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Comments
Thanks
The sudden downshifts cause passengers to nearly hit the windshield, luckily no ones ever been tailgating me and I haven't been taking a turn on wet pavement or in icy conditions - the down shift would definitely cause a loss of control, loss of traction, and an accident.
Shortly after the first few downshifts, I started using the slap-shift to manually control the gear settings which stopped the sudden downshifts while in manual mode. Since then I've learned that leaving the slap-shift in 4th works fine and the trans goes through all the gears, although at slightly different shift points.
I can normally sense the problem about to happen when in Drive - the jeep seems to miss a shift point and the rpms increase as it struggles to make the up-shift. At this point I slap shift into 4th and leave it there - otherwise there would be a sudden downshift.
The dealer is useless, say they can't find a problem, and say their diagnosis is confirmed by their sending a car-hop out to drive the jeep for 15 miles with nothing happening.
Anyone know the fix - please post.
Regards,
Jim
First time this happened the check engine light came on with the codes:
P0700 (Chrysler Transmission Control System fault - transaxle control module fault) OBDII - turn on check engine light
P0734 OBDII - the PCM has detected an incorrect gear ratio in 4th gear
P0735 OBDII - the PCM has detected an incorrect gear ration in 5th gear
Dealer replaced the transmission solenoid (can't find receipt to see exactly what they said)
Check engine light hasn't come on since, but the Tire Pressure indicator blinks occaisionally indicating a fault in the tire pressure sensor system (not solid indicating an incorrect tire pressure).
Problem still occurs.
I had the same problem with my 06 4.7 4x4. The transmission started that crazy downshifting and was at the dealership 17 times for various repairs on that problem. Almost every part regarding the transmission was replaced but never the transmission it's self. The down shifting got so bad that the rear axle had to be rebuilt from being jerked around so hard and one down shift locked up a rear tire for a second and burned a complete flat spot in it. Just shortly after having to replace the rear tires (17,000 miles on my own dime), the jeep downshifted while on cruise control at 70 mph and ruined another tire. Unfortunately the Jeep's problems came to a sudden end one night while driving home. The transmission started to bind up, shift violently and then seemed to drop into neutral. I pulled off the road due to the complete loss of power and when I got out of the jeep I heard popping and crackling and then realized that the Jeep was catching on fire. Fire and rescue arrived within 6 minutes and the Jeep had already burned to the ground on the side of the road. After 1 year of investigations and insurance claims, the Jeep was concluded to have burned due to transmission fluid blowing onto the exhaust. In the end it was the insurance company and myself that ended up losing on that vehicle due to an incorrectly diagnosed and not repaired warranty problem.
-JP
That's some bad news, but thanks for the info. Once had a Celica throw a rod through the engine block at 60 mph - didn't think I was going to be able to pull off the road before being engulfed in flames - luckily it was just smoke from the oil on the engine, no fire.
The Jeep is currently in the shop having the transmission rebuilt (Jasper rebuilt installed).
Took the Jeep to a local repair shop that I've heard good things about. Actually took it to them for an oil change and they gave me more diagnosis information on the trans than the dealer ever did. The dealer said nothing was wrong. The new mechanic hooked it up to his computer and could see where the downshifts were happening in the history log.
The dealer solution when I first reported this was to replace:
RS10 - Rear Pinion Oil Seal $175 (not related to trans)
EN18 - Front Pinion Oil Seal $150 (not related to trans)
TR03 - Transmission Cooler lines $275
TR001 - Transmission Solenoid Pack $746
MA23 - Front Differential Fluid - $128
MA24 - Rear Differential Fluid - $128
MA25 - Transfer Case Fluid - $105
Total - about $1,700
That dealer is now a Hundyi (sp) dealer - saw it on the way to the new mechnanic.
The new diagnosis is that 3rd gear was slipping, causing the computer to drop into second gear.
I'll let you know how the Jasper trans works at $3,000.
- Jim
Thought I'd get a head start on my next problem.
I'm going to need to replace the rear rotors on my '06 4.7L 4WD Commander with about 85K miles. I've already replaced the rear pads at every 40K miles (drivers inboard pad was just about worn to the metal, but the outboard pad still had about 25K left on it). The front pads were replaced at about 75K with another 5-10K to go.
My problem is the rear-rotor is completely frozen to the hub. It also has a parking brake drum in the middle of the rotor (who designed this????). Couldn't remove this in the Autozone parking lot, even after this gorgeous woman (Stephanie) with a Jeep happend by and showed me how to remove the oval seal on the inboard side of the drum and use a screwdriver/stardriver to release the parking shoes (haven't worked on brake drums in years). Anyway, the rotor was still frozen. I've tried the back of a large one-bladed axe and an acetylene torch, but couldn't free the rotor.
I've been looking for large 3 or 4 claw pullers, but can't find any that looks suitable for under $250. Might try and make something with a few large C-Clamps and some steel bars as a last resort.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to get this rotor/parking drum off?
Thanks,
Jim
P.S. I love my Jeep but here are my past problems:
Roof Rack installed with blades backwards from dealer - very loud noise at 60+ mph. Easy Fix, turn the roof rack blades around.
Headlights blind drivers, cause them to high-beam me. Factory problem. Used a star driver to lower the low-beams to below the level of the car trunk in front of me. Easy Fix.
Trans slips in third, drop-shifts into second when it should up-shift into 4th, violent deceleration, trans needs replacement. $3000 (Jasper Remanufactured), plus $1,700 Dealership mis-diagnosis and unnecessary repairs.
Rear Rotor/Drum frozen on hub.
I'm on my third Commander. My 2006 did not have water problems, but my wife's '07 did. I turned the '06 in when the lease expired, and purchased a used '07 with 20+k miles. The problem now with both the '07s is that after a heavy rain, the water pools/collects in the door wells and splashes out when you open the door. No consistent pattern. With my wife's car, it is the driver side front door. With mine, it is the passenger side front door. Dealer keeps talking about drains getting plugged, but can't seek to fix it.
Thoughts - similar problems?
I would appreciate any insight. I love the cars, but if I wanted a footwash, I would probably seek a different method.
Sameye
All the best,
Debbie-
Would this be the one? http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.efdb98e/259
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Best,
Like almost one year ago when we were returning from Door County and stopped in Sheboygan to get gas - we turned the car off and it would not even turn over - had to have it flatbedded to Libertyville! That was electrical and was then fixed.
Now...for the past month have reencountered similar issues. At a home depot came out to the car and it wouldn't turn over - would not start - dashboard lights came on - radio - on but the car wouldn't turn over - a slight clicking sound was heard. Let it sit while steaming calling my husband to contact my dealership to pick the ..car up and about 25 minutes later while sitting there - low and behold the darn thing turned on. Immediately drove it to our driveway and was picked up to return to our office - not trusting it. The following day went out and the thing turned on like normal.
This past weekend - while in Wheaton went to leave from a relatives home and the car would not - again - start up and/or even turn over - nothing - again dash board lights on - radio on - but nothing and this time no clicking noise to be heard. About 2.5 hours later - trying same again - the darn thing started back up - my husband and I immediately high-tailed it home and parked the car in the driveway. Sunday came (yesterday) and we tried the car and again it started right up like nothing ever happened!!!
Bottom line - once bitten by a dog I guess...but the mobile is being brought in to the dealership and we do not want it back until which time as someone has determined what the heck is occurring!
Anyone else go through this one - this commander is an '07 with only 19,500 miles on it, what a piece of work!!!
Follow up to Phone Call This Afternoon:
I've already spoken with: 1. a friend who the same dealer's sales people acknowledge was set to buy another car from the them in cash (a sebring convertible), and 2. financial analysts following the current state of the auto-industry and Chrysler in particular, i.e., in addition to reviewing the following within your customer service department, I'd also cc your investor relations department.
The Situation:
I purchased slightly used car (Jeep Commander) from the Jeep Dealer in Westport, CT in October 2008. It was working well enough - with exception of radio light flashing - until the day after I picked it up from an oil change service. The service was last Thursday, July 23. The problems started Friday, July 24.
The day after I picked car up from the oil service the starter apparently failed. While stranded with a car that wouldn't start, The dealer told me to call Road Side Emergency Assistance and while The Service Department couldn't give me that number themselves, I had the Emergency Road Side Service Cards that the same dealership had given to me when I purchased the car. They gave me these cards when they gave me the keys.
Only when I phoned The Emergency Road Side Service they told me that the cards were no good because they expired one month before I purchcased the car!!!
So, another local resident who is waiting with me at the local Starbucks where about 7 people have gathered wondering what could be wrong with this Jeep that looks so new especially after I told them that it only had 30k miles on it, calls a tow truck and I pay for tow on my own ($90).
Then back at The Dealership, they have me waiting for hours while they try to locate the paperwork for my car. What they discover is that the salesman who left a month or so after I purchased the car never entered my paperwork; the result: i am not in the system. They explained to me that I needed to understand that as far as they knew on the day that I purchased the car, they thought were being shut down the following month, so things were sort of crazy, some paperwork didn't get entered, etc.
So, while they believe I didn't steal the car off of The Lot, they aren't sure that the starter is covered under the warranty. I remind them that at time of sale I was told that (and my brother who covers the auto industry from a financial markets perspective was told that) The Warranty they were giving me on the used car covered everything except the tires and windshield wipers in addition to the power train warranty of (8) years/(80)k miles. However, what they insisted on when the starter needed replacing, was that i had the warranty that required i provide a $100 deductible.
So, i give them the $100 + 6% tax, as well as having paid for the tow of $90. Only now they are telling me that they can't find any indication in the paperwork -again, never entered into the computer system as is their regular practice - that indicates that I have any warranty at all!!!
And that is not acceptable.
As I told them 1. I would not be so dumb as to buy a used car without an extended warranty; 2. they should not be so dumb as to sell one without one; 3. they gave me cards for road side service that expired one month before i purchased the car; 4. they should be ashamed of themselves and apologizng to me for selling me a car with a bad starter, I should not be working so hard to get it covered by a warranty; 5. i could accept the starter not being covered under a particular warranty but i will not accept no warranty at all on a used car that has under 36k miles on it; 6. the car is going in for a $1500-1600 30k mile servicing - none of which is covered - during the last week of August, but if I don't have a warranty on anything I'm certainly not having it serviced at a jeep dealership, and 7. the friend who met me at The Dealership and who gave me a ride there while The Jeep was being towed was about to pay cash for a new sebring there but because i'm receiving this sort of treatment he's holding back on doing so. Regarding this friend, his family and he have always purchased - in cash - thier trucks and now their sebring convertibles from this dealership, but seeing the difficulty that i'm enduring he's holding back; the dealerships salespeople can attest to this.
Short of Long: I expect the warranty on this car that i was told i had on it, i.e., the comprehensive 6 year/60k in addition to the 8 year/80k power train warranty. I also expect - if they want me to do business with them that is not covered - a discount on my 30k servicing to compensate me for all of this inconvenience.
I paid a very large price for this car and I purchased within a dealership - which costs more than not doing so - because of the warrantys! So please contact me and let me know what next steps to take.
Sorry for all you have been enduring - that is maddening to say the least! Yes, we both should have gotten a BMW - for me it would have been my second - had one back in the day and am considering it again perhaps next year.
Best,
Debbie-
BTW, this on the heels of 3 trips to service last week to diagnose why car is sticking in fourth gear. Love this vehicle (Limited, 5.7 Hemi), but considering going down replacement road, hopefully w/o invoking Lemon Law...
Thanks again!
11/3/08
search under Rumsey, Joann
The newspapers describe it all and pictures speak a thousand words.
This 2007 Jeep Commander crashed by stallling at a high speed claiming the lives of a young woman 40 years old and her 2 children who were 4 yrs old and 18 months old.
Please search and review this incident before selecting to put your family in a brand new Jeep Vehicle. A 5 star crash rating will not do much good if the vehicle stalls at a high speed and the driver is unable to control such vehicle.
Please, if you have a family review this before purchasing a Jeep Product
The whistling windshield though I didn't know that it was a common problem. Mine didn't start until I had the windshield replaced from a stone chip. I had SafeLite AutoGlass out to replace the windshield 4 times - thinking it was their faulty work. It's now fixed and I haven't had a problem since.
The water in the dash I was told was from a clogged drain in the sun roof. But I had sooooo much water it actually shorted out the speakers. Got that fixed.
Now the new prob... Had some crackling in the speakers and then no audio at all. Took it to the dealer and was told it needed an update. After nearly 2 hours of labor they tell me its not an update that the Amplifier was "burnt" and so were the feed wires. Everything was blackened. and it was going to cost 700 plus to fix it.
Well I bought the extended 100k warranty and was then told that I didn't buy a Chrysler warranty from the original Jeep Dealer but some after market crap and the "new" dealer wasn't going to honor it. After hours of going back and forth the dealer agreed to honor the warranty but then had the audacity to tell me they went over the allocated amount of claimable warranty hours and that I was expected to pay this. I wound up NOT paying it but good grief this has been agrevating.
I'm thinking at this point that the amplifier went due to the previous water issue but no one will tell me. I'm somewhat mechanically inclined and know that to have this arching problem there's something seriously wrong somewhere with the electrical in general or that there is water. And I'm now very concerned since I have this 3rd party warranty instead of a real Jeep Warranty.
Any thoughts from the peanut gallery.
Now separately and recently all the advisory lights for service 4wd kept popping on -brought it in they replaced the brake switch (seemed odd to us a brake switch) but anyway two weeks later the same thing happened again and they had me bring it back in overnight and again replaced the brake switch!!
Hope that helps - good luck!
I wish Edmunds.com (or anyone) could post a list of reputable mechanics on a state by state by city basis. Then it wouldn't hurt so much when we hand over $700 plus for car problems because we would know that the job was done right.
Click on the Local Services tab above. Other members are writing reviews of mechanics.
Car Talk has a similar deal.
if i then pull over and shut off engine, then start again, it seems to "reset" itself. i press on the gas, and i accelerate like nothing was wrong. i can then use the auto stick to shift up / down as i please. this problem started a few weeks ago and didnt happen for a week. then it started again a few days ago, and seems to happen once/day. if i shut engine off, then on, its fine until next time i turn off again.
Please Help troubleshoot!
thanks,
JT
Anyone seem to have these starter troubles at all? not sure if its worth getting it refurbished instead of paying for a new one now
-JeepComm
I'm not sure if this applies to your question but yes I had starter problems among other things. My Jeep would only start intermittently. While my car was under warranty (3yrs/30,000), the dealer never, ever found a thing wrong during maintenance and the issues I brought up were not resolved After the warranty expired, the dealer seemed to think I needed a whole car makeover. After all my rumblings on this board about not taking my Jeep to the dealer for service because I didn't trust them. The first day that the car started I took it to the dealer. Their total estimate was $3000.00 (without labor). I needed a new starter. I had a leak in the transmission, I needed rear pads and rotors. I needed throttle body service, PCV, a windshield washer pump and I needed a new power steering pump. I declined all service. I took it to a trusted mechanic, purchased the parts myself and the final bill for a new starter, windshield washer pump, a new power steering pump, pads and rotors was about $500 and $200 labor. My car starts fine. I don't have any leaks and the brakes actually stop the car now. (LOL).
Do I think that this is the end of my troubles with this vehicle. No. After all, Chrylsler seems to be making an awful lot of vehicles that fall apart within the first 3 years. The replacement parts probably aren't much better. This whole Commander experience has been so disappointing because I have had 4 other Jeeps that were worry free. I just expected the same level of excellence with the Commander. My bad.
called chrysler today and crystal said that - i told her gas cap had been loose and i filled with ultra premium but light was still on - she explained that several typical driving cycles' (as manual indicates are required before light will go off if it is just a loose gas cap) would = about 50miles and that if light remains on after 50 miles, bring it to service center.
the light is on but not blinking (manual says blinking light suggests need for immediate servicing)
other than the light, the commander is driving well enough. since purchasing used at a local Westport-Norwalk Jeep Dealer (who failed to file warranty papers at time of purchase thus leaving me without a warranty) i have put another $6k into the car, bad brakes, bad tires, new starter, leaking fuel, transmission and power steering lines, etc., i .e., i am hoping that the loose gas cap really could have brought on this light and that 50 miles of driving will cure it.
any insights/experience with this?
I've had the gas cap issue a couple of times lately. Check engine light goes on and auto start will not work for a few cycles, then it re-sets and works fine. Best/worst car I've ever owned. Definitely going to get a third party extended warranty as factory coverage comes to a close in 10k miles. Good luck!
Does your Commander also jerk around 40-50mph climbing hills?
Thanks