Should I ask for tranny TSB if no problems?

Gator4x · **Posted:** Sun Nov 12, 2006 9:28 pm

Hey all,
Just got my new-to-me 2006 CRD a couple of days ago (love it already!). Build date on the door is 8/05. The Jeep drives and rides great, but I'm wondering if I should look into getting the tranny filter tsb done before it starts acting up? I'm at 1500 miles now, only put on 150 or so...

My Jeep was actually a buy-back from Chrysler, supposedly they've fixed whatever problems there were to begin with at the factory before they were allowed to resell it. It had stutter/stall and a no start condition. They put on a new engine harness new PCM new battery and a few other parts. I'm going to take it by a dealership and see what kind of service history they can pull up on the thing.

I guess my main question though, is will they do a TSB if you don't have the symptoms? I know the build date has to be in the right range, but I haven't looked at that yet.

thanks,
Nick

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

If and until a problem shows up, leave it alone. If trouble starts, you'll have plenty of experience getting TSB's done. If its running right, don't touch it.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sun Nov 12, 2006 9:44 pm

I wouldn't do it unless you have problem. Lot of the stuttering problems most have is transmisson convertor problem. But for many others same problem could lead to another direction. I didn't know that DC was allow to fix a buy back vehicle. DC brought back my 2005 Dodge Magnum RT because the steering couldn't be fixed and deemed unsafe to drive. Good luck with your's, I sure hope all goes right with your Libby.

bhysjulien · **Posted:** Mon Nov 13, 2006 12:25 am

I've got an 06 with a build date of 12/05. The only TSB that's been done to it was one performed by the dealer when it arrived from Jeep. I don't remember the #'s from the front of the radiator shroud so I can't tell you which TSB it is. I've got almost 16000 miles on it without any problems. I'm not going to worry about any of the TSB's unless I start having problems.

Endurance · **Posted:** Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:10 am

HELL NO!

The first time I came in there and wanted the filter TSB done they told me:"Trust me sir, you dont want anyone to mess with your vehicle unless there is something really wrong with it."

I learned the hard way....

Gator4x · **Posted:** Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:12 am

hahaha-thanks Endurance!

Yeah DC regularly fixes buy back vehicles. A lot of times the problem doesn't get fixed because of a bad tech/dealership and/or a customer who has an unrealistic expectation about their vehicle and how it should perform. As an engineer in the OEM motorcycle industry I can understand this. Logically, ANY problem with a vehicle can fixed through a systematic approach and a good amount of effort.

I personally had never seen re-sold buyback vehicles until I moved up here to the midwest. DC (I'm assuming Ford and GM do the same thing) fixes them then sells them at a closed auction that only DC dealerships can attend. They are all over the place up here. DC tacks on a 12 mo./unlimited mileage warranty to whatever factory warranty still remains. Just the same as buying any other used car. It has a branded title, but I plan on keeping it for a good long while, and if it works fine, so what? No big deal. A lot of the CRD's I read about people owning on here would be bought back by DC if you made enough of a stink. It doesn't take much...

Anyway, I figured I would just wait and see what happens with the tranny. Hopefully it doesn't go south, but it seems like they should almost replace the filter before anything DOES happen, ya know?

thanks for the advice ya'll...

richardkf · **Joined:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:15 pm **Posts:** 167

Definetly do NOT wait. Not only were some of the filters incorrect in the Transmission, among other things. There are many people who have found that the fluid level is dangerously low. Many mis-readings have occurred (probably at the dealer and DC too) when people have checked their fluid levels. The manual tells you to check fluid in Park, not Neutral. And dealers continue to check it in Neutral getting a false reading. The level is much lower than it reads on the stick when checked in Neutral.

The software flashes also help a little bit.

I was just slightly having trouble, not as bad as some of the others and had all the TSB's done. My CRD shifted really rough at first because the adaptive transmission had to re-adjust, but still the shifts never really smoothed. Back to the dealer again .... underfilled by almost 2 quarts ... fluid level was checked in Neutral, not Park by the Tech, even though the service writer and I talked about that.

Get them all done and keep pushing them until they back down and do it. If they won't do it at that dealership, take your business elsewhere.

GilaMonster · **Posted:** Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:37 pm

Just say NO to F31 TSB!

I had a check engine light illuminate, so I stopped by the dealer and they scheduled me for the F31 TSB. As I left, the CEL went out, but I still had the recall service the following week. After that, I've noticed a change in the acceleration from a stop to be less than before.

Just my observations.

Jimbob · **Joined:** Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:05 pm **Posts:** 160

For what its worth my CRD is performing much better after the F31. It was plagued with hard and unexpected shifts at 35, 55 and 65 MPH. Since F31 these have evaporated. I have seen a slight drop in acceleration from a stop, presumably due to less agressive shifting but it is relatively minor.

Sounds like yours had the usual PCM problem that was killing batteries. Went through it myself (towed in at under 5k) but since the F21 flash and battery was replaced it runs perfectly.

richardkf · **Joined:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:15 pm **Posts:** 167

Jimbob - where / how can i get a copy of the F21 flash?

Jimbob wrote:

For what its worth my CRD is performing much better after the F31. It was plagued with hard and unexpected shifts at 35, 55 and 65 MPH. Since F31 these have evaporated. I have seen a slight drop in acceleration from a stop, presumably due to less agressive shifting but it is relatively minor.

Sounds like yours had the usual PCM problem that was killing batteries. Went through it myself (towed in at under 5k) but since the F21 flash and battery was replaced it runs perfectly.

Gator4x · **Posted:** Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:54 pm

OK so I noticed the tranny surging and my tranny fluid was really stinkin low and switching between [N] and [D] gives a good solid "thwump" with the truck lurching so I took it in to the dealership tonight. I'll be picking it up after Turkey-day so I'll see what they say. Told them that I wanted the tranny filter TSB done and they were pretty dang hesitant about doing a TSB just because I asked. Service manager is not the friendliest guy on the planet... What else is new? :roll:

Jimbob · **Joined:** Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:05 pm **Posts:** 160

I dont know how you would get a "copy" but this is what it is, problem put mine on the rollback.

"THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMED INTO THE BODY CONTROL MODULE MAY CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DISCHARGE AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION F21 - REPROGRAM BODY CONTROL MODULE. *TT "

richardkf · **Joined:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:15 pm **Posts:** 167

Gator4x wrote:

OK so I noticed the tranny surging and my tranny fluid was really stinkin low and switching between [N] and [D] gives a good solid "thwump" with the truck lurching so I took it in to the dealership tonight. I'll be picking it up after Turkey-day so I'll see what they say. Told them that I wanted the tranny filter TSB done and they were pretty dang hesitant about doing a TSB just because I asked. Service manager is not the friendliest guy on the planet... What else is new? :roll:

When you checked the fluid, was it running in Park or in Neutral? On the CRD is should be done in Park, unlike most other cars. Also, in the past, if it was checked in Neutral, it would have given false readings (higher level of fluid than what is actually in there) and caused you to drive around with low fluid thinking it was at the right level.

This was the case with mine for the first couple of months.

richardkf · **Joined:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:15 pm **Posts:** 167

Jimbob wrote:

I dont know how you would get a "copy" but this is what it is, problem put mine on the rollback.

"THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMED INTO THE BODY CONTROL MODULE MAY CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DISCHARGE AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION F21 - REPROGRAM BODY CONTROL MODULE. *TT "

Thanks Jimbob - so was it a TSB or was it an actual recall like the F31 where customers with affected vehicles receive notices to come in and be re-programmed?

Jimbob · **Joined:** Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:05 pm **Posts:** 160

Recall along with the F31, ball joints hmmmmmmmmmm what is next!

Gator4x · **Posted:** Thu Nov 23, 2006 2:25 am

Richard, I had read on here that it should be in "Park" and the manual said the same. After a 30 mile full speed highway run, then 4 miles of in town driving (FULLY warmed up!) the fluid was halfway between the cold and hot levels, as checked in "Park" on a flat level surface. Fluid didn't even make it up to the bottom of the "hot" mark.

Called the dealership today and the service advisor said my Jeep was "done" and ready for pick up. No other detail on what they did, if they were able to fix anything, etc. So Friday I will pick it up and see if they were able to fix anything. My bet is they didn't even drive it, just topped off the tranny fluid and called it a day despite all the advice I gave them and handed them a printout of the tranny filter TSB. Saying the Jeep is "done" should mean they were able to fix the shudder as well, which, we all know, they were probably not able to fix. LOL I asked them to fix that as kind of a test, just to see what they would say...

I'll update Friday.

later,
Nick

Gator4x · **Posted:** Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:00 am

So they tightened up the parking brake, added half a quart of fluid, didn't do the filter TSB, didn't feel the surging, didn't think the way it slams into drive was odd either. "Normal operation."

Time to look for a new dealer.

The 5-45RFE in my wife's Durango is smooth as butter...

RFCRD · **Posted:** Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:30 am

Gator4x wrote:

So they tightened up the parking brake, added half a quart of fluid, didn't do the filter TSB, didn't feel the surging, didn't think the way it slams into drive was odd either. "Normal operation."

Time to look for a new dealer.

The 5-45RFE in my wife's Durango is smooth as butter...

Did you get the transmission serial # and compare it to the TSB? Didn't think it applied to any '06 models, might be the reason they didn't do it. I had a bunch of weird tranny stuff going on awhile back, got the filter TSB and a couple of reflashes and the problems went away. However, it took a demand letter to get DC to approve repairs. Might be something to consider given that DC already bought yours back once and claim it's been repaired. They were quite reasonable once they realized I understand mechanical issues and wasn't going to take their BS stories.

Other items to look at, some have had wire harness problems (rubs the fuel filter bracket). What you described sounds like the tranny front pump/seals failing. It's a pricey repair that DC probably won't do until it fails completely and trashes the torque converter with it. Again, DC knows all about this problem and have a fix, you just need to put a gun to their head to get action. Hope DC gave you some extra warranty time to work this out.

Gator4x · **Posted:** Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:21 am

RFCRD-thanks-Yeah I checked the Julian date in the TSB against the tranny. The tranny was built 2 days before the end of the TSB.

Haven't gotten to drive the Jeep too much since I picked it up, but I have not been able to reproduce the shuddering...

Should I ask for tranny TSB if no problems?

Who is online