while moving, my automatic tranni dropped out of gear!

jmoomaw · **Posted:** Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:02 pm

Last night I was pulling out of a parking lot onto the road. It was as if I had bumped the lever from D to N. The car just rolled to a halt. A few young ladies came along and the four of them pushed me off to the side of the road. I turned off my CRD (2005) and restarted it. Same thing. Called AAA and they flat bedded my Libby to a mechanic I work with. Once there, the tranni engaged and it worked fine!!!

I had to plow today (we got about 6 inches of heavy snow here in Rochester, NY) and she worked fine all day. Tomorrow I will make a few calls to set up a filter/fluid change and see what they suggest. It has been about 30,000 miles since my last service. I tow a trailer and an now plowing so a filter change wouldn't hurt.

I also need to install the one way valve on the return line. For a while now I have had to sit for a couple of minutes before the tranni will engaged and I can drive it. After I do it in the morning it is fine for the day...until last night!!

I was wondering if the torque converter disconnected. I have a fantasy that is is a worn spring that will need replacing instead of a $2,000 rebuild....any thoughts???

My mechanic also has a new machine that flushes out the transmission. I think he charges a bout $280.00 to flush out all the metal particles and deposits that may add to the wear of the tranni. Anyone ever hear of this or have this done?

Fluid level is fine.....

I have two months before I start hauling and need to do what I can now to be sure my busy season will not be interrupted.

thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.....

racertracer · **Posted:** Sun Feb 06, 2011 8:36 pm

Preventive vehicle maintenance is the key before engaging in heavy work.

Sounds like your tranny could use a flush and new oem filters. Check out the TC while you're at it.

Knightrider03m · **Posted:** Mon Feb 07, 2011 12:51 pm

I wouldn't do a transmission flush on it, just have them drop the trans pan and take it from there. I did a flush on my Camaro and about 500 miles down the line I had no 3rd or 4th gear

jmoomaw · **Posted:** Sat Feb 12, 2011 7:18 am

The verdict is in....the tranni filter was split wide open! We flushed the tranni. Ron didn't see any damage other than the expected wear and tear for a 130,000 mile transmission. It started up in the 3 degree NYS weather yesterday fine without hesitation (although I did let it run for 1-2 minutes before I started to drive.

I still got some stuttering for a few minutes and she stalled once. Still need to install the one way valve to support the lousy filters that are used. Wish that stuttering would just go away!!! It appears there is still air in the system.

Now that the codes are clear and the filter is repaired we can get a better reading on the stuttering...time to go through the post again to see what is with the stuttering...whew!

Will the one way valve keep the fluid from draining out of the torque converter?

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Sat Feb 12, 2011 9:33 am

jmoomaw wrote:

The verdict is in....the tranni filter was split wide open! We flushed the tranni. Ron didn't see any damage other than the expected wear and tear for a 130,000 mile transmission. It started up in the 3 degree NYS weather yesterday fine without hesitation (although I did let it run for 1-2 minutes before I started to drive.

I still got some stuttering for a few minutes and she stalled once. Still need to install the one way valve to support the lousy filters that are used. Wish that stuttering would just go away!!! It appears there is still air in the system.

Now that the codes are clear and the filter is repaired we can get a better reading on the stuttering...time to go through the post again to see what is with the stuttering...whew!

Will the one way valve keep the fluid from draining out of the torque converter?

Are you talking about engine stutter or transmission shudder? If it the former then get a intank lift pump if you don't already have one :JEEPIN:

jmoomaw · **Posted:** Sat Feb 12, 2011 12:47 pm

I always assumed it was transmission shudder...is there a difference in how they feel or what the vehicle does before it stalls?

Thanks

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Sat Feb 12, 2011 7:15 pm

Studder is usually associated with air in the fuel and a intank lift pump is the cure.
Shudder is usally the torque converter clutch when it's locked up slipping. A new torque converter is the normal cure.

These two symptoms are very similiar and occure under similiar conditions. The main condition they both happen is after accelerating to about 55 then easing up either of the above will cause a jerking like feeling. Air in the fuel gushes into the injector pump starving the engine for fuel and the torque converter springs bottom out and bounce back under the above conditions.

jmoomaw · **Posted:** Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:28 pm

Thanks...that clarifies things..

I get a shaking after I first start up and put my Libby into gear. She accelerates a bit after I am moving slowing and then shakes just before stalling. If I place her in neutral, she doesn't stall. After the first drive, I usually do not get it for the rest of the day.

My guess it is air in the return line.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 9:11 am

jmoomaw wrote:

Thanks...that clarifies things..

I get a shaking after I first start up and put my Libby into gear. She accelerates a bit after I am moving slowing and then shakes just before stalling. If I place her in neutral, she doesn't stall. After the first drive, I usually do not get it for the rest of the day.

My guess it is air in the return line.

I agree, it's air. The normal shudder is encountered while driving and warmed up and the lockup clutch slipps causing shudder and that's not your problem.
I think your problem as you suspect is air. It's long been a known problem of fluid draining out of the torque converter when sitting. It's caused by air in the torque converter and no pressure to keep the torque converter clutch unlocked. (so it locks and stalls the engine) These transmissions were pleagued by air leaks and there are several sources. One is the front pump. The pump and cover have been redesigned. There's also a valve in the front pump that has had problems. The most common cause is the drain back check valve in the cannister filter. Originally some filters didn't have a check valve and now it seems the ones that do might be going bad. You've already replaced the filters so the cheapest fix it to wait for it to pump up on the first start of the day :SOMBRERO:

I recall that the angle the jeep is parked at can aggravate the problem too but I don't remember if it's nose down or up :dizzy:

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:48 am

X2 Classic symptom of drained down TC see TSB 21-007-06 APR 06 (covers 05/06 KJ), which you can google on-line, that includes the MOPAR updated filter # that is supposed to correct the problem. Note there is a lot of chat on the forum about non-OEM filters not working and "OEM" filters purchased online not being the updated one. I've had this problem since I got my 05 CRD with 25K miles and am too cheap to do the fix until I need TC service so when I first crank up I just cycle the gear shift a couple of times while idling in the parking spot for 10-15 seconds and then just drive. Alternative is to check out the Flman check valve mod (viewtopic.php?f=98&t=55110) which apparently works quite well although I personally am not fond of cutting the line to install the valve.

while moving, my automatic tranni dropped out of gear!

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