLE...so possibly.

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

42RLE Transmission Falling Out of Gear

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