Questions for MrMopar64 and CRD owners

paolino · **Posted:** Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:19 am

Hi Mrmopar64 and all the other CRD KJ owner.

I'm an italian jeeper with a 2003 2.5CRD KJ. it has a 5 manual speed gearbox. I like my diesel engine
because it is half italian!! Now I have 2 questions, and probably you can help me better than the local dealers.

1st question

when I'm stopping the car (at traffic-lights or at a stop) as soon as I've disengaged the clutch, the engine becomes irregular
for some seconds ( it seems that it's going to turn off by itself) and then it returns to idle correctly
(It has never happened to me with other cars). It has this defect since the beginning of its life and they told me that
sometimes it happens (???). Now it has about 40,000 miles.

2nd question

sometimes when I turn the motor off I hear a bad "clank" from the flywheel area.
it seems a hammer against a metallic surface. When I drive I can't hear noises or vibrations. I'm worry about it.

thanks in advance (even if you can't help me!)

bye

MightyCRD · **Posted:** Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:53 am

Not sure on the 1st question, but on the 2nd - if you are hearing a bad clank when you shut the engine off, the flywheel could possibly be loose (the bolts that hold the flywheel to the crank, that is)

Good luck!

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

I wish I had a manual!!!!

Do you know what model transmission it is?

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Thu Nov 09, 2006 12:22 pm

On your second question look for loose mounting bolts on the engine and transmission mounts. Diesels "shutter" when shut down and if a mount it loose it can clang :shock:

MrMopar64 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:12 pm

Paolino,

I'm quite familiar with the 2.5L engine - it and the 2.8 are quite good pieces. We use the 2.5L engine for a hybrid vehicle project here at my University in Indiana (Rose-Hulman, Terre Haute, IN).

1st question: The engine speed instability is due to the low-idle governing parameters in the ECU software. The low idle governing is basically a very-complicated closed-loop feedback control system which has different settings for not only which gear you are in but also warm and cold idle. VM Motori was responsible for the engine calibration on the European models and some areas like what you're experiencing were not refined to their fullest capabilities. If I remember correctly, your CRD (being an '03 2.5L) uses the EDC15 controller which is a very different software level from the EDC16 units used on later models. The engine instabilities will cause no harm to the engine - just the way it is.

2nd question: A bad clank from the flywheel area could be a number of things. I would first check to make sure that both engine mounts and the transmission mount are properly tightened and not failed. Also check to make sure that none of the bellhousing bolts are loose and causing a vibration in some form. I am not sure if the '03 models used the dual-mass flywheel which could cause the noise as well. The best bet would be to drop the transmission to inspect whether the clutch/pressure plate has failed or there is an issue with the flywheel or the adapter plate which provides the attachment point for the bellhousing.

TDI4BY, the 5-speed manual used in the KJ 2.5L was the NV4500 transmission. I know that all '05-up European KJs got the 6-speed NVG370 manual transmission which is still used in the European Nitro, Wranger, and new-for-'08 KK Liberty.

Anymore questions feel free to ask!

paolino · **Posted:** Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:22 am

thanks to all, for the moment.

Bonehead · **Posted:** Fri Nov 10, 2006 6:15 am

I would love to have a manual tranny too , I would convert mine if I could find the parts for a decent price

which is highly unlikely :wink:

paolino · **Posted:** Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:24 am

and do you think that the flywheel could fail suddenly? If so I can change it as soon as possible!

I love manual tranny BUT:
- atomatic kjs don't have flywheel problems
- probably my next suv will be automatic

bye

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

Quote:

I love manual tranny BUT:
- atomatic kjs don't have flywheel problems

That's usually true... but a number of us with the automatic CRD in the US have had trouble with the torque converter failing.

paolino · **Posted:** Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:06 pm

I didn't know about the converter.

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