trans temp light

crimsonfox · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:22 am

My trans temp light came on today while I was driving uphill, about 20 miles per hour, up a pretty steep incline (4-6% grade). I had 4x4 on, the car was in drive, with OD off. So I'm wondering, did I do something to cause it to overheat?

Anyone else have problems like this? Was it a fleeting issue, or did it continue to occur?

Any thoughts would be appreciated since this is just another wonderful moment I've had with the Libby.

04jeepkj · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:48 am

I have had the same issue in that same situation. climbing up hill on a long service road in 2 wheel drive then 10 mins on the trail trans temp light. the only thing i could do is let it cool down and think about getting an after market trans cooler and an actual trans temp gauge. this has happened every time on this trail with two different people driving.

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:11 am

That's the "Put me in 4-lo light." KJs don't like steep hills while going slow in hi range.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:06 am

Yep if off pavement and climbing a sttep hill at slow speed use 4lo.

crimsonfox · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 2:18 pm

What is the max speed for 4 lo?

Also, it is auto tranny, should I have it in 1st or 2nd so it isn't shifting when I get to a flatter spot along the trail?

These Rockies are kicking my Jeep's @$$.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:10 pm

25 is about the max you want to be doing in 4 low. stay in first gear when using 4 low as well.

Look into an aftermarket transmission cooler to increase the heat dissapation capabliity - that'll prolong the life of your transmission and keep that light at bay.

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:23 pm

what type of surface was it on?

4-6% grade is not very steep....are you sure it wasn't higher

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:29 pm

crimsonfox wrote:

What is the max speed for 4 lo?

Also, it is auto tranny, should I have it in 1st or 2nd so it isn't shifting when I get to a flatter spot along the trail?

These Rockies are kicking my Jeep's @$$.

Well acording to the owners manual it's 25mph for 4lo,but I've had mine over 60mph before in 4lo with zero problems(well at least the tires were spinning 60mph,I wasn't actually going that fast :wink:

).You can keep in "D" in 4lo,I stay in 1st gear though when doing a trail.

For better high altitude performance in your KJ try using premium gas,mine does much better at 10,000' on premuim then the cheap stuff,my KJ actually pings(knocks) with 85 octane and when on the trail it starts knocking with 87 octane gas,I use only premuim now and zero problems at high altitude.

crimsonfox · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:46 pm

Jeep4me99 wrote:

what type of surface was it on?

4-6% grade is not very steep....are you sure it wasn't higher

rough dirt road. Very curvy and steeper in sections.

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:39 pm

crimsonfox wrote:

Jeep4me99 wrote:

what type of surface was it on?

4-6% grade is not very steep....are you sure it wasn't higher

rough dirt road. Very curvy and steeper in sections.

ah ok, I was thinking maybe it was pavement...then i would be like :shock:

but i had my trans light come on when crawling rocky trails in 4-hi. too much slippage and transfer of power going on. Once I put it in 4-lo i didn't have anymore problems. speed < 5mph

JohnnyCash · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:56 pm

I was reading a Toyota Tacom forum one day, and they have the exact same overheating problems as the Liberty.

That made me feel better. Misery loves company.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:14 pm

shifting gears = generating heat
you were in the wrong gear
I NEVER use 4h when I am on the trail NEVER EVER NEVER
you can not go slow enough and well it causes the transmission to get hot
we have wheeled the KJ in 95* heat with the AC on out on a trail for 4+ hours and no trans temp light
hell the engine temp stayed normal the entire time and we only have the standard electric fan

crimsonfox · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:51 pm

jason thompson wrote:

shifting gears = generating heat
you were in the wrong gear
I NEVER use 4h when I am on the trail NEVER EVER NEVER
you can not go slow enough and well it causes the transmission to get hot
we have wheeled the KJ in 95* heat with the AC on out on a trail for 4+ hours and no trans temp light
hell the engine temp stayed normal the entire time and we only have the standard electric fan

I've had it out in 110 heat in the AZ desert, with the ac running without issue. I haven't done continuous climbs like what I faced yesterday in the Libby. I'd done off-roading like that in the Cherokee, so that was my only experience prior to yesterday. Next time, I'll just put it in 4-lo and try a lower gear.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:08 pm

crimsonfox wrote:

jason thompson wrote:

shifting gears = generating heat
you were in the wrong gear
I NEVER use 4h when I am on the trail NEVER EVER NEVER
you can not go slow enough and well it causes the transmission to get hot
we have wheeled the KJ in 95* heat with the AC on out on a trail for 4+ hours and no trans temp light
hell the engine temp stayed normal the entire time and we only have the standard electric fan

I've had it out in 110 heat in the AZ desert, with the ac running without issue. I haven't done continuous climbs like what I faced yesterday in the Libby. I'd done off-roading like that in the Cherokee, so that was my only experience prior to yesterday. Next time, I'll just put it in 4-lo and try a lower gear.

my 95* feels hotter than your 110*
your 110* is with 5% humidity my 95* is with 95% humidity
I know that the KJ can not tell the difference but I sure as hell can
in fact I was just doing some work to the roof basket ,pics when I get home from vacation
and was sweating bullets at 8:30pm

on and should be in first gear so that it can not shift

crimsonfox · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:45 pm

lol 5% humidity, what a myth that is. Maybe in the winter. Dew points in the summer get well into the 60s during July and August. Relative humidity gets into the 45% range. Add that to 110+ heat and it isn't nice weather. Hence, why I moved to Colorado!

Anyways, I think we are getting off topic. Thanks for the advice. I'll try it next time I have the Jeep in the mountains.

KW AV8R · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2008 6:41 am

Crimsonfox, I see you're in the Springs ... what road were you doing ... if it was Old Stage/Gold Camp then I can tell you that every KJ that has gone up there in 4HI (and has the 42RLE) has had the trans temp light come on. I usually put it in 4LO and "D" which allows me to go as fast as common sense allows for that road (about 20mph). I'm pretty sure that Rampart Range Road out of Garden of the Gods has the same effect on my KJ.

kskj · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:44 am

Thats the only place my trans light has ever come on. Coming up the shelf road into cripple creek.

crimsonfox · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2008 1:00 pm

I'm not really sure where I was at, since I was taking directions from a guy who didn't really know where he was going. :oops:

It was behind the Broadmoor and I think the forest road was 368? Also, it gave me mileage to Cripple Creek.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2008 7:33 pm

If the road didnt need 4low due to the terrain or the speed, limit the tranny to a lower gear. 3rd gear it a little to high for 20mph so I would of limited it to 2nd gear at a minimum.

If Im using 4low, I like to limit the tranny to at least 3rd to keep the tranny out of O/D.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:20 pm

crimsonfox wrote:

I'm not really sure where I was at, since I was taking directions from a guy who didn't really know where he was going. :oops:

It was behind the Broadmoor and I think the forest road was 368? Also, it gave me mileage to Cripple Creek.

That would be Old Stage Road,Eagle Rock is on that road also(fun trail,not easy though).

trans temp light

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