How cold does it have to get before you have to plug in your CRD to avoid drivability issues?

If we do not plug ours in anywhere from 40 to single digits, it will not shift right. It's like the transmission is slipping. Just like it was when the lightening bolt light was on.

If anybody wants to check location and recent weather history, the zip is 60927.


Curious if this is normal or if I am having a problem that needs fixed.

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2006 Jeep Liberty CRD 142,000 miles New engine 2-2014, Green Eco tune, FS2500 bypass filter Weeks elbow, European Torque converter, brakes front UCA's wheel bearing and front hubs. Front hitch OEM lift pump
98 K2500 Suburban 6.5td
96 K1500 " 6.5td
95 2 door Tahoe 6.5td
94 K3500 cc srw 5 speed 6.5td
91 International Model 6 speed spicer 4700

Two separate issues
1. plug in (timer set for ca 2 hrs before start is ok) if below 20-15F helps with crank up but not so much drivability
2. transmission won't shift properly until tranny fluid is warm enough, plug in won't help. Main symptom is not shifting into "upper" gears; if it feels like it's slipping add ca. 1/2qt of ATF+4; tranny likes more fluid rather than less.

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Sold to LOST member my 05 Ltd, GDE Stg II turbo + TCM tune, SunCoast TC w. Transgo kit, Steiger window regulators, Samcos, Fumoto valve, 2nd gen filter head with Lub. Spec. bleeder, Hayden clutch & 11 blade fan, inverted spare, P-1 battery, BF Goodrich Long Trail TAs, Etecno1 glow plugs, timing belt at 50K miles/8 yrs

Never had this issues and I started the car below 20 many times. Till it won't get warm, it would not lock up, but that's it...

Oh, and to add to papaindigo's comments, you can leave it plugged all day, won't overheat at all, max it gets is 1/8th of the full gauge.

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2005 kj CRD, samco, suncoast tc, provent, Kennedy lift pump, GDE ECO full torque, 2nd gen filter head, 245/70/16 a/t tires, mopar light bar, fumoto oil valve, OEM Skid Plates, ARB Front bumper and HD OME, tru cool LPD47391 40k GVW tranny cooler (stock cooler delete), FF Dynamics e-fan and shroud, rocker arms replaced, HDS2 190F thermostat.

Yep. We just plug it in when we park it. Kind of a pain. Somebody posted a while back that they installed a diesel heater. I would definitely go that route if it weren't for the cash. It's a much better route anyway. Your heater works anywhere. And the cab heater option is a bonus.

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2006 Jeep Liberty CRD 142,000 miles New engine 2-2014, Green Eco tune, FS2500 bypass filter Weeks elbow, European Torque converter, brakes front UCA's wheel bearing and front hubs. Front hitch OEM lift pump
98 K2500 Suburban 6.5td
96 K1500 " 6.5td
95 2 door Tahoe 6.5td
94 K3500 cc srw 5 speed 6.5td
91 International Model 6 speed spicer 4700

I seriously doubt that a magnetic trans pan heater would be a good idea on one of these vehicles. I can see the magnet part messing something up.

Do they make a different pan heater for aluminum pans?

Just plugging the block heater in seems to cure our cold transmission issues

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2006 Jeep Liberty CRD 142,000 miles New engine 2-2014, Green Eco tune, FS2500 bypass filter Weeks elbow, European Torque converter, brakes front UCA's wheel bearing and front hubs. Front hitch OEM lift pump
98 K2500 Suburban 6.5td
96 K1500 " 6.5td
95 2 door Tahoe 6.5td
94 K3500 cc srw 5 speed 6.5td
91 International Model 6 speed spicer 4700

May be because you let it plug in a lot, and that residual heat warms up the transmission a bit. There are lots of heaters, from in pan mount to electric blankets. Look on summit racing for some ideas. The transmission heater shouldn't heat past 150 imo, what I've found so far was no specs on warmer and ppl saying they love it bc they evaporate the water from oil, I one don't want 212+ degrees in transmission...

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2005 kj CRD, samco, suncoast tc, provent, Kennedy lift pump, GDE ECO full torque, 2nd gen filter head, 245/70/16 a/t tires, mopar light bar, fumoto oil valve, OEM Skid Plates, ARB Front bumper and HD OME, tru cool LPD47391 40k GVW tranny cooler (stock cooler delete), FF Dynamics e-fan and shroud, rocker arms replaced, HDS2 190F thermostat.

This morning it was 18 degrees here in Durango CO.
My CRD would crank and crank but not start.
Plugged in the block heater for about 15 minutes and it started up right away.

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U.S. Army Retired

I plug it in with a timer anytime it gets below freezing. Makes it start and warm up quicker.

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05 CRD
97 Toyota FZJ80 12v Cummins/NV4500-build thread
96 Lexus LX 450
96 Ford F350 4x4

Long live the etecno metallic glow plugs, lol. Wonder why you had that problem though, I started my jeep with the etecno on 9*F, it didn't start easy though, but I had dual batteries back then also...

I plug mine in all the time in the winter, and jeep sits in heated garage that never gets under 45 degrees, this more for convenience of having heat and not waiting for engine warmup.

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2005 kj CRD, samco, suncoast tc, provent, Kennedy lift pump, GDE ECO full torque, 2nd gen filter head, 245/70/16 a/t tires, mopar light bar, fumoto oil valve, OEM Skid Plates, ARB Front bumper and HD OME, tru cool LPD47391 40k GVW tranny cooler (stock cooler delete), FF Dynamics e-fan and shroud, rocker arms replaced, HDS2 190F thermostat.

That's why I won't get rid of my ceramic glow plugs. When one goes bad I will just replace it. Maybe when I do the Week's intake or my timing belt change I will change all the ceramic plugs. Will be good for another 100K.