Two Problems... (Clutch and Squeal)

isutherl · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 2:00 am

Well I am having two different problems, First when it is colder usually in the morning after the Jeep has been sitting all night the clutch does not want to let me go into first or second gear properly, it feels like there is not enough fluid in the system, but the system is sealed so you cannot add fluid, and I have seen no leakage. After the Jeep warms up everything is fine. Second problem is when I launch from a dead stop into first gear I hear a slight squeal that has seemed to worsen slightly over the last two months, it also rarely does it from first to second if I am shifting hard at high rpms. I think this may be a loose belt but not sure, if I ease slowly into first gear it will not squeal at all. If anyone can help me in understanding what I may be dealing with I would greatly appreciate it.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 2:17 am

I would say its all related , maybe :wink:

sounds like the throw out bearing making a noise, let me know what you maybe doing over the weekend and might be able to stop by or you can drop by my place for a listen.

isutherl · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 2:26 am

Hey Tom, I actually don't live in Toledo anymore, I should change my profile. I am living in Missoula, MT now, but thanks for offering to look at it. I think the sound is coming from the front end but I could be wrong. Why would a trow out bearing make it difficult to engage the gear? It is weird how it just stops when it's warmed up.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:15 am

isutherl wrote:

Hey Tom, I actually don't live in Toledo anymore, I should change my profile. I am living in Missoula, MT now, but thanks for offering to look at it. I think the sound is coming from the front end but I could be wrong. Why would a trow out bearing make it difficult to engage the gear? It is weird how it just stops when it's warmed up.

ok so I will not stop over and try and help you out then :lol:

sent you a PM as well

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:41 am

isutherl wrote:

Why would a trow out bearing make it difficult to engage the gear? It is weird how it just stops when it's warmed up.

Because that's what throwout bearings do?

Just throwin that out there, not that I've ever known anything.

Khaki-KJ · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:04 am

I have a similar problem. Since the day I bought the Jeep I have had a slight squeal from the transmission. If I put just the slightest pressure on the clutch pedal, or I am accelerating, it goes away. In my case, the squeal is still there even after the Jeep warms up. The Jeep goes in Monday afternon to be looked at by the dealerships transmission guy. A mechanic that lives up the street from me was pretty sure it was the throwout bearing just from how I described it.

The hard shifting may be related to the transmission fluid. After I switched over to synthetic transmission fluid it became a lot easier to shift, especially on colder days. But, it could also also be related to the throwout bearing starting to go.

If you are still under warranty, it may be worth having a dealer look at it.

isutherl · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:10 pm

Thats funny you say that it was easier to shift after switching to synthetic fluid, because I switched from the factory stuff to Amsoil, and it started getting funny to shift about a month later I may drain and refill and see what happens.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:23 pm

have you checked the belt as well, it can cause a squeal as well if its getting worn some, since you said the noise was more up front

isutherl · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 2:31 pm

I went to napa today and the guy told me that you can only put the Mopar fluid in the NSG370, and said to change back to it as soon as possible. Is this true, I used Amsoil when I changed it and he said that does not meet the factory standard.

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:44 pm

Good thing people at NAPA know everything.

There are no clutches inside a manual transmission, so I don't see what it could possibly effect. Which fluid did you put in the trans? ATF or gear oil?

adamkrz · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:57 pm

I used Amsoil manual syncromesh trans fluid 5/30 a couple years ago and have no problems, Most likely what every one else said.

isutherl · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:40 pm

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

Good thing people at NAPA know everything.

There are no clutches inside a manual transmission, so I don't see what it could possibly effect. Which fluid did you put in the trans? ATF or gear oil?

I used gear oil, but today I changed it out with the factory Mopar stuff, it seems to be shifting smoother but the real test will be in the morning after is sits in 30 some degrees all night.

As for the squeal I think you are right Tom, it seems to not be coming from the front, and possibly from the trans. If it is a bad trowout bearing how soon would I need it to be replaced and what kind of price tag comes along with it.

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:13 pm

If you used gear oil, that's the problem. You don't use gear oil in a modern manual transmission.

most spec ATF and some 5w IIRC

Khaki-KJ · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:07 pm

You use Manual Synchromesh Transmission Fluid SAE 5w30.

From the owners manual;
Mopar Manual Transmission Lubricant or equivalent (meeting the requirements of DaimlerChrysler Material Standard MS-9224)

Amsoil Transmission fluid meets Chryser MS-9224 specifications. I just read that off the back of a bottle I had close by.

If I am going to get stuck with the bill for the throwout bearing because they will not cover it under warranty, I am going to put in a Centerforce clutch and pressure plate along with the new bearing. As long as the trans is out, why not?

isutherl · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:07 pm

I replaced the gear lube with the factory mopar stuff and the shifting problem has resolved itself, and it seems that the squeal sound has lessened, hopefully with a little more use the sound with disappear.

Khaki-KJ · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:42 pm

I had my Jeep over at the dealership this afternoon and it turns out that the squeal may be a u-joint that was not properly lubricated, or going bad. They are going to pull the driveshaft Wednesday and look at the u-joints to see if this is the case. Does anybody know if they make better and/or greasable u-joints for the Liberty?

There is a simple test to see if a throwout bearing is going bad. It might be an idea to go into a dealership and see if they will do this for you. At least you will have an answer one way or the other.

hooperswish · **Posted:** Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:17 pm

The factory mopar synchromesh (5w30) is the exact same fluid as the penzoil synchromesh fyi. It is only about 5-6 dollars a quart. Personally, I have had great results with the royal purple synchromax- much better shifts (butter) with no issues at all knock on wood...

isutherl · **Posted:** Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:36 am

Khaki-KJ wrote:

I had my Jeep over at the dealership this afternoon and it turns out that the squeal may be a u-joint that was not properly lubricated, or going bad. They are going to pull the driveshaft Wednesday and look at the u-joints to see if this is the case. Does anybody know if they make better and/or greasable u-joints for the Liberty?

There is a simple test to see if a throwout bearing is going bad. It might be an idea to go into a dealership and see if they will do this for you. At least you will have an answer one way or the other.

What kind of test do they do for the throwout bearing?

Khaki-KJ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 06, 2008 3:43 am

Not sure, they do it in the dealership parking lot and if the throwout bearing is bad it causes vibration and some sort of noise. There is actually a Chrysler service letter on this, the mechanic showed it to me. As near as I can figure out, it involves playing with the clutch pedal. I am hoping tjkj2002 will jump in here and explain this better than I can.

Two Problems... (Clutch and Squeal)

Who is online