Noisy NV3550 manual after dealer clutch job

[b2kerjake]

I brought my 04 KJ manual into the local dealership for the recall replacement of the lower control arms. After that was complete, they suggested I have my clutch replaced (vehicle has 108k and the clutch pedal was getting hard to push in). I conceded thinking the dealer should be able to do the work properly. When I got the Jeep back I had a rolling, or bearing sound from the transmission tunnel in neutral. Like the typical NV3550 rolling marbles but louder.

The noise will go away when I depress the clutch pedal, but comes back when the clutch is out in neutral. Occasionally, like at a traffic light, I can push the pedal in a second time (keeping the trans in neutral) and release it again, and it will lessen the severity of the noise.
I brought the jeep back to the dealer, and they say the noise is from the rear of the transmission. I have listened with a mech-stethascope and it does seem to be true, but I think the sound could be telegraphing from the bell. Fluid level is good.

The service manager claims nothing they did possibly could have caused this noise. He said he contacted Chrysler engineering; his, and their conclusion is either the input shaft bearing, or pocket bearing is going. Could they have misaligned the disc, or screwed up the throwout bearing enough to cause this kind of noise, or put more pressure on the input shaft causing the bearings to fail?

I guess I just don’t understand how I can bring the vehicle in with no noise, and be expected to eat the line “its not related to the work we did”.

 

[tjkj2002]

Well assuming the throwout bearing was replaced that noise could have already been there but reduced due to a worn clutch and now with a new clutch there is nothing keeping the noise from being reduced.

I have run into that a few times at work.

 

[Billwill]

I know on the CRD manual and I believe on the 4 cylinder gasser manual models the flywheel must never be machined flat....it has a deliberate curve on it. Apparently this does not apply to the six cylinder gasser manual models.

Did your shop do anything to the flywheel while they were working there?

I also agree with the comments tjkj2002 has made!

 

[b2kerjake]

Thanks TJKJ and Bill. TJKJ I was hoping you would have some input because I know you are in the Biz. I can buy what you are saying, it makes some sense since they did to the throwout bearing.

They did machine the flywheel, which the FSM does say is not recommended for the 3.7L as well. I got on them about it and they told me that they do it all the time... and the FSM is just a set of guidelines to start from.

I've about had it up to here with this dealership; When I got the Jeep back from them I found the front DS CV boot was torn, wires zip tied to the cross member, and (on a hunch) drained the trans, only to find a magnet with shavings, and light sludge in the bottom. This is a few days after I payed for a drain and fill.

I've got a real lack of confidence in the work they did.

I'm really not trying to find blame with them though... I've been telling the service manager for two months; just give me a reason why it makes sense mechanically for the trans to be making noise now, but not before. Everything else just gets me heated about the whole situation.

 

[tjkj2002]

Was the correct fluid put in the trans? I know that can be a cause for manual trans noise as is being under filled.

 

[Billwill]

Thanks TJKJ and Bill. TJKJ I was hoping you would have some input because I know you are in the Biz. I can buy what you are saying, it makes some sense since they did to the throwout bearing.

They did machine the flywheel, which the FSM does say is not recommended for the 3.7L as well. I got on them about it and they told me that they do it all the time... and the FSM is just a set of guidelines to start from.

I've about had it up to here with this dealership; When I got the Jeep back from them I found the front DS CV boot was torn, wires zip tied to the cross member, and (on a hunch) drained the trans, only to find a magnet with shavings, and light sludge in the bottom. This is a few days after I payed for a drain and fill.

I've got a real lack of confidence in the work they did.

I'm really not trying to find blame with them though... I've been telling the service manager for two months; just give me a reason why it makes sense mechanically for the trans to be making noise now, but not before. Everything else just gets me heated about the whole situation.

I am not too happy with them machining the flywheel. I saw a post somewhere where a KJ owner had the flywheel machined by a Jeep dealership....without his permission.....and the result was a total disaster. He got the official TSB from Jeep headquaters regarding the machining of the flywheel and armed with that and a letter from his lawyers got the dealership to fit a new flywheel at their expense.

I cannot find the link at the moment but I think you need to look into this a bit further.:freak3: