Transmission reliability question

jakemoore · **Posted:** Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:46 pm

Quote:

Last night I read over on edmon's town hall that the problem is the fluid pump in the transmission. Our diesels produce the torque at a low rpm (1800) that's too low to pump sufficient fluid for the clutches to stay locked up and they then slip. A gas car builds up torque at a highter RPM when there's enough fluid volume/pressure. The post also went on to say a new pump has just been released. Hopefully, yeah right, they'll replace our CRD pumps before we have total failure. Time will tell

Do you think running with O/D off or in lower gear to get more RPMs will improve transmission reliability?

I have been playing with O/D off and it does make 55mph cruising smoother.

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

I cannot speak to the tranny problem as I simply don't know the answer.

However, I would caution you that there is a tremendous amount of false, inacurate, and only half true information to be found on edmunds. I have read messages from people making absolutely false statements regarding the CRD. Its just my opinion, but I would be very wary of any information from that site.

DZL_LOU · **Posted:** Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:05 am

vtdog wrote:

Its just my opinion, but I would be very wary of any information from that site.

Wise comments from vtdog.
The statements from Edmunds are only half truths.
1) Yes the transmission pump for the 545RFE has been redesigned.
2) The issue is with heat not being able to dissipate properly from the pump. The pump was improperly designed. I know since I witnessed the disassembly on mine and noticed personally what that the drive gears and pump housing around the drive gears was improperly cast.
3) Any comparison to gas vs. diesel with the transmission RPM's is a misnomer. The pump has been re-designed for MY07 for all engines being mated to it.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:22 am

jakemoore wrote:

Quote:

Last night I read over on edmon's town hall that the problem is the fluid pump in the transmission. Our diesels produce the torque at a low rpm (1800) that's too low to pump sufficient fluid for the clutches to stay locked up and they then slip. A gas car builds up torque at a highter RPM when there's enough fluid volume/pressure. The post also went on to say a new pump has just been released. Hopefully, yeah right, they'll replace our CRD pumps before we have total failure. Time will tell

Do you think running with O/D off or in lower gear to get more RPMs will improve transmission reliability?

I have been playing with O/D off and it does make 55mph cruising smoother.

Personally would not do this as it's a bad idea to run a diesel at higher RPM for extended periods. From the looks of your signature, you have already blown-out a front pump. Did they replace it with the new style?

What you read on Edmunds is likely a half truth as this issue is common to everything running this transmission. I know someone with an 05 Ram (underpowered V-6) with the infamous tranny shudder, tell me that was a low end torque issue!?, I don't think so. He also went through the same arguments and had the filter TSB done. There is likely a combination of problems (bad filters, underfilling, poor pump design, etc..) resulting in failures. Hope your tranny is doing better. My problems appear to have gone away after the filter TSB. I personally believe I got screwed on this vehicle but have an extended warranty which takes the edge off the problem. For now, will continue to use it with a wait & see attitude. If this turns out to be a problem child, will get rid of it in a year or so and definately think twice before buying anything else from DC.

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

Quote:

I know someone with an 05 Ram (underpowered V-6) with the infamous tranny shudder, tell me that was a low end torque issue!?

This is what is so puzzling. I have an 02 Liberty with the same V6 as your friends RAM, the same tranny as our CRD's and it has ***never*** had any shudder of any kind, with or without TC lockup. Granted, it has the 5th gear disabled, but that would hardly seem to be the issue. Among 02 Liberty owners, I've never heard of a shudder problem or even much of any kind of a problem. So what changed from the 02 45RFE to the 05 545RFE version of the same transmission? Is it possible that DC has taken the pencil to the components on the 545RFE and dropped the quality? My 45RFE shift as smoothly as any automatic I've ever driven.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Tue Sep 12, 2006 11:05 pm

Ranger1 wrote:

Quote:

I know someone with an 05 Ram (underpowered V-6) with the infamous tranny shudder, tell me that was a low end torque issue!?

This is what is so puzzling. I have an 02 Liberty with the same V6 as your friends RAM, the same tranny as our CRD's and it has ***never*** had any shudder of any kind, with or without TC lockup. Granted, it has the 5th gear disabled, but that would hardly seem to be the issue. Among 02 Liberty owners, I've never heard of a shudder problem or even much of any kind of a problem. So what changed from the 02 45RFE to the 05 545RFE version of the same transmission? Is it possible that DC has taken the pencil to the components on the 545RFE and dropped the quality? My 45RFE shift as smoothly as any automatic I've ever driven.

The whole tranny thing is puzzling to me too. Despite the problems I've had, it's yet to shudder on me (being careful to differentiate a tranny shudder from bucking & stumbling). Mine also shifts extremely smooth and predictable except for the 35 mpg hiccup. Then again it may be the way it's driven, almost all expressway and I run it hard enough to stay away from the shift points.

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

Like many (most?) I have not had any tranny problems in 33k miles.

Because of the issues reported here I did have the tranny serviced at 30k by a local shop that I have used before for other cars. The owner reported that there was "some" metal in the pan and that the filters had some grit on them, but nothing beyond what would be expected. In short, if you are leasing, or plan on not keeping the car for an extended period I would not bother with a service at 30k.

It cost $ 153 for the fluid change, pan drop, screen/filter change, etc.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:13 am

Just had mine surviced at 15k miles and there was no metal in the pan and just a fine dusting on magnet. We have never had the shudder (except when the tech only installed 4 qts after servicing as per FSM and it shuddered before leaving the lot and we ended up adding about 3.5 more qts of fluid to bring to fill mark.) and only had a slight hic-up at 35 mph until this last flash for recall. She is smooth as silk now like my Magnum.

MightyCRD · **Posted:** Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:56 am

Mine appears to be leaking from the front pump after 3300 miles - and it definitely has some shifting quirks. Maybe I got unlucky? I don't run it too hard, have never towed - fluid level is dead-on where it should be. Lots of stop n go driving though ....

spoonplugger1 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:20 am

Like Old Navy I've had no tranny problems at all from my '05.

BioJeep · **Posted:** Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:44 pm

Somewhat related question... Is it better for the 545RFE to take it out of O/D while towing? I had read somewhere before that this wasn't necessary but would like some verification.

jakemoore · **Posted:** Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:18 am

RFCRD wrote:

Personally would not do this as it's a bad idea to run a diesel at higher RPM for extended periods. From the looks of your signature, you have already blown-out a front pump. Did they replace it with the new style?

I'm not sure if the pump is a new style. Back in May I got:
Pump 5073004AD
TC 68000336AA
Filter 4799662
Filter 5013470AC
Cooler 5183561AA
So far things are good but I'm always a little cautious and I do sometimes get a hiccup at 55-58mph.

Regarding the OD off, mostly I find this puts the RPM from the 1600 to 2200 range and it is also nice to avoid the confused shifting around 55.

RFCRD wrote:

think twice before buying anything else from DC.

I will think 4 times even if I'm driving this jeep 200,000 mi from now.

Transmission reliability question

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