One problem or two?

Starcrwzr · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:37 pm

A couple of weeks ago my check engine light came on my '05 KJ. I checked all the fluids and it's running perfectly, so I let it go for a couple of days. It went out by itself for a few days then came back on again. I reset the computer and it stayed out for about a week and came back on again. Well anyway, not having time to get it into the stealership, I let it go, then something new happened. I was going up a slight grade at about 45 and had to give it some gas, it dropped into second and stayed there, it wouldn't shift back up into third. I pulled over, put it in park and reverse and back into drive and pulled away, only to find that it wouldn't go into third. I stopped again and turned it off. Waited a few seconds and restarted it, everyything was fine after that. During this little "event", I noticed that the check engine light which had been off, came on when it first refused to shift. Connection? Anyway, this has happened a couple of times now and each time I've had to stop the Jeep, turn it off and back on to continue. Do I have a sensor problem and a tranmission problem? Or are they both related?

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:43 pm

why not check the engine code?

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... php?t=1714

Starcrwzr · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:25 pm

Thanks, I can't remember if I'd seen that secret before, or just forgot, can't remember :roll:

I ran the procedure and I guess I have one problem, the code that came up is: P0700 Transmission Control System Malfunction. So does anyone have any experience with that code and what it takes to correct it? If you say a whole new transmission, I'm going to shoot myself.

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:06 pm

Check fuses first and foremost.
could be a TPS, could be a vehicle speed sensor, could be the TCM...

Starcrwzr · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:15 pm

Taking it to a trusted mechanic tomorrow morning. He thinks it's a cake walk, at most, pulling the pan and replacing the TCM. I'll let you know the balance tomorrow.

bootsers · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:43 pm

I had a similar problem and it was the trans module. Luckily, hubby pulled one out of a jeep a work, so I only had to pay labor at the dealer. Let us know how it turns out.

Guest · **Posted:** Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:23 am

Starcrwzr wrote:

Taking it to a trusted mechanic tomorrow morning. He thinks it's a cake walk, at most, pulling the pan and replacing the TCM. I'll let you know the balance tomorrow.

since when is the TCM inside the trans

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:34 am

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

Starcrwzr wrote:

Taking it to a trusted mechanic tomorrow morning. He thinks it's a cake walk, at most, pulling the pan and replacing the TCM. I'll let you know the balance tomorrow.

since when is the TCM inside the trans

Yeah real bright mechanic there since the TCM in a '05 KJ is part of the PCM which will have to be programmed by a dealership and located on the inner drivers front fender.Guess he doesn't know that or he is referring to the solenoid control pack which is in the trans(pricy part to boot).

DryBones · **Posted:** Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:56 am

maybe he is pulling the pan to do a filter and service as well as replacing the TCM? just guessing here, I have no idea really! :lol:

Starcrwzr · **Posted:** Fri Aug 14, 2009 8:16 pm

Picked up the KJ today, and what a shock, it was only about $150 to repair. Mechanic checked all the codes, and they all pointed to low pressures in various parts of the tranny. Pulled the pan and found the filter almost plugged. Cleaned it, checked everything and found it to spec, replaced the pan and put in fresh fluid. Ran it around quite a bit and couldn't get the problem to return. Got off cheap this time. I also had him put in new spark plugs, which cost more than the tranny repair.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Starcrwzr · **Posted:** Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:17 pm

Spoke too soon. While driving home from work a distance of about 40 miles from the repair shop, the transmission went into limp home mode again and wouldn't shift out of second. Took it back to the shop the next morning (Saturday) and he's had it since. Called today and he said things were pointing to one of the solenoids in the tranny. They had the pan off at that moment and would have more information in a couple of hours. Wait and see time I guess.

DryBones · **Posted:** Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:49 pm

should have done your own plugs. money saved would have paid for the tranny service! keep us posted on the outcome of your problem.

Starcrwzr · **Posted:** Wed Aug 26, 2009 3:28 pm

Got the KJ back yesterday. The 3rd party warranty the dealer provided covered a lot of the repair, but....
The mechanic replaced the valve and solenoid package (I'm hopefully getting the terminology correct), in the transmission, and also wanted to replace the torque converter, which he felt was the reason the valve and solenoid package went out. The representative the warranty company sent over said he'd worked as Jeep mechanic for 16 years and for this particular problem, never replaced the torque converter, so they wouldn't authorize that.

Now I'm driving it and the mechanic warned me to watch for symptoms of the TC going out, funny shifts, noise, etc. Well I barely had driven it 10 miles and had to back out of a parking space. Went from reverse to drive and heard a noise that sounded like a growling, coming from the transmission, like gears meshing coarsely, which lasted about two seconds before it went into drive. Pulled forward a few feet and repeated the move, only to hear it again. After driving home, tried the manuever again, but this time, no noise, but a heavy clunk when it engaged. Normal shifting appears to be OK, it's only the forward/reverse that I've heard and felt things.

I suspect the TC is starting to go, but with only 2,000 miles left on the warranty, I figured the warranty company was hoping it would fail after the policy expired. Not sure what to do now. With an 84 mile commute, it's not going to be long before I'm out of warranty.

KJWildman · **Posted:** Wed Aug 26, 2009 4:49 pm

I hope you get it figured out soon! Mine makes a noise as the solenoid engages every time I drop it in gear. Always has. It would be bad to get halfway up the mountain and have it quit on you. I live in Toledo, Ohio now, but was born and raised (30 yrs.) in the East County and I wouldn't wanna get halfway to Julian and have it quit. Commuted from Lakeside to Borrego Springs for a while (6 mos., then moved out there for a year ) when we built Ram's Hill Developement & golf course in the mid 80's. Do you drive up 67/78 the back way or out I-8/79? Either way you could be stuck for a while.

Starcrwzr · **Posted:** Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:11 pm

I drive from Rancho Bernardo to Julian, using Poway Road, 67, 78. It's not a bad drive, one I'd rather make than sitting in a snarled up freeway. You're right about getting stuck up there, of course, there's no repair available in Julian any more either, so it's a long tow back to a shop. They also closed the Jeep stealership in Poway, so the closest Jeep store is Kearny Mesa or Escondido. Ironically, my wife commutes the other way, east off the mountain, to Borrego Springs each day. Too weird.

I'm going to drive it a few more days, if the noise persists or gets worse, it's going back to the mechanic and have him see what he thinks.

KJWildman · **Posted:** Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:39 pm

Starcrwzr wrote:

Ironically, my wife commutes the other way, east off the mountain, to Borrego Springs each day. Too weird.

Probably not the same B.S. I lived in (duplex @ Borrego Springs Rd & Weather vane Dr. ) or even last visited in 1990. :lol:

Probably changed a bit now. :lol:

Starcrwzr wrote:

I'm going to drive it a few more days, if the noise persists or gets worse, it's going back to the mechanic and have him see what he thinks.

Good luck, I hope he finds something.

One problem or two?

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