Any Transmission problems with the new 08 Liberty ??

Katmandu · **Posted:** Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:37 am

Does the 08 Liberty use the "infamous" 42LRE 4-Speed Automatic transmission ??

Any Transmission problems with the new 08 Liberty ??

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:34 pm

same tranny as the kj, though some say it shifts differently which i dont see how unless its been flashed with a different set up and if thats the case then the kj owners should look into it

rickm · **Posted:** Sun Dec 02, 2007 2:39 pm

Yes, I believe it's the same transmission, the 42RLE or whatever the number is.

One immediate difference you'll find is that there is no way to check transmission fluid on the 08. (I can hear it now :lol:

). At the top of the transmission dip stick tube is a little rubber plug saying to contact the dealer for service.
I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Since it's a lifetime warranty, I guess it's not all bad.

It does shift way different than my 04 Liberty. I don't know how to explain it, but it shifts different.

One thing that always drove me crazy on my 04 was that it went into overdrive at about 40 MPH and was hard to get it to downshift out of OD. I'd really have to push the gas pedal to get it to downshift and even then, it seemed to hesitate or something. There is one onramp to the freeway that drove me bonkers everyday with the 04, when I was going home. I've seen others post about the exact same thing, so I assume anyone with a KJ knows what I'm talking about. I'm not sure if it was addressed on later model KJ's or not.

The KK shifts a LOT different than my KJ did. Where the KJ was a very smooth, almost mushy shift, the KK seems to be a harder more agressive shift. I'm not sure how to explain it. You'd just have to drive a KK to experience it I guess

If I'm doing some moderate acceleration in the KK, and listening to the engine, and watching the tachometer, I'd almost swear that the engine is shut off at the point of shift, then turned right back on. Again, I don't know how to explain it, but it's a more aggressive, positive shift over my KJ.

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:13 pm

mine does that if i give it some harder acceleration andi have an 04, feels like it shuts off for a second, feels cool lol

indianrefining · **Posted:** Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:31 pm

rickm wrote:

One immediate difference you'll find is that there is no way to check transmission fluid on the 08. (I can hear it now :lol:

). At the top of the transmission dip stick tube is a little rubber plug saying to contact the dealer for service.

Yeah, the '07's have that stupid plug, too.

KJ4ME · **Posted:** Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:14 pm

$80 will fix that with a dipstick!

rickm · **Posted:** Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:37 pm

_UnLiMiTeD_ wrote:

mine does that if i give it some harder acceleration andi have an 04, feels like it shuts off for a second, feels cool lol

this is nothing like my 04 Liberty, it's way different. I think on my 04, it maybe felt as if it shut off, but didn't recover, it's not like that with the 08.

k99jk99j · **Posted:** Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:46 pm

Katmandu wrote:

"infamous" 42LRE

i don't think anybody here considers the 42 rle "infamous" seems to be reliable with service, and few warranty problems.
to correct the sealed (no dipstick) riddle. i think a dipstick off a 06 will fit. it has been discused many times on lost! mike

Katmandu · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 4:30 am

_UnLiMiTeD_ wrote:

same tranny as the kj, though some say it shifts differently which i dont see how unless its been flashed with a different set up and if thats the case then the kj owners should look into it

The reason I bring this during my research on 08 Liberty AND Nitros, I discovered some early manufactured 07 Nitros have had a very significant number of torque convertor failures and other transmission problems with the 42LRE.

Read for yourselves here....

http://www.nitroforumz.com/showthread.php?t=796

k99jk99j · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:35 am

Katmandu wrote:

_UnLiMiTeD_ wrote:

same tranny as the kj, though some say it shifts differently which i dont see how unless its been flashed with a different set up and if thats the case then the kj owners should look into it

The reason I bring this during my research on 08 Liberty AND Nitros, I discovered some early manufactured 07 Nitros have had a very significant number of torque convertor failures and other transmission problems with the 42LRE.

Read for yourselves here....

http://www.nitroforumz.com/showthread.php?t=796

your reasearch is all well and good but i read 14 pages of it ,and it is not clear what trans they are talking about! are they talking about the A580/5G-Tronic Mercedes automatic behind the 4.0L motor that the liberty does not even offer? and maybe that is why liberty owners are not having the problem! mike

Katmandu · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:48 am

k99jk99j wrote:

your reasearch is all well and good but i read 14 pages of it ,and it is not clear what trans they are talking about! are they talking about the A580/5G-Tronic Mercedes automatic behind the 4.0L motor that the liberty does not even offer? and maybe that is why liberty owners are not having the problem! mike

Your right. That thread is NOT clear at all. I asked someone to please post a summary of it.

That said, there IS a tidbit in there saying it is NOT the 5-Speed automatic from the R/T. Which would be the A580/5G-Tronic Mercedes transmission.

It is beyond a shadow of a doubt the Chrysler 42RLE.

I'm thinking it was an issue on early production Nitros. Maybe between Aug 2006 and April 2007. If this IS that case, then one would conclude that the 07 Liberty manufactured in this time period would ALSO have the SAME issues!

The both came down the SAME assembly line in Toledo, Ohio correct ?

k99jk99j · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 10:15 am

Katmandu wrote:

k99jk99j wrote:

your reasearch is all well and good but i read 14 pages of it ,and it is not clear what trans they are talking about! are they talking about the A580/5G-Tronic Mercedes automatic behind the 4.0L motor that the liberty does not even offer? and maybe that is why liberty owners are not having the problem! mike

Your right. That thread is NOT clear at all. I asked someone to please post a summary of it.

It is beyond a shadow of a doubt the Chrysler 42RLE.

The both came down the SAME assembly line in Toledo, Ohio correct ?

if it is the 42rle why isn't the liberty having the problem? if the liberty was having the problem the liberty forums would be packed with threads about it. (this is the first i have heard about the issue in any liberty forum), and i am a member of them all,! thats why i think it is the other mercedes trans not offered in the liberty! mike

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:05 am

Nitro SXTs 3.7L with manual (both package groups)

Nitro SLTs 3.7L with 4 Speed Auto (both package groups)

Nitro RTs 4.0L with 5 Speed Auto

I would bet that most autos are the RT package

k99jk99j · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:13 am

another possiblility is the nitro started production way before the 08 liberty. it is possible all the problems were cleared up by the time the redesigned liberty (08) made production? but that would mean the old 07 liberty would have the problem the nitro has. the 07 liberty is showing no sign of the problem either! and we do know the old liberty (07) and the nitro went down the same line at the same time! it also could be something only specific to the nitro is causing the problem, and they found it and fixed it, because it seems only early nitros had the problem! mike

toy4everyseason · **Posted:** Mon Dec 03, 2007 4:29 pm

At 3500 miles I have no probelms.

k99jk99j · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:17 pm

here you go it showed up in one 07 liberty so far! no 08's that i can see! mike

link:
http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34257

rickm · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:25 pm

you know what? If you read all those transmissions problem posts... they are all talking about the engine cutting out at about 40 MPH.

The major complaint that I had with my 04 Liberty was that it went into overdrive and the torque converter was locked up at about 40 MPH, just way too early. No I mean it was WAY TOO EARLY! LOL It felt as if the engine had no power, if you needed to acellerate. I'd always have to put my foot to the floor and wait for it to downshift. Even then, it seemed to hesitate for a bit.

I'm wondering at least some of those folks aren't confusing transmission/engine problems with the fact that the KJ goes into OD too early?

TexasKJ07 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:29 pm

I think I speak for most that are having this problem, when I say that we think the coverter is locking up too soon, but there is a definate shudder also. I thought I was losing my mind, but my wife has felt it and so has a coworker. I just wish I could replicate it for the dealer...Jason

Katmandu · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 3:05 pm

TexasKJ07 wrote:

I think I speak for most that are having this problem, when I say that we think the coverter is locking up too soon, but there is a definate shudder also. I thought I was losing my mind, but my wife has felt it and so has a coworker. I just wish I could replicate it for the dealer...Jason

There was a well known torque convertor shudder issue with late model Ford Crown Victorias. It was traced back to transmission fluid type/quality. I don' remember the specifics on it. I don't have time right now to Research it.

Check out this site and do a Search on torque converter shudder.

www.Crownvic.net

jpsmith · **Joined:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:52 pm **Posts:** 40

Quote:

The major complaint that I had with my 04 Liberty was that it went into overdrive and the torque converter was locked up at about 40 MPH, just way too early. No I mean it was WAY TOO EARLY! LOL It felt as if the engine had no power, if you needed to acellerate. I'd always have to put my foot to the floor and wait for it to downshift. Even then, it seemed to hesitate for a bit.

This issue is my primary complaint with my 2006 KJ Renegade. I'd say it's my only real complaint. The engine/tranny combo just cannot cut the mustard. The three main symptoms are:

1. It is locked into OD above 40mph. If I'm on a highway going 60 and I need to go 65 to pass someone, I need to floor it to get there, and it takes 10-15 seconds to actually get there. I press the pedal, a second or two pass then the RPMs rev like mad and it slowly accelerates to 65.

2. We have hills in southwestern PA. Not huge mountains, but some steep climbs over the course of a mile or so. If I'm climbing one of these hills at 40mph, it refuses to downshift into 2nd gear. The RPMs will drop all the way to 1200 or below with the engine lugging badly before it downshifts. If I floor it, it will downshift and rev to 3500RPM, accelerating much more than I need it to. If I then let off the gas slightly, it upshifts back into 3rd where the RPMs fall out and it's lugging at 1200 again. If I want to climb the hill at a consistent 2400 RPM at 43mph, I have to manually put the tranny in 2nd.

3. My in-laws have two driveways. Both driveways are concrete They're both quite steep, like 35% and 45% grade. If I park in them facing downhill, I have a very hard time backing out of them. The engine revs and the rear end shudders, but it doesn't want to go. I need to put it in 4hi to get out of the steeper of them, and even then a few times it just sat there with the engine revving and would not go.

So if you've owned a KJ and experienced these symptoms and now you own a KK with the same engine transmission, can you say that these problems no longer exist in the KK?

Any Transmission problems with the new 08 Liberty ??

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