CRD Transmission Problem

abrace · **Posted:** Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:00 pm

Gmtcd,

I do understand what you are trying to say. I am not upset with Suncoast for recommending the clutch packs, I just wish I had not gotten them as I do not believe any benefit from them outweighs the trouble I have had by having them installed in the gearbox. I am confident that they could help the transmission to last longer as I assume that they wear slower than the OEM clutch packs (better friction material I hope).

My frustration is mostly with Chrysler for causing me to even have to have any of this work done, next with the tech whom I think is in a little over his head on this vehicle and then lastly with Suncoast for not recommending someone who has a lot of experience rebuilding gearboxes.

However, what is done is done. I just wanted everyone's feedback on whether I should trade this thing in or give it another chance. My greatest fear is that another 6 months goes by, I am out of warranty with the installer and this happens again. I will then be out serious money.

I appreciate everyone's feedback and know that any of you, in my exact situation, would probably be feeling the same way.

Thanks.

abrace · **Posted:** Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:00 pm

Gmtcd,

I do understand what you are trying to say. I am not upset with Suncoast for recommending the clutch packs, I just wish I had not gotten them as I do not believe any benefit from them outweighs the trouble I have had by having them installed in the gearbox. I am confident that they could help the transmission to last longer as I assume that they wear slower than the OEM clutch packs (better friction material I hope).

My frustration is mostly with Chrysler for causing me to even have to have any of this work done, next with the tech whom I think is in a little over his head on this vehicle and then lastly with Suncoast for not recommending someone who has a lot of experience rebuilding gearboxes.

However, what is done is done. I just wanted everyone's feedback on whether I should trade this thing in or give it another chance. My greatest fear is that another 6 months goes by, I am out of warranty with the installer and this happens again. I will then be out serious money.

I appreciate everyone's feedback and know that any of you, in my exact situation, would probably be feeling the same way.

Thanks.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:30 pm

Retmil,

How many miles on the CRD when you did the TC install, how many miles now, are you regularly towing and, if so, what sort of weight and duration?

Thanks as always,

DOC

gmctd · **Posted:** Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:36 pm

No prob, abrace - intent is 'forewarned is forarmed' - naming names names the source of the problem, namely, the advisor(s) who may have advised poor advice, ill-advisedly

retmil46 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:53 pm

DOC4444 wrote:

Retmil,

How many miles on the CRD when you did the TC install, how many miles now, are you regularly towing and, if so, what sort of weight and duration?

Thanks as always,

DOC

It was in the low 20's for mileage best I remember, getting ready to kick over to 36K now. As far as towing, it's still a virgin - didn't have the tow package on it when I bought it, just got it rigged up last Aug/Sept with a Hidden Hitch and Mopar wiring. But it's virgin status won't last for much longer with the pending move to Texas in about 3 weeks.

It's been all on-road, 40 mile round trip commute to work, and a few 2600 mile round trips to Texas under it's belt. Didn't see much use last year until the MB got totaled, but just did a better than 3000 mile trip in 1 1/2 weeks to FL and TX for job interviews at the end of last month - ran good the whole way with no problems or hiccups from the tranny.

abrace · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:37 am

Jeep is STILL in the shop. Now it has migrated over to the jeep dealer as the transmission guy has given up. Jeep dealer now thinks the ECM is shot and has ordered one.

My guess is the wire to the crank positioning sensor was fubard when the gearbox was removed/reinstalled. When power was applied it fried the ECM. The Crank position sensor has been replaced, along with the wire and still getting a code for the crank positioning sensor and the thing runs like crap.

I think the guy knows he messed up the wire as he replaced that FIRST. Whenever I have had a sensor problem in the past I usually replace the sensor first as it is almost never the harness (unless you see damage).

In any case I will post an update once I get more info. Going on three weeks now...

Coal Cracker · **Posted:** Sat Mar 14, 2009 4:17 pm

As a transmission builder, I'm analitically looking at this whole clutchpack issue, and thinking your trans guy didn't properly measure the clutchpack thickness . Pack clearance becomes an issue everytime I build a unit. He shouldhave measued the old clutch plates along with the old steels, and compared them to the new steels. There are times when you may have to use the old clutch steels, with the new clutches, and or remove a clutch plate. I think you're getting jerked allong. Modified Transmissions can be a funny thing, I agree, there have been times I had to pull one out, once or twice, but six times, you're getting jerked. Take it somewhere else, and get that pack measured with a micrometer. The big question will be, what was the origional measurement. Good luck

gmctd · **Posted:** Sat Mar 14, 2009 5:35 pm

Prollem being, the CPS is at the rear of the block - carelessness can pinch the CPS harness between the bellhousing and the block flange, so he may have just done that thing - having the 5v Ref voltage shorted to ground would prolly do the deed, far as the ECM is concerned.

abrace · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:46 am

I picked the Jeep up at the dealership today and got the lowdown from the owner of the dealership.

They replaced the computer and that did not solve the issue. They did this based on the troubleshooting steps provided by my transmission guy. They then started from scratch. They saw, what they characterized as a "bad splice job" for the wiring harness for the CPS. I am not sure why it was spliced as my transmission guy told me that he replaced the harness as his first step...but in any case he spliced it. When he spliced it he didn't match the colors up right and it was spliced backwards. This was causing incorrect readings to come from the CPS and was likely the problem all along (after the transmission fix).

Of course the dealer came after me for the cost of the repair as it was obviously not covered under warranty.

Add to that, as I was driving it home I found out I have no cruise control any longer. When you press the cruise button the cruse light doesn't even come up on the dash.

Add to that (and possibly related as cruise requires this) I believe I have a vacuum leak now. When I come to a stop at a stop light the HVAC changes (stops blowing from the floor and then out through the defrost vents I believe).

Good times.

---Aaron

abrace · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:58 am

BTW, just to be clear, when I say "troubleshooting steps provided by my transmission guy" I am referring to hum telling them the same story that he told me...that he replaced the CPS and harness so it must be the ECM.

MrMopar64 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:41 pm

Are you still running the new ECU? They probably didn't set it right.

With the DRBIII, there is an option for Cruise Control Reset (or status reset, you get the idea). From there, hold the "ON" switch for 2-4 seconds until the cluster illuminates the "CRUISE". From there you're good to go.

You could try holding the button in any case and it might learn the cruise status anyways.

gmctd · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:48 pm

Well, that explains it then - nowhere thru any of this did I see where he was claiming to be a harness guy - only a transmission guy - that's the unions, fer ya: 'ain't my job, man'...........

abrace · **Posted:** Thu Mar 19, 2009 12:33 pm

All,

Thanks for the tips. I will try to hold the cruise button down for a while to see if that helps and pass your info on to the dealer. I appreciate it!

Coal Cracker & ALL:

I appreciate the frank feedback...that is not what I wanted to hear but it is good to know. I did not mention it in my original posting but one of his original issues he "detected" was that he had the "stack height" incorrect. Are you referring to the same thing? When this was incorrect the shifts were tooth jarring hard...Then a couple weeks later the valve body crapped itself (well likely a solenoid but he couldn't just replace a solenoid) and had to be replaced. I argued with him that I thought the valve body was related to his stack height problem as if I was feeling it that hard when that shifted it the resulting fluid shock could not be that good for the solenoids. In any case I gave in and paid for that in the interest of not wanting to irritate him if future repairs came up.

I would hate to take it to someone else and fork out the ~$1,800 or so to have the gearbox pulled and taken apart to check everything. At this point I am just thinking of leaving it as is and if it dies again in another six months I would just a new rebuild gearbox put in and have them reuse the Suncoast TC. What are your thoughts?

I am also seriously considering just patching this thing back together and taking it down to the ford dealer and trade it in for a new 09 escape...but I don't wanna take the hit.

I think I am also going to call Suncoast shortly and at least let Ron know that in my opinion this guy should not be a Suncoast recommended installer any longer...and ask him for another referral in case this happens again.

---Aaron

gmctd · **Posted:** Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:40 pm

Calling Suncoast is a good idea - don't pull any punches, vis a vis that quote\unquote transmission guy, either - yours is an all-too-common tale coming out of many "transmission shop" encounters - if they were all vented on open-forum forums, "transmission guys" would soon become an endangered species, as would also their shoddy practices

Coal Cracker · **Posted:** Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:07 pm

I agree with gmctd

And yes I am referring to clutch pack stack heigth. And yes the tighter the clutches are in the housing, the tighter they push on the snap ring, and the harder the shift.

And I also agree that a clutch pack that is too tight in a computer controlled trans will result in body failure/malfunction. and you are correct on the fluid shock in the solenoid.

I know where you're coming from when you say you do not want to spend upwards to 2,000 to see someone else, but It pisses me off to see such shoddy work, and this guy is playing guesswork with your jeep.

If I we're in your situation, I would put out a locator at a recycler for a good used trans ( most have warranty), and put your currrent suncoast in it, and run it.
He's fudged around soo much with your trans, you might spend more than 2 grand to get back to square one.

don't trade the libby, it's not her fault,

abrace · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:05 pm

All,

I just traded the liberty. I got what I owed on it and was happy. Gearbox started making funny noises yesterday (a nasty groaning when at stop lights now). I just could not take it anymore! I thank you all for your advice and guidance and I wish things had worked out differently but they did not.

I will still call Suncoast and let them know about this "installer". I am also going to ask the "installer" to refund the repair money I had to spend at the dealership to fix his bad splice. Hopefully he pays. If he does not I am mad enough to go to small claims!

In any case I will be selling/pimping/offering up some of the parts I have for it. I will be offering them at very cheap prices as they are no good to me now (oil filters, oil, etc). I will post a consolidated list and PM me if you are interested. Thanks.

---Aaron

jeepkj05 · **Posted:** Fri May 25, 2012 6:08 pm

Dose anyone know wherebican find the crank positioning sensor on my CRD please? I've been looking for it at least 3days in a row and can't locate it.

CRD Transmission Problem

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