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

65thKJ · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:02 am

Try deactivating the TC w/ the ESP button on the steering column. It should help w/ the lurching especially over speed bumps.

MacAttack · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:43 am

Update: I just got back from a short drive this morning. All of a sudden the Jeep drives great........I knew I wasn't that bad at driving.

Hardly any lurching, very responsive, even fun to drive. I don't know what the deal was, but I'm just over 1000 miles and it is way different from what I was experiencing.

I can actually say I'm glad I have the manual now. After driving this morning with it actually working like I always thought it was supposed to it has to be way more fun to drive than an automatic !!!

hooperswish · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:55 am

Macattack,
I was driving around yesterday, and I was trying to duplicate the symptoms you are saying that your jeep is doing. The only way I could duplicate them, was by popping the clutch. I went through a few gears by popping the clutch, and I got lurching, bucking, power drop off and surge, and basically a terrible ride. Could it be that you are so used to a warn out clutch that a new one is difficult to adjust to? A warn clutch has a release point at the end of the peddle release due to clutch wear, where as a new clutch realeases immediately upon letting the clutch out. Maybe inadvertantly you are (without knowing it) popping the clutch. Just a thought...good luck...
Steve

Kugellager · **Posted:** Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:37 am

hooperswish wrote:

Could it be that you are so used to a warn out clutch that a new one is difficult to adjust to? A warn clutch has a release point at the end of the peddle release due to clutch wear, where as a new clutch realeases immediately upon letting the clutch out. Maybe inadvertantly you are (without knowing it) popping the clutch. Just a thought...good luck...
Steve

That is exactly what I was going to suggest. I have had a similar experience to MacAttack when switching from one car to another...not with the Jeep but with others. IME when I go from a old warn clutch to a new tight one I have had a similar experience...just that I have done this several times and now can compensate quickly. I did not have this problem when I went from my 99' Cavalier to the Jeep but I could see how it could happen. I usually shift around 3000...which prob explaing the less than stellar mileage I sometimes get. I try to shift closer to 2500 but I tend to have a heavy foot.

When I drive mine I rarely get back down into 1st gear. I am almost always in 2nd around corners or over speed bumps. The KJ manual has a lot of torque and will not stall in second gear...not even come close...it's a great coaster. If you have it is first gear and are going at low speed you can slowly take your foot off the clutch and crawl...even uphill w/o stalling. When I first started 4-wheeling it was definitely a steeper learning curve when going over a steep obstacle and I stalled it frequently...I still stall it occasionally but much less now. When going down a steep incline in 1st and 4-lo all the other guys in LOST Rockies have their break lights on...I just crawl down as 'I do not need no stinkin' breaks!' Heck, on some downhill inclines I need to shift into 2nd so as not to slow the group down.

John
];')

MacAttack · **Posted:** Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:03 pm

I am starting to like it more now.
Either it got better, or I got better, or a combination.
I still wish I would have gotten the automatic though. It seems like I'm constantly going over speed bumps, or sitting in traffic jams. In fact it doesn't just seem that way, it is that way. I don't know what I was thinking when I insisted on a Manual. I do like that it's more responsive and you have more control, but it's just not for the city I have to drive in 5 days of the week and part of the weekend.

Maybe they'll let me exchange it for an automatic with no depreciation loss....................Not !!!!!!!

Straight6Jeff · **Posted:** Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:31 pm

I have not read the entire thread, but it sounds like your clutch master/slave cylinder was not bleed completely. Some trapped air int eh system will cause that. My 02 Dodge dually was the same way til all the air was purged.

Donkeykong · **Posted:** Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:59 pm

A few comments:
1) Mac, did any of my suggestions in the other thread help out?

2) I understand what you mean by it feeling like it wants to shift as the power dips if you give it gas, I noticed it's at the 35-45mph range in 3rd or 4th gear. I don't know that the problem is, but I have noticed that as well, but have no complaints.

3) noisy tranny? Yes, The 1-2 shift is loud, and sometimes doesn't feel smooth, but I suggested holding the shifter lower to reduce the leverage, and slow the speed of the shift. It has prevented me from grinding the 1-2 shift.

4) I am very happy with the manual tranny, IMHOP it keeps me content with the vehicle. I know that jeeps are nice but I couldn't imagine driving a cherokee with an auto for any long period of time... my mom and mother in law have both owned one, and I have driven them both, but it's not as nice as my KJ.
-Mark

MacAttack · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:40 am

Donkeykong wrote:

A few comments:
1) Mac, did any of my suggestions in the other thread help out?
-Mark

I don't remember what all of your suggestions were, but I did try them. I just tried so many things I have forgotten. Holding the stick lower down seemed to help a little------felt more connected to the vehicle that way. I do have to say though, that I still am not crazy about the manual. I think it's just due to the constant congested city driving I do. Once I'm out on the fun roads it's fine, but that's only on weekends and even then I still have to drive thru congestion to get the hell out of here.

I'm definitely getting more used to it, but I wish I would have gotten the automatic.

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

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