Brand New 2007 Liberty - I Hate the Manual Tranny !!!

MacAttack · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 1:16 am

I don't even have license plates yes, and I absolutely hate it !!!
The manual transmission is a nightmare !
I can not take off smoothly unless I go at a turtle's pace.
Every time I shift from 1st to 2nd to 3rd, I jolt and lunge.
Every time I slow down for a corner and downshift from 3rd to 2nd, and then turn the corner and shift back to 3rd as I speed up, it's like it doesn't quite go after the shift and then it will kick in for yet another jolty acceleration. 1st to 2nd is even worse.
Driving to work in the traffic is a nightmare because of this. I wouldn't be surprised if I've worn out the clutch already.
1st gear is good to stay in for about a millisecond before I have to shift.
Highway driving is good. Offroad is good. Everything else is a miserable experience.
If the dealership offered to take it back right not minus $1,000 I would be extremely happy to let them have it.
I don't remember it being like this when I test drove it, but who knows......maybe I just didn't test drive it long enough.
Is this how the manual transmission is supposed to be?
By the way I've driven a stick shift for the last 14 years, and I know how to drive one. Never even had to replace the clutch.
Is the manual supposed to be like I described it?
Does anyone want to buy it?
Ugh !!!!!!

FastTRX · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 1:32 am

Very sorry to hear of your experiences with the new KJ. Maybe you should have thought twice about the automatic tranny? You stick shift guys are hard to convert back to auto. Almost all the manual guys on here swear by them. I dont remember hearing about anyone having any complaints about them either...

Maybe you just have to drive it and get a little more acquainted with it...let it break in a little before moving on. Maybe the Jeep just isn't your thing...I'd atleast hope you would give it a little while longer before getting rid. Atleast go test drive an auto. I have no experience with a manual liberty so I am no judge by any means...but who knows. I hope things look up for you.

kolesy · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 1:46 am

SOunds bad dude! Like fsatrx said everyone on here who has a manual never brought up that problem. All my vehicles have been sticks up until i bought hte KJ. All the newer vehicles I drive with sticks are a bit more to master than the older standards. Maybe You just need to get used to the way the clutch feels and change your driving style to the style of the 2007 clutch.

ARBSeth · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 2:10 am

It's a Jeep, man... try a second gear start. It's not a Honda... 1st is a granny in every Jeep Tranny. Been that way my whole life (7 Jeeps - KJ is the first Auto I've owned).

MacAttack · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 2:14 am

I'm depressed now.

I hope it gets better. I wonder sometimes if something is wrong with it, but I don't really think there is.

One thing that sure doesn't seem right is when I downshift to 1st for a corner and then make my turn and go back to 2nd, it feels like there is not very much power at first, then all of a sudden it seems to catch. It's not extreme enough for me to say it's screwed up........but I'll say it anyway.....it's screwed up.
I don't know if maybe it's the weight of the vehicle or what.

I'm going to go drive it around the neighborhood right now, so I can get more depressed. :cry:

Lizzys07Liberty · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 2:19 am

Sorry to hear you are having that much trouble with a new vehicle...you shouldn't be.

If you're having that much trouble and obviously have experience with sticks, then I would take it to the dealer and test drive another Liberty that is a stick.
I test drove the stick to begin with and thought it was great...good clutch control and more responsive than the auto. It didn't have any of the characteristics that you're describing at all.
Have it checked out- :wink:

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

is the engine misfiring? that will really transmit right through the drivetrain with the manual? Go back and have a tech drive it.

MacAttack · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 3:38 am

I just drove it around the block about a hundred times, and......................I still hate it !!!!!

I tried taking off in 1st and in 2nd. In 1st it starts to go then lurches then goes. It almost feels like it does a shift in the middle of accelerating.

I tried taking off in 2nd......hard to take off that way without almost stalling or if you try to give it more gas it's hard not to be burning up the clutch. Every once in a great while it would be ok if the timing was perfect, but even those times you still get the lurch and again it will start to go and then lurch like a shift in an automatic.

I drove around in circles over and over in a parking lot going from 1st to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd. Still no good.

I think I'll go test drive one tomorrow at another dealership. This just can't be right. I drove my old truck for 197,000 miles with a stick, so I know I'm not this bad.

I will never ever say again that I hate automatics. I would love to have an automatic right now. I hate manuals ! I hate them a lot !!!

Lizzys07Liberty · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 3:50 am

Don't sweat it too much yet.

As I stated above, drive another one, and if it's obviously different, have them fix it. My money's on somethings screwy on the Jeep.

Good luck tomorrow test driving another.

:wink:

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 7:14 am

Did they put in a heavy duty clutch for you?

When I first started driving my liberty I had to relearn how to feather the clutch because it is hydraulic and not a cable. Then I someone borrow my jeep and they killed my clutch (they didn't know how to drive manual, when they gave it back to me is smeelled so bad) so I had to tow it do a friends shop where he installed a heavy duty clutch for me and I again had to relearn to feather the clutch.

I imagine going straight to the heavy duty clutch from my old vehicle would have given me problems similar to what you are saying.
I am sorry, best of luck.

BTW, I have the 5 speed, where as I believe you have a 6 speed, so that may be a big difference there.

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:28 am

Sounds like my lifted Rubicon with the 6 speed. It's a Jeep, 1st is going to be really low. That part of driving it and really helps you in sticky situations. Take it back and have them check it out. If theres nothing wrong with it you'll get use to it pretty quick. I've been driving my Rubicon for about 1 year now. It took me awhile to get use to the noisy 6 speed. Plus I've ground the old gears more with this jeep than any other stick vehicle I've driven including some really old double clutch trucks. :lol:

Everyone I talk to that has the 6 speed says it's a rough transmission. BUT after driving it around for a year I wouldn't trade it for an auto. It runs great up and down mountian roads.

Wes

k99jk99j · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:40 am

I like mine so does the wife! we have been drivin the 6 speed for a year now. first gear is low and we have learned to take corners in third. did you test drive it first? also there is no reason to downshift to first unless stopped. 2nd is low enough to take off from a couple mile an hour.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:57 am

I know some have complained about the Manual and ESP. They say that if you take off fast it will do the same thing. Try turning off your ESP..

Jeger · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 9:13 am

X2 on the ESP thing.

It may just be an adjustment period..especially if you are used to cable clutches and small car transmissions. But, If you really think something is wrong with it take it back to the dealer or find someone that has a 6spd and let them drive it to see if they have the same problems.

SnowgodCCR · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 9:32 am

The newer Jeeps have a drive-by-wire throttle control, which takes about a week to 2 weeks to learn your driving habits and adjust the ECU accordingly-explains your problems with slow/sketchy starts. Our 2007 KJ with the Auto did the same thing-hell, it wouldn't even roll forward without giving it some skinny pedal...

First gear is super short in Jeeps. Deal with it :wink:

, it's a jeep thing. You'll appreciate it in the snow/mud/sand/when you're pulling someone out, etc. If you think that first is too short in your KJ, try driving my rubicon-first gear tops out at about 15mph...

The lurching is due to it being a brand new clutch, my JK did the same thing for a week or two, it breaks in with the ECU and all is better.

The "smart" drive by wire system will cause most of the symptoms that you're describing when the vehicle is new, just give it some time. If it's still doing it around 1000 miles, then you might have a problem and you should see your dealer.

hooperswish · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:15 am

I really love my 6 speed. It was a little rough for the first couple of 100 miles, but smoothed out after. It sounds like maybe there is a problem. Just to reiterate what has already been said,
-Try turning in 3rd gear.
-Shift to 2nd from a start right away.
-Try pushing the ESP off button on the dash.
-Take the time to learn to feather the throttle and learn the characteristics of this tranny.
-Try another 6 speed from the lot for comparison.
GOOD LUCK......
Steve

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:56 am

hooperswish wrote:

-Try another 6 speed from the lot for comparison.

Steve

Best suggestion yet!

BVCRD · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:06 am

DarbyWalters wrote:

hooperswish wrote:

-Try another 6 speed from the lot for comparison.

Steve

Best suggestion yet!

For me, there has always been a learning curve when switching vehicles. F150 and Ranger was night and day.

MacAttack · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:10 am

Well maybe it is a learning curve.
Maybe since I drove my last truck for 14 years I got too used to it.
I'll find out later today. I'm definitely going to go test drive another Jeep after work.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:11 am

SnowgodCCR wrote:

The newer Jeeps have a drive-by-wire throttle control, which takes about a week to 2 weeks to learn your driving habits and adjust the ECU accordingly-explains your problems with slow/sketchy starts. Our 2007 KJ with the Auto did the same thing-hell, it wouldn't even roll forward without giving it some skinny pedal...

First gear is super short in Jeeps. Deal with it :wink:

, it's a jeep thing. You'll appreciate it in the snow/mud/sand/when you're pulling someone out, etc. If you think that first is too short in your KJ, try driving my rubicon-first gear tops out at about 15mph...

The lurching is due to it being a brand new clutch, my JK did the same thing for a week or two, it breaks in with the ECU and all is better.

The "smart" drive by wire system will cause most of the symptoms that you're describing when the vehicle is new, just give it some time. If it's still doing it around 1000 miles, then you might have a problem and you should see your dealer.

Yes, I agree with this. It takes awhile to get use to it/let the Jeep learn. My parents 06 Grand was very jumpy at first. You could barely touch the gas and it would take off.

Brand New 2007 Liberty - I Hate the Manual Tranny !!!

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