Why I Hate Mondays - Transmission Problem??

Gimme Liberty · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:17 pm

So... anyone had, or heard of, this?

Wife was off to work this morning. She had only gone about a block when she noticed the Jeep slowing down. Revs were up, but the vehicle was slowing. She pulled over and no longer had any gears. Hitting the gas shot up the revs, but that was it. Adjusting the 2WD/4WD switch gave the same result - revs, no motion. Reverse, same thing.

May be related, but under the vehicle a bit behind where the right side passenger seat would be there was a slow but steady drip. When the vehicle was finally towed away there was an icy wet puddle, about 5" in diameter, maybe an inch high. It was clear with maybe a bit of black (could be the road, or just the underside of the Jeep). It could have been melting snow for all I know, but that would be a fair bit, and seemed odd to be only in the one spot.

Sounds like a transmission problem, at least that's my first thought.

So, it's at the dealers to see what's wrong with it, and I get a Dodge Caliber as a loaner for my trouble!

I thought getting woken up at 4 a.m. this morning by my dog was going to be the worst part of today. Apparently not!

johnb · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:21 pm

Gimme Liberty wrote:

So... anyone had, or heard of, this?

Wife was off to work this morning. She had only gone about a block when she noticed the Jeep slowing down. Revs were up, but the vehicle was slowing. She pulled over and no longer had any gears. Hitting the gas shot up the revs, but that was it. Adjusting the 2WD/4WD switch gave the same result - revs, no motion. Reverse, same thing.

May be related, but under the vehicle a bit behind where the right side passenger seat would be there was a slow but steady drip. When the vehicle was finally towed away there was an icy wet puddle, about 5" in diameter, maybe an inch high. It was clear with maybe a bit of black (could be the road, or just the underside of the Jeep). It could have been melting snow for all I know, but that would be a fair bit, and seemed odd to be only in the one spot.

Sounds like a transmission problem, at least that's my first thought.

So, it's at the dealers to see what's wrong with it, and I get a Dodge Caliber as a loaner for my trouble!

I thought getting woken up at 4 a.m. this morning by my dog was going to be the worst part of today. Apparently not!

So your Jeep gives your wife an unexpected day off and all you can do is complain?

Gimme Liberty · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:27 pm

johnb wrote:

Gimme Liberty wrote:

So... anyone had, or heard of, this?

Wife was off to work this morning. She had only gone about a block when she noticed the Jeep slowing down. Revs were up, but the vehicle was slowing. She pulled over and no longer had any gears. Hitting the gas shot up the revs, but that was it. Adjusting the 2WD/4WD switch gave the same result - revs, no motion. Reverse, same thing.

May be related, but under the vehicle a bit behind where the right side passenger seat would be there was a slow but steady drip. When the vehicle was finally towed away there was an icy wet puddle, about 5" in diameter, maybe an inch high. It was clear with maybe a bit of black (could be the road, or just the underside of the Jeep). It could have been melting snow for all I know, but that would be a fair bit, and seemed odd to be only in the one spot.

Sounds like a transmission problem, at least that's my first thought.

So, it's at the dealers to see what's wrong with it, and I get a Dodge Caliber as a loaner for my trouble!

I thought getting woken up at 4 a.m. this morning by my dog was going to be the worst part of today. Apparently not!

So your Jeep gives your wife an unexpected day off and all you can do is complain?

LOL I wish that was the case. She teaches cake decorating and still made the class. It was me that took the day off to take care of getting the Jeep in.

Gimme Liberty · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:37 pm

I forgot about the "Limp Home" mode that the Liberty is supposed to have. The only way I was making it home was if it was pushed or pulled. Reverse didn't work, nor did 2nd, both of which are supposed to be available if the transmission monitoring notices anything unusual. I should also add there were no unusual lights at all. No "Check Engine", not "Service 4WD", nothing.

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:54 pm

strange... I guess it could be a leak, and in that case, if there wasn't enough fluid, you wouldn't be able to build pressure to have any gears

Gimme Liberty · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:07 pm

Diggerfreek wrote:

strange... I guess it could be a leak, and in that case, if there wasn't enough fluid, you wouldn't be able to build pressure to have any gears

Would that be clear (colorless) though? This certainly wasn't anything even close to pink or red. I don't know of a clear fluid in the vehicle - although I admit what I don't know about vehicles could fill a warehouse.

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:28 pm

Theoretically the ATF +4 should be red, How ever since you can not check your own fluid level, nor should be able to add fluid but can if you pop the plug, chrysler may have filled it with a clear fluid to help the tech determine whether or not fluid was added due to color change. Just look at the coolant, it's pink form the factory and of you buy aftermarket stuff, it's yellow. Now the coolant is made by the same company but it is just colored differently. Remember color is added to fluids for three reasons, one ID of what fluid it is, If something is leaking, it will help ID location and what fluid it is, and 3 for contamination control....

Oh as far as machine that fill warehouses, it's not rocket science

Just remember CSAF... Call the Smart stupid at the Factory and ask him WTF :twisted:

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:59 pm

ok im thinkin maybe i missed something digger, how come he can't check or add fluid to his A/T?

i've had colorless watery stuff puddle under mine after quick trips to the store that i attributed to condensation or water draining from the defrost weeps, i hadn't ran the ac or defrost or anything like that, the ac stuff was completely in the off positions the few times it occurred and there had been a heavy morning dew that day

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:08 pm

Starting in 08, they capped off the dip stick part and made it to where you have to take it to the dealer. At the dealership, they hook up the scan tool and read the trans temp then insert a special dealer only dip stick to read the level in MM...then they look at a chart and fill if needed

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:10 pm

used to be a guy on the radio in the mornings that had a phrase for that, it went something like..

"MY big ol BUTT!!"

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:12 pm

yeha, its a truck load of BS for sure

Gimme Liberty · **Posted:** Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:54 pm

Well, I've got a bit of an update, although without a lot of detail (just what the service tech relayed to my wife). I'll get more info tomorrow.

Apparently the front pump on the transmission failed. The tech suggested it was a machining problem. He's replacing all of the damaged parts and then he's going to take the transmission apart to make sure there is no other damage.

Now, exactly what pump would he be referring to? My assumption is the oil pump. I'm surprised that it could go so quickly, with no warning to us, and with such sudden consequences. But I guess that's technology. Hopefully there will be nothing else wrong with the transmission, and with any luck we should have it back by Friday!

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:06 am

yep, the trany oil pump. Is is just behind the torque converter...

Gimme Liberty · **Posted:** Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:45 pm

About three days later, and we have our Liberty back. Here's what the Service Order reads (in part):

"REMOVED THE TRANS FOR AN INSPECTION. FOUND THE FRT PUMP ASSEMBLY AS DAMAGED. OVERHAULED THE TRANS, REPLACED ALL SEALS, FRT PUMP ASSEMBLY, TORQUE CONVERTOR, CLEANED VALVE BODY, ALSO INSPECTED ALL CLUTCHES AND PLATES. WHEN REMOVE THE Y PIPE, 2/1 END 2/2 02 SENSORS WERE DAMAGED TAKING THEM OUT. REPAIRED THE THREADS AS NEEDED IN PIPE AND REPLACED BOTH SENSORS. PREFORMED THE TRANS COOLER LINES AND COOLER. PRESSURE WAS AT 14 PSI FOR FLOW. ALSO PERFORMED THE QUICK LEARN AND RESET THE TORQUE CONVERTOR BREAK IN PERIOD."

The Liberty rides great now, so hopefully that's the last I hear of that problem.

Why I Hate Mondays - Transmission Problem??

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