Transmission Dipstick interchange question...

07Latitude · **Posted:** Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:15 pm

I think part of my poor transmission shifting and torque converter shuddering is due to improper fluid level in my 07.

To reiterate, when warm and at operating temperature, my torque converter locks up early and is hesitant to unlock (VERY hesitant). Also, at 45ish mph, the converter likes to lock, then unlock, then lock, over and over. Lately on the 15-20 degree mornings, at first startup after sitting overnight, after I back out of my driveway and turn the first corner in my subdivision, the trans will upshift from either 1-2 or 2-3 and will noticeably slip. The trans won't slip when fully warmed up, however. When warm, I only get the torque converter issues.

I'd check the trans fluid level, but alas, DaimlerChrysler became cheap and decontented the trans dipsticks out of 07 Liberty vehicles. :evil:

I know someone posted the part number for the 07 dipstick. Is this dipstick identical to the 06 model dipstick?

I have a close friend w/an 06 and want to use the dipstick from her Jeep to check my fluid level, as long as it's the same dipstick and there were no changes to anything between the two years.

Can someone confirm whether or not the dipstick part numbers are the same for 06 and 07s?

Lastly, the trans fluid, to verify, is checked when fully warmed up on level ground in NEUTRAL, not Park, on the 42RLE VLP, right? My reasoning for low fluid is that fluid contracts when cold and expands when warm. If the fluid is borderline low, this could theoretically cause cold transmission slipping and would be remedied when the fluid expands as it warms up. Though, I can't comprehend this relating to the torque converter....but again, i'm more familiar with old (mechanical) cars, not electronic vehicle systems...so what do I know? :lol:

One final thing: I'm at 2100 miles. I'm letting the problem go until my first (3k) oil change as the vehicle is warrantied and has already had one trans problem already (improper shift cable adjustment). Would me doing a reset on the computer possibly fix the torque converter issue (the reset where you pull the battery cable, turn the key on, then off, then reconnect the cable)? I've heard that a "Quick Learn" from the dealer helps trans issues as well. Do either of these sound like feasible solutions? Or does my problem (problems?) sound more mechanically-related?

07Latitude · **Posted:** Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:20 pm

Also I just read some old posts saying a "reflash" works wonders. Is this an update flash to the computer, or just a re-flashing of the original data/file?

Plus one more thing I just thought of regarding my trans, If I turn a corner and try to accelerate fairly hard, it's like the jeep hesitates/stumbles before downshifting, presumably related to a hesitant downshift. Again, fluid-level related, software, or mechanical?

[Reason I ask is being a full time college student, I don't have much free time to drop the Jeep off on a whim, and don't want the dealer rushing it to finish either for my sake. Thus, my waiting till the first oil change to have the problems investigated, vs. making a special trip]

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:28 pm

Dude - take that thing straight back to the dealer! You are going to want to start a document trail of this problem in case anything develops in the future from this... Transmissions are expensive! (especially out of warranty)

I will guess that the dip stick between the 06 and 07 is identical.. You'd have to line up the the two tubes to make sure though.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:48 pm

The torque convertor locking up early is normal. :cry:

Mine does the same.

There have been a few topics about this, seems like the best thing to do is to get on it so it doesnt lock up so early, or learn to push the O/D off button when you first get in. Ive learned to push it at start-up and I dont even know I do it.

07Latitude · **Posted:** Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:50 pm

Like I said, it'll be in the dealer in under 1000 miles, which wont be too long from now.

I'm not worried as the powertrain is covered under warranty. I already have a case with the shift cable on file with the selling dealer. They wanted to just reconnect it properly, but I'm type-A...I like paper trails. Plus I'm very close with many heads of various departments at the dealer and they'll take care of me. I just don't have the time right now to take it in and be without a car for something which could possibly be as simple as a computer reset or low fluid.

07Latitude · **Posted:** Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:53 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

The torque convertor locking up early is normal. :cry:

Mine does the same.

There have been a few topics about this, seems like the best thing to do is to get on it so it doesnt lock up so early, or learn to push the O/D off button when you first get in. Ive learned to push it at start-up and I dont even know I do it.

You mentioned that in one of my first posts here. Problem is, it isn't normal as my friend's 06 doesn't shift ANYTHING like my 07. It locks up at the same point, but not as heavily as mine. Hers will unlock correctly, not to mention, her engine doesn't bog down / labor nearly as much as mine when the TQ is locked.

This just gave me an idea. If my motor labors much more than her 06 at TC lockup, could it be straining due to improper (low) fluid level? :?:

For example, Power Steering gets tougher/tighter with less hydraulic fluid assistance (eg. low fluid). Does a trans/torque converter work on a similar principle, being hydraulic?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:23 pm

Hmm, didnt remember your last post. I know that mine bogs down like crazy when it locks. When I use the O/D off botton, it locks the torque ever earlier, but its in a lower gear.

Maybe her tranny has learned different since it has a different driver? Have you ever reset the computer to see if its any different?

07Latitude · **Posted:** Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:27 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Hmm, didnt remember your last post. I know that mine bogs down like crazy when it locks. When I use the O/D off botton, it locks the torque ever earlier, but its in a lower gear.

Maybe her tranny has learned different since it has a different driver? Have you ever reset the computer to see if its any different?

Have yet to reset it. Been too darned cold here in MI to do anything. LOL. Do you mean reset as in pull the batt cable for 10 mins, or pull the batt cable, turn the key on and off, then reconnect the cable (the full reset i've read on here before)?

And she drives VERY easily, whereas I'm quite a bit harder on my vehicles. If anything, the torque converter should lock up even later on mine (higher rpm/mph lockup) as I'm constantly in a higher RPM powerband than she is.

*One other thing I thought of, I drove another 07 Latitude briefly and it locked up identically to mine MPH-wise, but again, not with nearly the "tightness" that mine has when it locks. It also didn't stay locked when mildly accelerating, whereas mine tends to. It performed more like the girl's 06 I know, vs. my 07 (albeit "feeling" more like my 07 than her 06 -- I think the 07s have electronic throttle control now, which is a noticible difference in throttle response than the earlier Jeeps). And for reference, the 07 Latitude I testdrove had under 1000 miles on it.

Transmission Dipstick interchange question...

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