trans and transverse case problem

Mudder · **Posted:** Sat Dec 08, 2007 12:03 pm

Had to replace the trans and tranverse case the other day. The trans started to have a delay when going from reverse to draive. This has been going on for about a year. Checked fluid and it has never been low. Did not smell burned or looked burned. Was out hunting last month and had to use the 4X4 mode and when my wife started to drive away after the hunt she said she could not get it out of drive. I played with it and it made a loud bang! :shock:

Took it to dealer as it sounded bad and made a strange sound on the way home. It acted like it was still in 4X4 and the light was off. Dealer said notyhing was wrong of course. Wife called week later she was at my parent shouse and the liberty would not go into gear. I stopped by and it was like in neautral whenI put it in reverse and drive. Finally I was able to get it to move after shoving it in 4 low and it just dragged the front wheels and was making an awful noise.

Called tow truck and dropped it off at dealer. Needed new trans and it popped a code of pressure problems and fluid ddi smell burned and transverse case gears were in peices. :cry:

Libe has 98000 miles mostly highway. No real off roading except to get back in feild to go hunting. Cost to me was $ 4200. Cheap parts. My F250 has 141,000 miles and no tranny or case problems. I guess that is why they call it a super duty. I call the lib a cheapy duty. :roll:

Do have a 3 year warrenty or 80,000 miles now on the trans and case.

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Sat Dec 08, 2007 12:52 pm

Transfer case

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Dec 08, 2007 1:26 pm

It takes the tcase a good while to come out of 4wd sometimes and it should not be driven on black-top till its out.

How many times did you change the oil in the tranny and tcase? Should of been done at 30 and 60k if not just 60k depending on how you use the Jeep.

Mudder · **Posted:** Sat Dec 08, 2007 1:30 pm

Ooops. Yea the transfer case. Head cold go the best of me. I know the the fluid was changed at 60 k. I did it. Been driving 4X4 for years. Plow with them and do off road. I would say $hitty equipment. :wink:

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Dec 08, 2007 4:20 pm

strange. That tcase and tranny is used in many jeeps without issues. The rubicon being one of them that uses the tranny. The XJ and ZJ have used that tcase since pre-90's. Its a stout setup if its taken care of.

What year is the liberty? If its an 02 then you have the same transmission thats used behind the hemis in the Grand Cherokees and the Ram trucks. Its very HD for the liberty and should last way over 100k with proper care.

You mean you have a power-smoke? :lol:

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 08, 2007 4:46 pm

Wow...that's crazy. The Libby drivetrain (except for the dana 30a) is pretty stout, especially if you have the 45rfe/NV231 combo.

EDIT: the Jeep warranty is 7 years/70,000 miles. Should have gotten it checked out sooner.

Guest · **Posted:** Sat Dec 08, 2007 5:21 pm

Occasionally a bad piece gets out of the factory. I had a NV 231 go bad at 45,000 miles, most go FAR longer. doesn't mean the NV231 is crap, just that my NV231 was crap! :wink:

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 08, 2007 6:29 pm

KJpilot wrote:

Occasionally a bad piece gets out of the factory. I had a NV 231 go bad at 45,000 miles, most go FAR longer. doesn't mean the NV231 is crap, just that my NV231 was crap! :wink:

Once my tranny goes out (which I hope isn't any time soon), I'm putting a manual in...5-speed. :twisted:

...and maybe an atlas.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sat Dec 08, 2007 8:03 pm

Now I was not there so I don't know what all was done going from 4wd to 2wd
I also don't know how often you use 4wd or how well it was maintained
so this is just some guesses and things that others may watch out for

if you went from 4wd to 2wd and did not go to neutral but did it in drive while stopped or in park then it was done wrong
and that could have caused the issue

if you have a NP231 ,proper letters for the part time only case in the KJ, and you have not used it in a while
then this could have started the issue because it will be very hard to properly engage and disengage 4wd
it will get part way in or out and then bang to finish the job
most times it ends up putting the T-case in N and you need to shut down the jeep and get it rolling to get it in gear
at the T-case but all ends up fine

or improper maint. on the T-case can cause the case to cease VERY rare but it can happen
I have seen NP231's run dry and still work

The chain in the case could break and cause it to fail

however NONE of the above issues would have any bearing on the trans unless there was an issue with the T-case and you
kept driving after there was an issue
it could very well over work the trans and burn it up

on the other hand and as others have said
the 45RFE is the same trans used in the Ram 1500 P/U and the NP231 will handle WAY more than a KJ can dish out
even the NP242 ,witch is week compared to the NP231, can handle more than the KJ can dish out
now the 42RLE is week and can fail under V6 power

If either Trans or T-case that came in ANY KJ was taken care of and PROPERLY used it should not fail at under 100K
just sharing what I know

rocketjocky · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:17 pm

Not to bring up an old issue but Last night on my way home from a 200 mile trip my jeep started to kick every half mile or so. Hoping to make it home before it gave up I tried to contenue and then it let go. all I heard was grinding. I pulled over nothing smelt bad (burnt) nothing was hot. I tried to go a little farther it made it about another block and let go agin I'm sure it's the tcase as 2hi and 4hi did the same thing but 4lo works. I have the 231 tcase.

my real question is has anyone tried to rebuild it or should I just start looking for a new one?

TDI4BY · **Joined:** Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:56 pm **Posts:** 644

My 242 T-case is bad. If I put any amount of torque to it in 4x4 it will make a popping noise and only the rear wheels spin, after you let off it will be back in 4 again. It seems that the chain is jumping/skipping. I have had this problem for awhile but it is so bad now I need a new one. I only had a 36,000 mile warranty so I am just going to find a used one.

chefdab · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:02 pm

Sounds like it's time for a Rock-trac (NV241OR) out of a Rubi.

dloc_jeep_KJ · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:29 pm

chefdab wrote:

Sounds like it's time for a Rock-trac (NV241OR) out of a Rubi.

will that work in the KJ? is it a bolt right up thing or does t require some fabbing. about how much could u get one of these for and is it worth it if urs is still good?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:35 pm

dloc_jeep_KJ wrote:

chefdab wrote:

Sounds like it's time for a Rock-trac (NV241OR) out of a Rubi.

will that work in the KJ? is it a bolt right up thing or does t require some fabbing. about how much could u get one of these for and is it worth it if urs is still good?

Bolts right in,just a few issues with it.First the t-case shifter will be backwards,4lo will be 2wd and 2wd will be 4lo,the only back aspect.The other issues are you'll need new front and rear driveshafts,time to upgrade to real u-joints in the front shaft and a the 241J t-case having the SYE a much stronger CV rear shaft can be fabbed up.

Oh you can get a 241J t-case from worldpartsexpress.com for a little over $1600+ shipping,brand new and no core charge,very good deal for a 4:1 1-ton rated t-case.

trans and transverse case problem

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