How is the 5spd in the KJ Considering my first KJ purchase

blacklock · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:48 pm

I am new to the board here and am considering purchasing a Liberty. I was just wanting to find out what others on here think about the 5spd with the V6 with 4wd. Is this transmission better quality than the auto.. I am looking at an 05 Sport 4Wd with 11xxxx mi for 16900 does that sound like a reasonable price?

GPR65 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:59 pm

the 5 speed is a NV3550 and is a good tranny according to many sites on the web. It rattles a bit and is not as smooth as some manuals. Remember many people including myself have had problems with it shifting with the Powertrax noslip in the rear end. I got to the point were i switched it out for an auburn gear limited slip. All in all it is a very strong tranny (pretty bullet proof from what i have heard.) Its torque rating is like 310 ft/lbs but i have heard that is very conservitive. Hope the info helps.

Chris

JeepJunky33 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 16, 2006 1:41 am

I have the 5spd man. and it's great. I personally love it. The tranny is strong but is a bit ruff on the shift. I love it though.

jpzkj · **Posted:** Thu Mar 16, 2006 2:05 am

blacklock wrote:

I am new to the board here and am considering purchasing a Liberty. I was just wanting to find out what others on here think about the 5spd with the V6 with 4wd. Is this transmission better quality than the auto.. I am looking at an 05 Sport 4Wd with 11xxxx mi for 16900 does that sound like a reasonable price?

Depends alot on how your going to use your KJ.

I've had both Auto and Manual transmission 4x4's and I've gotta say that the Auto is much easier to drive in difficult terrain with the kind of gearing the KJ has. With LOW gears in the differentails and the Transfer case a manual is awsome particularly downhill.

Don't get me wrong...not starting a auto vs manual fued at all

If your 4x4 has some nice low gears a manual is great...if it doesn't It's a real pain becuase your not able to crawl up and over rocks ect. with as much control as the auto. The Auto allows you to use the torque converter to make up for the lack of low gears(the converter multiplies the torque) I've wheeled with KJWEST members that have the manual and it's allot harder for them than the autos. The Key is the gearing of the KJ makes it much harder to wheel a stick vs. auto

Lots of highway miles and less offroad miles ?...or milder terrain, or your just plain gifted with your left foot offroad! The stick might be better. There's always that added benifit that you can start you KJ by pushing it, which is nice when the battery is dead or the starter is out.

Hope that helps...and lets not start a stick vs auto war please , they're booth good :roll:

Wasatch15 · **Joined:** Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:52 am **Posts:** 242

I love my 2002, V6, 5speed. I consistently get 20mpg going to work. I also like the control I have in icy conditions when power needs to be removed from the drivetrain. I would buy it all over again if I didn't already have it.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:47 am

blacklock wrote:

I am new to the board here and am considering purchasing a Liberty. I was just wanting to find out what others on here think about the 5spd with the V6 with 4wd. Is this transmission better quality than the auto.. I am looking at an 05 Sport 4Wd with 11xxxx mi for 16900 does that sound like a reasonable price?

If you are getting an 05 Sport in manual transmission, you will be very surprised....because it's actually a 6 speed! They just added that in 2005.

I love the 6 speed - great fuel economy when you want it (23mpg on the highway at 65mph), great acceleration when you want to burn a mustang when a stoplight turns green. More fun offroad, etc. All around manual transmission is great.

I hope you meant 11,xxx miles and not 11x,xxx miles. 11x,xxx is a lot of miles! 11,000 miles is a lot better, and well worth the price (you'll double the mileage in a year anyway, I bet)

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:52 am

jpzkj wrote:

Don't get me wrong...not starting a auto vs manual fued at all

I'll try not to as well, but I did want to address what you said here:

Quote:

If your 4x4 has some nice low gears a manual is great...if it doesn't It's a real pain becuase your not able to crawl up and over rocks ect. with as much control as the auto. The Auto allows you to use the torque converter to make up for the lack of low gears(the converter multiplies the torque) I've wheeled with KJWEST members that have the manual and it's allot harder for them than the autos. The Key is the gearing of the KJ makes it much harder to wheel a stick vs. auto

I don't know how much has changed with the gearing of the manual transmission between the pre-05 and the 2005 models, but I've had no problems at all finding low enough gearing for offroading.1st gear is WAY too slow for even an engine-braked downhill, I'm often in 2nd or 3rd doing 10mph or less in 4Lo.

From http://jeephorizons.com/news/nsg370.html
The NSG six-speed manual transmission provides a 4.46:1 First-gear ratio, versus the 3.85:1 and 4.04:1 ratios of the five-speed transmissions it replaces, for improved launch and traction.

I almost never use first gear, even in normal street driving - I take off in second.

blacklock · **Posted:** Thu Mar 16, 2006 3:09 pm

The KJ I am looking at is 11000 miles, I had a typo there. As for the tranny the ad posted said 5spd did not know they went to 6 spd but thanks for the info. I wont be doing much offroading with it. I am debating on going with a KJ or going back to a TJ.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Fri Mar 17, 2006 1:29 pm

blacklock wrote:

The KJ I am looking at is 11000 miles, I had a typo there. As for the tranny the ad posted said 5spd did not know they went to 6 spd but thanks for the info. I wont be doing much offroading with it. I am debating on going with a KJ or going back to a TJ.

I say give both a test drive. I think you'll be surprised at how quiet and smooth the KJ rides, but how fun it can be when you want it to be. The TJ and the KJ are really different beasts.

The KJ is very multi-purpose, and it'll suit you well for many taks (highway for a few hours, offroad, camping, freighting it up with cargo, towing stuff, filling with people/skis/biks/kayaks/canoes, hauling furniture, a dog, good for a family.

The TJ is fun because you can take the top + doors off! That and the offroadability are pretty much the only major ++ points for the TJ over the KJ. The downsides for the TJ are things like, road noise, rough highway ride, heater/AC not working well due to removable top. High break-in rate, thanks to the no-top and soft-top making it easy for people to steal stuff out of it. Unimpressive interior - it's just not as nice as a Liberty, GC or Commander - you just don't see a TJ with heated leather seats!

OBX KJ · **Posted:** Fri Mar 17, 2006 1:55 pm

Wasatch15 wrote:

I love my 2002, V6, 5speed. I consistently get 20mpg going to work. I also like the control I have in icy conditions when power needs to be removed from the drivetrain. I would buy it all over again if I didn't already have it.

X2

auggy · **Posted:** Fri Mar 17, 2006 4:10 pm

An 05' with over 110,000 miles!!?!?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Mar 17, 2006 4:29 pm

blacklock wrote:

The KJ I am looking at is 11000 miles, I had a typo there. As for the tranny the ad posted said 5spd did not know they went to 6 spd but thanks for the info. I wont be doing much offroading with it. I am debating on going with a KJ or going back to a TJ.

Read alittle auggy. :wink:

auggy · **Posted:** Fri Mar 17, 2006 4:42 pm

I have a tendency to not scroll down heh.

recon · **Joined:** Wed Mar 08, 2006 1:28 pm **Posts:** 90

I have driven and wheeled the auto, 5sp, and I purchased the 6 speed which you can no longer get. Perfect for the daily commute as well as trips off road, and easy on the pocket vook when it comes to gas. I love it and am glad I have the extra gears. If you need the power go with the 5 speed manual, manuals require more skill and focus and it will keep you from talking on your cell phone, you will save lives and become a saint and become famous. Chicks will dig you and you will become rich and trade your Lib in for a H1.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Sat Mar 18, 2006 1:42 am

recon wrote:

I have driven and wheeled the auto, 5sp, and I purchased the 6 speed which you can no longer get.

what? The 6-speed is most certainly still available. They are hard to find, but definitely exist. I have one.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sat Mar 18, 2006 7:53 pm

i dont want to start the auto vs manual warbut as of latley i have see a lot of people swaping out their manual for an
auto because the auto is easier to wheel no clutch to ware out and when you get hung up on a hill that is so steep the seat belt locks and you can't get out and your spotter says "back up" hand throttle or not it is much easier
with an auto
just my .02

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Sat Mar 18, 2006 11:26 pm

I like the 5 speed. It is very nice going down hills as you can just engine brake and you don't have to worry about your tires locking and you sliding uncontrolled. Even if you do need to brake, the engine will help keep your tires spinning.

Although, if you are stuck on a hill going up, then its a great big pain in the 5 speed. I just figure though, if its harder than that means you get more fun out of an easy trail than the autos, and your safer coming back down, if you are going down a low traction hill anyways.

Its all personal preference, do you want trouble getting up, or do you want troubles getting back down again.

If you want to lock your jeep with the manual, its very expensive as the ARB seems like its the only locker that will work with it (and it is a lot harder to use than an automatic locker, kinda like going up hill with a manual). Although, you might be just fine with a good quality LSD. I think there is a geared one that does a wonderful job.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sun Mar 19, 2006 12:50 am

TheChucklesStart wrote:

I like the 5 speed. It is very nice going down hills as you can just engine brake and you don't have to worry about your tires locking and you sliding uncontrolled. Even if you do need to brake, the engine will help keep your tires spinning.

Although, if you are stuck on a hill going up, then its a great big pain in the 5 speed. I just figure though, if its harder than that means you get more fun out of an easy trail than the autos, and your safer coming back down, if you are going down a low traction hill anyways.

Its all personal preference, do you want trouble getting up, or do you want troubles getting back down again.

If you want to lock your jeep with the manual, its very expensive as the ARB seems like its the only locker that will work with it (and it is a lot harder to use than an automatic locker, kinda like going up hill with a manual). Although, you might be just fine with a good quality LSD. I think there is a geared one that does a wonderful job.

first you can put an auto in first and it acts like a stick in first wich by the way if you are in four low you should be doing any way

second i dont know if you have ever used an ARB locker but you lock it befor you hit an obstical and dont tuch it until you get to flat ground then you unlock it and your jeep drives and handles like normal trust me i have them and they are much
beter than auto lockers

every one has their opinion that is mine

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:32 am

jason thompson wrote:

first you can put an auto in first and it acts like a stick in first wich by the way if you are in four low you should be doing any way

second i dont know if you have ever used an ARB locker but you lock it befor you hit an obstical and dont tuch it until you get to flat ground then you unlock it and your jeep drives and handles like normal trust me i have them and they are much
beter than auto lockers

every one has their opinion that is mine

I guess you are right. I really mean little harder to use than an auto-locker. I just got an ARB locker, and I haven't gotten quite used to it. I used to have a PowerTrax locker. I guess after I get used to it, it will be a lot easier to use, but still not as easy as the auto locker. It does definatly work better when off than an automatic locker (which makes funny noises, and sometimes jerks your car around (which makes it look like you can't drive manual

)

Autos don't mind you stopping your wheels while going downhill, no matter what. But if you are in a manual the engine will do its best to keep your wheels spinning, even when you are hitting the break kinda hard. Its like Anti-lock breaks, but you have control over it. (although, my liberty doesn't have anti-lock breaks and maybe they make this a non-issue, but I thought the liberty turned them off off-road).

Going down hills is the ONLY time I have found the liberties manual a benefactor off-road (especially with the high gearing of the liberty requiring gas to keep the engine from stalling when starting up a hill, if it had lower gears, I would probably take that back, but then the highway wouldn't work so well).

I do think you are right though, that it is a matter of preference, auto vs manual (be it lockers or transmissions) both have advantages, both have disadvantages. It just comes down to if you are a control freak or not I guess.

How is the 5spd in the KJ Considering my first KJ purchase

Who is online