'05 Liberty Transmission Trouble

[starranken]

Hi guys, about a month and a half ago I was driving along the highway at roughly 60-70 mph, and I felt a clunk, and my '05 3.7L liberty started to decelerate for a split second before returning to normal. I didn't think much of it, and when I got to my destination, I put it into park and forgot about it.

A couple hours later, I turn over the engine and it starts fine, however when I go to shift into drive, I can feel the shifter move except the car doesn't move as if it remains in park. The parking brake is disengaged, its in 2 wheel drive, and I can rev the engine with no issues. The only way I can get my glorious liberty to move is by shifting the transfer case into neutral, where it can roll on its own.

After towing it to 2 mechanics, both said that the issue is the transmission and that the whole thing either has to be rebuilt or replaced, and after scanning for codes they received the following:
P0218 - High temp operation activated
P0700 - Transmission controller fault
P0720 - Output speed sensor Error
P0740 - TCC Control circuit error

I have a replacement 42rle transmission if we do need to replace it, and earlier today when draining the transmission fluid it was completely clean as if it was brand new. After speaking to a couple friends they suggest that a transmission fluid and filter replacement might help the issue, however I would like to get some input as to what I can do with the code information and my symptoms. I would like to avoid replacing the entire transmission if possible, as for some reason Chrysler decided that this specific model should have the worst process to remove a transmission, but I'm prepared if I must.

Please let me know if anyone has any input on my beautiful jeep as I would hate to lose her.

 

[Siesta]

Hi guys, about a month and a half ago I was driving along the highway at roughly 60-70 mph, and I felt a clunk, and my '05 3.7L liberty started to decelerate for a split second before returning to normal. I didn't think much of it, and when I got to my destination, I put it into park and forgot about it.

A couple hours later, I turn over the engine and it starts fine, however when I go to shift into drive, I can feel the shifter move except the car doesn't move as if it remains in park. The parking brake is disengaged, its in 2 wheel drive, and I can rev the engine with no issues. The only way I can get my glorious liberty to move is by shifting the transfer case into neutral, where it can roll on its own.

After towing it to 2 mechanics, both said that the issue is the transmission and that the whole thing either has to be rebuilt or replaced, and after scanning for codes they received the following:
P0218 - High temp operation activated
P0700 - Transmission controller fault
P0720 - Output speed sensor Error
P0740 - TCC Control circuit error

I have a replacement 42rle transmission if we do need to replace it, and earlier today when draining the transmission fluid it was completely clean as if it was brand new. After speaking to a couple friends they suggest that a transmission fluid and filter replacement might help the issue, however I would like to get some input as to what I can do with the code information and my symptoms. I would like to avoid replacing the entire transmission if possible, as for some reason Chrysler decided that this specific model should have the worst process to remove a transmission, but I'm prepared if I must.

Please let me know if anyone has any input on my beautiful jeep as I would hate to lose her.

Not sure this is helpful, but my experience with the transmission has been terrible. For many years I drove my early '03 Liberty with a 45 RFE, which is a very robust 'truck' transmission. Then, unbeknownst to me, in late '03 they switched over to the minivan transmission originally used in front-wheel drives. This apparently saved them a ton of money - to our detriment...thanks for nothing! The '42' is weak, has a big gearing gap between 3rd and 4th so the vehicle 'hunts' gears on some inclines, and reverse is geared too tall. My current '07' with the '42' wouldn't hold its position on any type of hill around town when stopped at a light, and its only a little better now that I had to do a complete rebuild at just over 100,000 miles ($5grand, thanks again Jeep). For a couple years I was driving both vehicles, and what a treat it was to drive the '03! So much better geared, no 'whine' (meaning you're always aware of the '42' though I'd rather not be). I think the shops aren't into sourcing out individual issues with these, and knowing they are crap, just recommend the full rebuild kit which probably saves them time, and probably you, money. What they said to me was ..well, the torque converter talks to this, that talks to this, etc etc. When the industry went to all-electronic workings, it wasn't making our vehicles any better in my opinion. I drove the original Cherokee for over 10 years with not a scrap of transmission problems. In fact, I've been driving over 50 years and the only transmission failure I've had was the '42'. If the '42' goes out again, it'll be a tow to the nearest crusher.

 

[24turbo]

Based on what you experienced I would guess something physical failed in the transmission while you were driving (as opposed to an electronic component). There is a snap ring that commonly breaks so that may be your culprit. That would allow a clutch that isn’t supposed to be applied to apply and may now be “ welded” due to the heat due to your continued driving causing your no movement now. Drop the pan and see what is there.

Probably best to just change your transmission if you have a spare but be advised somewhere around 05 they changed the transmission to variable line pressure which is not interchangeable with non VLP models. And yes the 42 RLE is not a great transmission I rebuild mine a couple years ago and parts are rare and expensive

 

[starranken]

Based on what you experienced I would guess something physical failed in the transmission while you were driving (as opposed to an electronic component). There is a snap ring that commonly breaks so that may be your culprit. That would allow a clutch that isn’t supposed to be applied to apply and may now be “ welded” due to the heat due to your continued driving causing your no movement now. Drop the pan and see what is there.

Probably best to just change your transmission if you have a spare but be advised somewhere around 05 they changed the transmission to variable line pressure which is not interchangeable with non VLP models. And yes the 42 RLE is not a great transmission I rebuild mine a couple years ago and parts are rare and expensive

Alright thank you, I'm going to drop the pan tomorrow and drain out the rest of the fluid and do a fluid and filter change to see how it works after that, but we do have a replacement 42 that we can swap in, however reading the previous guy we might either scrap it or try to find a 45rfe.

 

[24turbo]

A 45RFE isn’t a drop in replacement. The PCM is different as with the wiring. Also driveshaft lengths…


Changing a transmission with the same isn’t that complicated