Hey all - just picked up my new '07 3.7L Sport 4X4 this past week, and am wondering if what I'm hearing is considered "normal". I've done quite a bit of searching, and can't seem to find my issue.

I'm getting this loud "whirring" noise from the trans. I first thought it might be the transfer case, but the other day it sat outside all day in the cold (40F) and after starting, while still in park, I could hear it. Revving the engine I could hear it speed up and slow down. It's not the A/C compressor, since I've got the climate controls set to off.

When driving it's loudest at about 35 MPH, and anytime I'm decelerating. The Liberty had 8 Mi on it when I picked it up, and it's now over 100. It seems to be a bit quieter, but it's still much louder than anything I've ever heard in a transmission. I've had two TJs (4 cyl and 6 cyl) with manuals, XJs with autos, and my folks have an '04 (though I haven't compared them side by side - they live a few hours away).

Is this typical? I've also got a hard (slow) 2-1 downshift, but that seems most prominent when the trans is cold, and it happens intermittently (have to have the right set of circumstances for it to occur).

Normal? Or should I make my first appointment at the dealer for her? I'd check the trans fluid, but some genius at DCX decided regular preventative maintenance and inspection makes for a nice new revenue stream.

Thanks.

do you have a manual?

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2003 Jeep Liberty Freedom Edition
3.7L 5-spd 4x4, Rusty's 2.5 in. coil lift
General Grabbers AT2's 245/75-16E on MOABS
EVIC installed, iPod wired, Hella 500's and Grilles
Mopar Bike Rack, Mopar Roof Rack, Black Widow Roof Basket w/ air deflector
Draw-Tite Hitch, Front Tint, Debadged on sides and front

I've got a brand new 2007 Auto Liberty also with just 550 miles.
I don't know for sure what noise you're hearing since I'm not there to hear it, but I don't think I hear that noise with mine.
There is a noise coming near the glove compartment which is there during start up, but it stops after the Jeep warms up. It's kind of just the sound of an electric motor, kind of a whirring, clicking sound. It stops after the Jeep warms up and seems to be normal.

csukoh78: Sorry - it's an auto.

BoyNamedSue: I have that too, but that's the blower motor. To check, turn your climate controls to off - the blower will shut off.

I did that this morning, and yes it goes away then.
But after driving last night and today there is no whirring noise. I was paying attention trying to hear it. Guess you better make a trip to the dealership.

Yeah. I figure 200 miles is enough for it to break in - appointment for 9am tomorrow.

The sound when moving is at its worst at about 35MPH steady-state cruising or decelerating. Above 40 it's mostly engine/exhaust/tire/wind noise, so it hides it, and below 30 or so it's there, but not obtrusive. REALLY loud on cold start when sitting in park though, so something's up.

Wonder if it's related to the really hard/slow 2-1 shift when cold, coming to a stop sign. Hmmmm.

Still wish I could just check the fluid...

Well the dealer just called.

The transmission howl I'm hearing is apparently "consistent" with other KJs. The service manager said they can hear what I'm talking about, but it's pretty much normal. They said they've actually had this on KJs since about 2003, and in the past have replaced transmissions and fluid pumps, only to have the noise either remain the same or get worse.

They mentioned all the mechanical, electrical and fluid checks they performed (I didn't note them all, but they all sounded in line with what I'd expect them to check, based on all the reading I've done here and elsewhere), and everything comes back normal.

They're going to keep it overnight to test the cold 2-1 shift complaint and the cold trans noise, but it looks like it's just something to get used to. A shame really, since it's loud enough to hear over the radio.

I figured that would be the answer.
If it's normal I guess you could always test drive another one to confirm.
I don't think I hear a whirring like you describe on mine though.

I think I remember reading a bunch on here about hard downshifts. I brought mine into the dealer once and mentioned it, they said it was normal. Not sure what gear it is, but when free coasting when the speedo hits 30 mph, i guess there is a down shift and the tachometer jumps and I still feel a slight bump from the tranny. Learned to deal with and don't mind it now, its has become "just one of those things."

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L.O.S.T. #225019
2003 Sport 4x4
Patriot Blue w/ trail rash
Flex-Zilla 4" Lift
TrailRash hi-lift mounts
Other stuff you wish you had

So I get the call: "it's done - everything checks out". I ask about driving another one on the lot, and they're happy to do it.

Upon starting the one on the lot (which has been sitting for weeks), I immediately notice how quiet the trans is. Point it out to the service mgr. We drive off, and it's nice and quiet. Point that out too. Head back, jump in mine, and it's quiet too! Whaa?!?!?

Drop him back off, head home, doing between 50 and 60. Get to a section of the drive where it's 35/40. As I'm cruising along at that speed it starts getting louder...and louder... Call the service mgr., let him know it's doing it, pick him up for another ride.

Turns out that if I take it to >40 for a while, it's quiet. But sustained driving at 35-40 MPH causes it to get progressively louder, and is now accompanied by a scraping noise. And the svc. mgr. hears it too.

To this dealer's credit, the svc. mgr. voluntarily explained in detail that they checked the CVIs (and explained what it was), quick learn, etc. I was very impressed with how they talked to me like I actually knew something. Kudos to them!

So the tale is to be continued. At least the rental car is nice - Nissan Murano. Not quite the same as the KJ, but I'll tell ya - it's quick, smooth, quiet, handles very well and the CVT is neat. Different beast, but a great vehicle if anyone's in the market for that sort of thing.

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2007 Jeep Liberty Sport 4x4 with steelies!
2006 Nissan Xterra S 4x4
1988 Pontiac Fiero Formula

Keep us updated.
The way my luck is going I'll probably have the same problem.

So far I've traded in my brand new Manual Liberty for an Auto, and this morning I already have a completely flat tire on my new one.
Could be worse though. When I backed up this morning I thought the transmission was all screwed up because it just wasn't backing up like normal, then I went forward a little bit and it still wasn't moving right, then I thought it felt a lot like a flat, so I pulled back into my parking spot, and sure enough, it was flat as a pancake. Couldn't believe a brand new tire with so much tread already had a flat. The tire shop just said there was a hole in it, but whatever caused it was gone.

Good thing is we have this awesome tire shop chain out here called Les Schwab. They repaired the flat for free and just said be sure to come back here when you need new tires, which everybody does due to their awesome service.

Just talked to the dealer again. There's apparently 2 noises.

The ringing at 35 (svc mgr says 36) MPH is due to what he described as bushings on the fork that shifts the transfer case into/out of 4WD. DCX says that some are apparently noisier than others, and over time (few thousand miles?) it should get quieter. DCX recommended they not touch it and let it "wear in". Hm. If that's true, then fine.

The noise while in park at cold start they couldn't duplicate, since it wasn't all that cold last night. That could be the trans pump, but if it's functioning and they can't duplicate it (it's going to be warm for a while now), they really can't do anything with it.

It goes back in for a trim piece in the coming weeks, so I guess I'll live with it until then and see what happens. Gotta say that while I get the diagnosis, I'm disappointed. The thing's just plain loud (compared to others), and it shouldn't be. Once again the svc. mgr. did a good job explaining exactly what was up and why they're doing what they're doing, but to me, this is a quality issue.

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2007 Jeep Liberty Sport 4x4 with steelies!
2006 Nissan Xterra S 4x4
1988 Pontiac Fiero Formula

That's the really bad thing about new vehicles. There's nothing you can do if it's not as it should be. If it was a radio from Kmart or something you could just return it, but with a new vehicle you're stuck. I had the same problem with my Manual Liberty. It wasn't as it should have been, but there's was nothing fundamentally wrong with it. Just really annoying to drive. Svc manager checked it out, but found nothing, so I finally couldn't stand it anymore and took a nice loss.

I think I can hear the "whirring" sound you've been describing now. Just like you said I hear it the most around 30mph. It just sounds like normal engine noise to me. You must have gotten one that's a bit louder than most. Doesn't sound like anything bad though.

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2007 Jeep Liberty Sport
Not Just Red..............Inferno Red !
Automatic, 4WD
Mopar Skids, Tow Hooks

Well, I took it on a highway run last week. Got it up to about 75 for part of it. When I got to my destination, I noticed a distinct hot metal smell, though I suppose that could be something else. Since that run, the noise is now happening more frequently and as low as 30 MPH. I've also noticed that the hard/slow 2-1 downwhift condition (feels like I've been hit from behind ("hard") or I step on the gas and it's in-between shifts ("slow")) seems worse as well.

When cold, there is definitely a loud whirring noise that sounds like a pump coming from under the console, towards the firewall, that isn't there in the other KJ I tried on the lot. That seems to be present now even after it's been driven a bit, though is gone when the trans is fully warm. Used to be (or seems so anyway) that it was just when the trans was totally cold.

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2007 Jeep Liberty Sport 4x4 with steelies!
2006 Nissan Xterra S 4x4
1988 Pontiac Fiero Formula

I don't have any hard downshifts with mine. I have smelled a hot metal smell before. I was going up & down some hilly dirt forest roads. Have never smelled it again since then. I just reread your previous posts and saw this:


I just posted in my other thread about a scraping noise. When going uphill somewhere around 30-40 mph I will get this ugly scraping/buzzing/whirring noise that occurs for about a second. It's a random occurence, and had happened only about 4 times. It's hard to describe the sound, but it's ugly.

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2007 Jeep Liberty Sport
Not Just Red..............Inferno Red !
Automatic, 4WD
Mopar Skids, Tow Hooks