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I just had my '88 restored with a reman engine, new clutch, etc. This Jeep sat in my garage from 2000 until now. My mechanic can't get it to engage any gear and is worried about the transmission. Unfortunatly he's not a transmission repair guy and it's off to another shop. Any thoughts?
Thanks
There's also an outside chance that clutch hydraulics may have leaked, but that can easily be seen and felt.
First, it's really not a good idea to post your email address in a public forum.
Second, the idea here is for everyone to be able to benefit from the questions and answers. Taking it to email makes that a little difficult.
Third, it's a known issue. I'd guess that the reason it doesn't jump out with your 400lb boss driving, or with a bunch of passengers, is that the gears are being held in mesh due to the heavy load on them.
The fact that it will also stay in gear when the transmission is warmed up, and therefore when the lubricant is thinner and less viscous, indicates that changing to a synthetic oil might provide some temporary relief, though it won't be a permanent fix.
So, either negotiate a reduction in price to allow for the transmission to be fixed, or an increase in wages to achieve the same, or plan to put on several hundred pounds over the holiday.
The mechanic had replaced the flywheel and installed a new clutch. It was a real headscratcher. I took it to the transmission shop and they said nope...but they were able to get it out of neutral and through all of the gears. But when it warmed up then another crazy noise was heard in the front part of the engine. It was a pretty bad knocking that sounded a lot like ignition pre-fire but wasn't. I had it towed to the eingine shop, the place that sold the motor to the shade tree mechanic that installed it and everything else. As it turned out the shade tree guy didn't compress the harmonic balancer enough, he used the wrong bolts somehere arounfd the timing chain and the belts to pully to alternator wasn'rt aligned properly. My new shop said they couldn't believe how loose stuff was. Anyway got it back running after 9 years.
Thanks!
Purchased a 2004 Wrangler Sahara, 4.0, 5 speed, in April this year, 24,000 miles. Carfaxed it and it was clean. Car dealer replaced the ring & pinion for me. My question is what causes the transmission noise (?) when the clutch is released? When the clutch is depressed it stops. How to describe it? Grinding may be too harsh. Vibratiing? Chattering? The mechanic at the used car dealer claims it's the meshing of the gears. The service manager at the local Jeep dealership said the same thing. He even said the "new ones do it". Is this something to worry about? Is this American quality? Or is it "just a Jeep"? Thanks for anyone's input.
nomad443
Any ideas? Thanks.
You need more than new a new yoke and 'U' bolts, The straps are breaking because they're being overloaded. If the 'U' bolts are strong enoughto remain intact then the 'U' joint will be the next to break.
Go HERE for a good explanation of your problem and how to fix it.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
-Paul
Have I burned the gear up or is there a possibility it's something else?
Whatever happened, it can't be fixed without removing and dismantling the transmission.
If there's no additional noise from the transmission the cost of parts will likely be minimal, but the labor cost will be the same whatever the cause.
However, it's possible that it's a clutch problem, with the clutch not disengaging.
Will it go into any gear with the engine off?
Tried what you suggested. It will go into any gear with the engine OFF. If it is just the gears meshing, it's just disconcerting that a vehicle with 27,000 miles (now) would seem to be such poor quality and makes all this vibration noise. Gee, having grown up in the muscle car era and having owned 3 GTOs, a 455 T/A, and a '64 Corvette, none of these cars ever had this problem.
Thanks again for your help.
nomad443
Hi nomad443,
I was actually replying to post #124 by hank25. Looking at your original post #115, it sounds like the classic symptom of a bad transmission bearing, probably the one on the input shaft.
When the clutch pedal is depressed the input shaft is disconnected from the engine and stops turning. However, whether it's the bearing or the gear itself, the transmission has to come out to examine and replace it.
Two points, if 'they all do that' challenge the service manager to demonstrate it to you on a new Wrangler; and I'd question how gentle the first 24K miles were if one of the axles required a new r&p.
Thanks for your input. I'm going to visit our 2 reputable 4-wheel shops in my area and run your diagnosis past them before I visit the Jeep dealer service manager who gave me the gear-meshing bull. You sound pretty much like you know what you're talking about, so what is your experience with Jeeps, if you don't mind telling me? I'll probably refer to you in my discussions. Don't really need your name. Probably mentioning Edmunds will suffice. Thanks again for your help. Sounds like I might need to put out some serious bucks.
nomad443
The synchronizer rings, or synchros as they are often called, grab the spinning gears and allow then to match speeds so that they can mesh smoothly as you change from one gear to another.
The syncros have no effect when the gears are stationary, so whether they're good or bad it'll make no difference to gear selection with the engine off.
It's also highly unlikely that the syncros would fail on all the gears at the same time.
Your transmission should be an AX5. If you can get another one that's in good condition, great. If you get one that's worn though, you're back to square one.
Once you've established whether the noise is excessive or not you can go on to fixing it. There is an outside chance that it's the release bearing, which will require transmission removal to replace it, but not the stripping of the transmission itself.
However, the normal problem with the release bearing is the other way around, noisy under load and quiet when released. It does happen backwards sometimes though.
However, the most logical diagnosis is that it's an internal transmission issue, either a gear, shaft, or bearing (or possibly even a lack of lubrication). While idling in neutral a limited number of parts are rotating, with the clutch pedal depressed none of them are rotating, so the noise stops.
This isn't specifically a Wrangler problem though, it can happen with any manual transmission on any make or model. The fact that you have this issue, coupled with the need for a replacement ring and pinion in one of the axles, suggests that your Jeep may have previously led a hard life.
My C.V. is immaterial really, I never claim to have the definitive answer to anything, and any advice you get here is only worth what you paid for it. However, if what I've said makes logical sense to you, then it gives you an understanding of the problem that you can comfortably discuss.
Sorry. I'm not a motor-head by any stretch of the imagination. Just a casual driver who has a a Jeep for summer cruising and a spare 4-wheel drive for the Winters in PA. Sorry I can't help you out.
nomad443
Thanks for your response. One 4-wheel drive shop diagnosed my problem as a needle bearing. As of now I'm in the process of replacing the tranny thru another 4-wheel shop in our area. Funny your response should come today. Got a call from the shop today and when they put the new one (supposedly brand new NV3550) and ran it the noise stopped but it popped out of 1st gear more than once. They called and are having another sent. It's coming from Blumenthals (?) in the mid-west. Supposedly a reputable shop they've dealt with for years. So I guess we'll find out. Thanks again for your input.
nomad443
You reference the vehicle shifting at different speeds and rpm, but you also mention a pedal feeling stiff.
Bottom line, it's under warranty so take back to the dealer to fix.
I completely sympathize with you. It drives me nuts! I took my 2004 Sahara (28000 miles) to 2 local 4-wheel shops. One said he thought it was a needle bearing and would only increase in noise level but would not be a major problem. Had the tranny (NV3500) replaced at the 2nd shop, plus the throwout bearing. Seemed tight for about, oh, 2 weeks. Shifts fine, but noisy at shutoff. I think it's a Jeep tranny thing. One replaced is guaranteed for a year, so we'll see what happens.
Please excuse the fact that I'm not a motor-head by any stretch of the imagination. Just have a Wrangler for summer rides and extra 4-wheeler for winters here in PA. Hope somebody has better info for you.
nomad443
My question is; is/was this a problem that led to a service bulletin fix such as software corrections. My Jeep has only 11,000 miles and is still under warranty and there is no sign of problems with the fluid. I am reluctant to have transmission pulled because of this intermitant problem which I can live with. Thanks
Fast forward to a couple days ago, I notice that I'm super sluggish when accelerating from a stop, like there is absolutely no torque. Once it catches second its fine, and it's fine at cruising speeds.
I don't know if the sound is connected to the issue or not; Lord knows with the luck I've had lately, the whole bottom is probably about ready to fall out of it. I'm just hoping I don't need a new transmission. Any ideas?
nomad443
Perhaps a fluid change with some good fluid would help.
-Paul
I have an 04 Wrangler. it is not very good on the highway as it continues to shift in and out of 4th gear. I have the 4.0 engine and the tires are not very big 31 x 10.5 x 15. the mileage on the jeep is 61K. Compression is good in all the cylinders. But going up average hills on the interstates (Alabama) it will shift down into 3rd at 60 mph. Is there an auto 5 speed that will rectify this or what is the next step/move?
thanks
rc
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
There are many other places besides the pan joint that it can appear from.
They both told me that my year(s) and model jeep are notorious for tranny noise and not to worry too much about it. Back in 1991 I owned a brand new GMC with a 5-speed standard tranny with almost identical sound problems...the GMC mechanic told me this: It's an aluminum transmission box that resonates sound more than cast iron, the gears have much closer tolerances than the old transmissions and because needle bearings are used, automatic transmission fluid takes the place of 80-90 all purpose. Thus more noise will be heard. He cured the problem by draining a pint of auto trans fluid and added some "Morley's" stabilizer.
Has anyone heard of doing this with the Jeep transmission or adding a Lucas or some other brand stabilizer?