Transmission problem

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I wish.

I took my KJ in to DC service on Nov. 1 for it's 49,000 km service, which included new transmission fluid and filters. The transmission (automatic) has functioned flawlessly up until then. I get it back and notice a slight clunk on deceleration (shifting down). I drive it around town only for a couple of weeks, thinking, I have to take this in to get it checked out. Then on this past weekend, I took the KJ out onto the highway for the first time since the service. Every time the O.D. kicked off going up steep hills, or when I thumbed the O.D. button, there was a loud, shaking THUMP.

So I took it in to DC service today and told them about it. I left it there for a couple of hours, and then they phoned me to pick it up. There was a TSB on that, they said, and they needed to reflash it. I picked it up, and headed straight for the highway to check it. Nothing has changed. So I phoned again, they said, bring it back, take the mechanic for a ride and show him. The mechanic said he'd need to tear it apart for a few hours and take a look. Scheduled for Dec. 1.

Anyone else have this problem?

Endurance · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:12 pm

Fluid level low? After the reflash, did the vehicle have a hard time disengaging the gear when coming to a stop? When I got my new TC and all the reflashes, those idiots barely put any transm. fluid in it.

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

The fluid level is good. There is no disengage problems when I stop. Just the thump or clunk noises, which have me concerned. As in, what could they have done during servicing that made this problem happen? Could this actually be a u-joint problem?

detroit_doc · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:42 pm

Eddo mentioned that after his tranmission service he had a harsh 4-3 downshift. If I remember correctly he said he took it to the dealer and they had to run a "quick learn" procedure on it to reset the clutch volume indexes and it fixed the problem. Also I believe he said the dealer said it was common to need this after a transmission service. PM him to get it from the horses mouth.

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

Thanks! I'll do that now.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

Sounds like a QUICKLEARN is needed. Ask them to preform a QUICKLEARN first, before they tear anything apart. A quicklearn only takes 2-3 minutes and should cost no more than 40 dollars.

Here is a copy of the PM i sent to snowsport

Quote:

That sounds about right. It is very possible could need a quick learn. Only the dealer or someone with the DRB III or high end diagnostic equipment can preform the procedure.

So far I have confirmed with a total of 4 techs (2 in person, 2 over the net) and each have said that quite often it is necessary due to getting air in the line and changes in the viscosity of the fluid. If fact the two techs that I talked to at two different shop, both said that they preform a quick learn as part of the standard procedure for changing the fluid. Its stops people from coming back and only take a minute.

I had a harsh 4-3 downshift. Didn't matter if it was a coast down or kick down. I tried letting to bump for quite a while and the problem never got better. The quick learn procedure preformed with the DRBIII instantly fixed the problem so I don't think it had anything to do with the filter.

According to a supposed trans tech on another board

Quote:

Disconnecting the battery will do nothing for problem related to a quicklearn, which really need to be done anytime the fluid is changed as the new fluid will have a different viscosity they the old fluid and it will change the clutch volumes which is what a quicklearn does it re-learns the clutch volumes(the amount of fluid needed to fill the piston to engage the clutch pack).
ref: http://jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=340685

and another

Quote:

ive had this happen before, A QUICKLEARN at a dealership or anyone with a drb 3 can fun one it resets the trans values and cvi's ( clutch volume index)
ref: http://www.allpar.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=83614&hl=quicklearn

According to the tech that performed the quicklearn on my Jeep the adaptive computer would have eventually accepted and learned the new values for the CVIs, but it would have taken time. Some of the bumps where pretty larger and I felt a little disconcerted just leaving it.

Hope it helps someone. Let us know how it turns out snowsport.

detroit_doc · **Posted:** Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:18 pm

Snowsport,

If you get the quicklearn done, let us know if it fixed the problem.

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

Will do, I've got a call in to the service manager now.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Wed Nov 22, 2006 1:56 pm

I am not sure if this applies or not but I know that on the 3 speed auto in the TJ the filter can be put on wrong and cause all kinds or strange problems
I would take it to a mechanic and let them have a look
Rember that a dealer does not want to admit a problem with their work or their product but a mechanic wants you business and a smaller shop can not afford to screw up something like trans

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

Thanks, Jason. I have an appointment at 1:00 today for them to try the QUICKLEARN procedure, so I'll see how that goes. If that doesn't work then I might take it to another mechanic.

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

The service dept at the dealership did the QUICKLEARN procedure this afternoon, to reset the clutch volume indexes, and that fixed the problem completely. The KJ is shifting smooth as silk again.

detroit_doc and Eddo, thank you both very much for the info and support! I sure appreciate it!

detroit_doc · **Posted:** Thu Nov 23, 2006 11:17 am

That's great news snowsport! Thank Eddo though. He mentioned it to me earlier when I was asking about changing my tranny fluid. For whatever reason, my Jeep didn't need the quick learn. I just happened to remember him mentioning it.

Thanks for replying with an update too. I post on a few automotive forums (S2000, WRX, Cobra) and it drives me nuts when a bunch of people give a guy troubleshootnig advice and then we never hear the results. Now hopefully the next guy with this problem will find this post.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Nov 23, 2006 11:19 am

Haha, eddo, you need to make this a sticky.. :wink:

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Haha, eddo, you need to make this a sticky.. :wink:

They don't let me do things like that on this board.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Nov 23, 2006 3:23 pm

Eddo wrote:

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Haha, eddo, you need to make this a sticky.. :wink:

They don't let me do things like that on this board.

Losers..

Vypurr · **Joined:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:35 am **Posts:** 3

I know that I am real late to the game, but I have an 04 Liberty Sport V6 Automatic 4 Wheel Drive and I have a similar problem to what is explained here...

I have been having a hard time accelerating hard. Going up hills, or on the highway, if I want to hit the pedal and accelerate, the engine revs up real high before thumping HARD into gear. I cannot say whether it's only the 4-3 or 3-2 shift. But it's scary! Sounds like the transmission is going to fall out of the car!

I took it to a dealership who diagnosed it and told me that the computer had to be reflashed. Seemed reasonable. But is this the same thing as the Quicklearn that everyone here seems to have good luck with?

I have had the transmission fluid changed, and I never really put two and two together, but it may have begun around the same time (4 years ago). But it's gotten progressively worse!

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 12:25 pm

Vypurr wrote:

I know that I am real late to the game, but I have an 04 Liberty Sport V6 Automatic 4 Wheel Drive and I have a similar problem to what is explained here...

I have been having a hard time accelerating hard. Going up hills, or on the highway, if I want to hit the pedal and accelerate, the engine revs up real high before thumping HARD into gear. I cannot say whether it's only the 4-3 or 3-2 shift. But it's scary! Sounds like the transmission is going to fall out of the car!

I took it to a dealership who diagnosed it and told me that the computer had to be reflashed. Seemed reasonable. But is this the same thing as the Quicklearn that everyone here seems to have good luck with?

I have had the transmission fluid changed, and I never really put two and two together, but it may have begun around the same time (4 years ago). But it's gotten progressively worse!

Did you have the trans flushed at a Jeep dealership with the correct ATF4 ?
If not that could of been the start of your problems

Vypurr · **Joined:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:35 am **Posts:** 3

tommudd wrote:

Did you have the trans flushed at a Jeep dealership with the correct ATF4 ?
If not that could of been the start of your problems

Cannot guarantee I did...

I worked at a service station and did the flush myself using our ATF Flush machine. Just used the generic ATF that went into every car there. Is the Liberty that picky about the fluids it gets?

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 12:49 pm

Vypurr wrote:

tommudd wrote:

Did you have the trans flushed at a Jeep dealership with the correct ATF4 ?
If not that could of been the start of your problems

Cannot guarantee I did...

I worked at a service station and did the flush myself using our ATF Flush machine. Just used the generic ATF that went into every car there. Is the Liberty that picky about the fluids it gets?

Yes they are

Vypurr · **Joined:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:35 am **Posts:** 3

Thanks. Next stop will be back to the dealership!

Any tips on ensuring they do the Quicklearn? Is there something I can reference that will help the mechanic? Everytime I go in there and try to be real specific about what I want done the guy at the service desk looks at me like I'm crazy. Is Quicklearn the actual name for this procedure on their ODB-III scanner?

Transmission problem

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