Over drive question

AfricaJeep · **Posted:** Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:18 am

Albert wrote:

sleeve84028 wrote:

If you run into the issue where the automatic transmission starts "searching" for the proper gear it is a good idea to turn off the O/D function and just ride up the hills at a higher RPM...

Correct. If driving mountain roads, and you happen to be close to the shifting point between D and OD (45-50 mph hour range with mine) push the button and lock out OD. This will kick up your rpm's and keep your motor higher in the power band (easier on motor and tranny), and keeps the tranny from continually shifting back and forth between D and OD. When your tranny continually shifts back and forth like that it builds up more heat. It gets HOT fast and heat eventually destroys tranny's if it can't cool itself quickly enough. The tranny cooler helps and that's if you have the tow package, you have one. (I am not sure if they come with a tranny cooler if you don't have the tow package). It would help weather you were towing or not. Also there is supposed to be a trans/hot idiot light that should come on if it ever did get too hot. Once you get back to flatter ground, push the button again and let it go back to O/D. Your tranny will thank you.

I am not sure if we had the tow package in South Africa and whether I have it. I bought the vehicle used. It does have the removable Jeep towbar fitted and not an aftermarket towbar.

I have been doing the O/D on and off when I take my kid and his cousin surfing. We have to pass over a mountain to get to the surf spot and it is an extremely steep climb. I switch the O/D off as soon as I hit traffic - single lane so no overtaking. At the top there is a flat stretch of about a half a mile before a hilly section of about 2 miles. At this section I turn off the O/D and then engage again when I hit the descent.

This is a regular Saturday morning trip and I was wondering if I could cause more damage by constanly engaging/disengaging the O/D.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:48 am

It sounds like you are doing the right thing (for climbing steep slopes)

I doubt that switching on / off the OD will effect the life of your transmission. By not engaging the overdrive you are "saving a shift" and all of that clutch material for another day. And as Albert explained - the reduced amount of work that the transmission performs in a hill climb (without O/D) translates into lower fluid temperatures.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:15 pm

I run mine with OD off all the time running around town. Of course never get over 45/50 at most. If pulling a trailer depending on the terrain I have it off on hilly areas but up here in the flat lands of Ohio I have the OD on, you can kind of tell if it starts searching back and forth then I switch it off.

Cdsbow1 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:38 pm

if your not going above 40 50, then the OD never even kicks in... i realy recomend leaving it on, even when pulling a trailer, your comp will sense that it needs to over ride it, leaving it off only will give you garbage MPG

Over drive question

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