Tranny Service?

vtdog · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:27 am **Posts:** 640

I'm coming up on 30k in the next week or two and checked the book concerning tranny service. The only thing I could find was a note in "b" service at 62.5k to have a drain/flush (if used for heavy towing, etc).

Does anyone have any experience with this tranny in the Dodges to determine best service time

Does anyone know what the recommended service interval is. I could not find it in my maint book.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jul 15, 2006 10:55 pm

vtdog wrote:

I'm coming up on 30k in the next week or two and checked the book concerning tranny service. The only thing I could find was a note in "b" service at 62.5k to have a drain/flush (if used for heavy towing, etc).

Does anyone have any experience with this tranny in the Dodges to determine best service time

Does anyone know what the recommended service interval is. I could not find it in my maint book.

I just had the filter TSB done which is the same service. Was strongly recommended to do this @ 30K miles. If you haven't done the axles & t-case should have that done too. If you have it done someplace besides the dealer make sure they use the synthetic ATF+4 in the trans & t-case.

KJbob · **Posted:** Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:53 am

vtdog wrote:

I'm coming up on 30k in the next week or two and checked the book concerning tranny service. The only thing I could find was a note in "b" service at 62.5k to have a drain/flush (if used for heavy towing, etc).

Does anyone have any experience with this tranny in the Dodges to determine best service time

Does anyone know what the recommended service interval is. I could not find it in my maint book.

I questioned this same thing with my dealer when I had mine in for new differential fluid at 15,000 miles. My dealer maintains that a 62,500 interval is appropriate. I told my dealer that over the years I never used to see any fluid change out intervals with differentials but used to see about a 30,000 interval with trannys. Now, it's reversed; more frequent differential fluid changes and longer intervals with the tranny (even with synthetic fluids). Dealer didn't have much to say about that.

I'm thinking about possibly changing my tranny fluid at 30,000, but have no real objective reasons for doing so other than this tranny's history of the filter TSB. In the long term, I'll venture to say that the tranny will be more of a "weak point" than, let's say, the engine or differentials. Just my opinion.

Cowpie1 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:08 pm

I'm sure that some would consider it overkill, but I changed out the tranny and differential fluids at only 2500 miles and went to synthetics throughout. Changed out the tranny filters as well, so I guess the filter TSB was always a non issue.

I have always changed out the fluids early on to get out any residue from the manufacturing process and wear particles from the initial operation. I will not say that it is imperative of everyone to do it, just go how your gut feeling leads you.

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

I would say based on the torque of the CRD and the small tranny cooler on our vehicles, that changing the fluid and adding an aux tranny cooler would be really inexpensive insurance. I did this on my 02 V6 Liberty at 24,000 as I felt the tranny temps were too high, as measured by my obd software reader. In summertime temps, stop and go, the tranny fluid would routinely get to 205 - 210 F, averaging 200F on most days. At Interstate speeds, it would drop to 190F. I would also add that the 02 Liberty has a radiator in-tank tranny cooler, while the 03-05 Liberty's have an external air only cooler.

At 24,000 the tranny fluid began to change its odor - it had a extremely sharp odor, not like when it was new. So I added a B&M 6x12 inch aux cooler, dropped the pan and cleaned it, changed the filters and reinstalled the tranny pan. There was very small metallic particles on the magnet and all over the bottom of the larger sump filter. Some small amout of slighty gritty feeling material on the bottom of the pan was also present, not very much, but still there. Not large particles, just very fine gritty material.

I then pumped 16 quarts of ATF+4 through it by adding 7 quarts, starting the engine, and leaving the return hose from the cooler emptying into a gradiated 2 gallon bucket with quart mark indicators. I started the engine, let it idle until it was 2 quarts down, stopped and added 2 quarts and repeated until I had flushed the torque converter and lines and then adjusted the fluid until it was on the hot mark.

Since then, the temperatures have dropped to 160F highway, and 180, ocassionally 185F with August temps in the 100 degree range. I'm now at 51400 miles and the fluid smells clean and just like it did new. The tranny also shifts better, as I discovered the 545RFE has at least 5 temperature maps and when the fluid gets above a certain range, it changes the map. In my case, it shifts better when running in the 160-180 degree range than in the 210F range.

Once I see if the CRD will not self destruct on me, I'll add the same aux cooler on my CRD. Unfortunately, my obd software won't read the CRD tranny temps, but putting my hand on the aux cooler after a hot day's run on the V6 and doing the same on the CRD shows the CRD tranny cooler too hot to touch without burning, and my aux cooler feels comfortly warm. Huge difference in temps. My thought is the CRD with its enormous torque needs more cooling than the V6 model. Comparing the 05 non CRD tranny cooler and the integrated cooler on the 05 tranny cooler, it looks smaller on the CRD. Changing the fluid at 30K seems a safe bet to me.

tired_old_dave · **Joined:** Wed Feb 22, 2006 3:45 pm **Posts:** 79

Thank you for this information and the airbox measurements. The tranny cooler was discussed last year at edmunds and the "where" to put it was discussed. I also asked for someone smarter than me to measure the intake. Stan Wright went one size bigger. I too thought about the gasser airbox when I got a free replacement for the broken tab. I mentioned we can't ford as high as a gasser. We have had enough. Thank you for you informative posts. We sat down after a trip that the better half drove yesterday. Our past good mileage was a combination of fuel but mostly return trips in cool night air late pm and early am - tranny, clogged cac/intercooler, it doesn't matter to us anymore.

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

Yes, the CRD and the support behind it invokes mixed feelings. As far as the concept, DC really pulled off a fantastic marketing coup, and did us a great favor. There just isn't another SUV, not to mention a Jeep, with a diesel engine in this size and power range available anywhere in the US for any price. It was a gutsy move. It built a community of early adopters with unbelievable enthusiam, interest, skill and ability to resolve some of these issues on their own. The engine looks and appears to be extremely well built, maybe even overbuilt, which is fine with me.

The few product areas where DC cut corners are unbelievably cost ineffective in the long term, yet typically reflective of corporate American and apparently some German culture today. An ineffective CCV valve, an EGR valve that just doesn't last under all operating conditions and fuel standards, and a poorly matched torque converter on at least on some CRD's are really minor items to remediate from an initial design standpoint. Ultimately, I have to believe that the 7/70 powertrain warranty on the 05 CRD's are going to cost DC far more than slighty higher quality parts from the factory. If the cost of such parts had added $500 to $700 USD to the CRD, I would have gladly paid the difference in return for reliability.

But such is life. I wish you well with your next vehicle.

alljeep · **Posted:** Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:57 am

KJbob wrote:

vtdog wrote:

I'm coming up on 30k in the next week or two and checked the book concerning tranny service. The only thing I could find was a note in "b" service at 62.5k to have a drain/flush (if used for heavy towing, etc).

Does anyone have any experience with this tranny in the Dodges to determine best service time

Does anyone know what the recommended service interval is. I could not find it in my maint book.

I questioned this same thing with my dealer when I had mine in for new differential fluid at 15,000 miles. My dealer maintains that a 62,500 interval is appropriate. I told my dealer that over the years I never used to see any fluid change out intervals with differentials but used to see about a 30,000 interval with trannys. Now, it's reversed; more frequent differential fluid changes and longer intervals with the tranny (even with synthetic fluids). Dealer didn't have much to say about that.

I'm thinking about possibly changing my tranny fluid at 30,000, but have no real objective reasons for doing so other than this tranny's history of the filter TSB. In the long term, I'll venture to say that the tranny will be more of a "weak point" than, let's say, the engine or differentials. Just my opinion.

I got curious last night and pulled out my old 1973 Jeep CJ-6 Factory Service Manual and what did I find? Front and rear differential lube must be changed at 10,000 mile intervals due the the high pressures that can build up in the axels under heavy load applications. The transmission and transfer case (also gear lube) was specified to be changed every 5,000 miles.

vtdog · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:27 am **Posts:** 640

and this is what DCX said:

Quote:

Thank you for contacting the DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance Center regarding the recommended transmission service on your 2005 Jeep LibertyCRD.

According to our records the recommended interval for transmission
service is 62500 miles.

62k seems lika a long time to me

KJbob · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:50 am

Mine's gettin' done at 30k. I don't care what the owner's manual/dealer says.

vtdog · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:27 am **Posts:** 640

KJbob wrote:

Mine's gettin' done at 30k. I don't care what the owner's manual/dealer says.

That is my feeling as well. I am going to have it done at a private shop though. I also think that the tranny service was forgotten when they printed the service book. The only mention of the tranny is at 62.5 for "b" service. In addition, when I asked the question by email to DCX, it took them over a week to respond. Clearly if it was a common issue it would not have taken that long to respond. No other question I have ever asked of them has taken more than a day or two.

Does anyone know about the recommended service interval for the dodge trucks with the same tranny? If its something other than listed in the book for the CRD, something is wrong

alljeep · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:39 pm

vtdog wrote:

KJbob wrote:

Mine's gettin' done at 30k. I don't care what the owner's manual/dealer says.

That is my feeling as well. I am going to have it done at a private shop though. I also think that the tranny service was forgotten when they printed the service book. The only mention of the tranny is at 62.5 for "b" service. In addition, when I asked the question by email to DCX, it took them over a week to respond. Clearly if it was a common issue it would not have taken that long to respond. No other question I have ever asked of them has taken more than a day or two.

Does anyone know about the recommended service interval for the dodge trucks with the same tranny? If its something other than listed in the book for the CRD, something is wrong

My 2004 Toyota Sienna LE AWD has a recommended change interval of 120,000 miles for the transmission, transfer case, and rear differential. 60,000 miles if used for trailer towing.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 12:30 am

vtdog wrote:

KJbob wrote:

Mine's gettin' done at 30k. I don't care what the owner's manual/dealer says.

That is my feeling as well. I am going to have it done at a private shop though. I also think that the tranny service was forgotten when they printed the service book. The only mention of the tranny is at 62.5 for "b" service. In addition, when I asked the question by email to DCX, it took them over a week to respond. Clearly if it was a common issue it would not have taken that long to respond. No other question I have ever asked of them has taken more than a day or two.

Does anyone know about the recommended service interval for the dodge trucks with the same tranny? If its something other than listed in the book for the CRD, something is wrong

I had an '04 Dakota 4X4 with the same 545RFE tranny. About 24 to 30 K sounds about right for tranny service, if I remember correctly. Still have the FSM for it floating around here somewhere, if I can find it I'll check.

vtdog · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:27 am **Posts:** 640

Stopped by the tranny shop this afternoon. I have used this place for various cars over the past 10 years and believe them to be "honest".

The owner told me that, yes the tranny fluid is hi tech and could go 60k miles. However, his concern is the filter set up. He does not believe that the filters have a useful life of 60k miles. He recommends tranny service at about 3k/3years. He said that he has serviced many trucks with the same tranny and found that the filters needed to be changed after 30k. He quoted a price of about 150 for the fluid/filter change.

Tranny Service?

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