How long does the 42RLE live for?

[lfhoward]

My Jeep just passed 238k miles and it’s time for the next transmission service. My 42RLE automatic transmission is the OG and it is still working. I have a transmission cooler, the aux mechanical fan, and it has only been up to 240° once and the fluid was promptly changed afterwards. That was nearly 10 years ago. I think the first time I changed the fluid the Jeep had 90k miles on it, and I’ve been doing roughly 60k mile intervals thereafter. I tow a 3000 lb camping trailer several times a year, using tow/haul mode. I’ll be installing a PML aluminum transmission pan with extra capacity and cooling fins on the next change.

As I contemplate changing the fluid and filter again, I was wondering… how much longer can I expect this thing to last? I have a used transmission with 80k miles on it sitting in the garage, but which I know very little about. That other Jeep was rear ended and totaled, and I picked up the transmission years ago. It had been kept out of the rain, but I don’t have any guarantees on whether it actually runs. Would you wait until your transmission starts slipping to change it out? Or change it before any problems rear their head?

I thought this would be a fun poll. Thanks in advance!

 

[lfhoward]

I knew I was feeling Déjà vu! I asked this same question four years ago. Go vote in that thread instead!

How long did your 42RLE automatic transmission last before it blew up?

This poll is to find out how long a 42RLE automatic transmission typically lasts. This is the most common Liberty transmission, a 4 speed automatic, and is usually mated to the 3.7L V6. Only vote in the poll if your 42RLE blew up and it needed to be rebuilt or replaced. Otherwise the results...

www.jeepkj.com

That way we have a larger dataset to draw conclusions.

 

[24turbo]

Mine made 200,000 miles (320 000 kms)

It wasn’t too bad internally. Caught it in time. Never towed or abused. Serviced 3x.

 

[duderz7]

180k+ no problems

 

[PNWJeeper]

I think I'm at 190k now...bought the Fun Bus when it had 186k and the transmission had the ominous torque shudder. I changed the fluid and filter, put some new shudder stop in and the shudder is much better. I jsut use OD Off when its in that 40-50mph/low rpm range and it hardly ever shudders. I suspect the previous owner put the wrong ****** fluid in it but what do I know LOL

 

[CHIPPER146]

I'm just north of 110,000 without any signs of trouble. No rust either. The Fluidfilm works great. Time for a respray after two years of protection. Nothing more than frequent oil changes has kept it going strong.

 

[lfhoward]

Just for fun I added together the numbers from this poll and the other one I linked above. 22 people reported dead 42RLE transmissions and the average mileage at death was 182k. So, if you exceeded that, congratulations! Of the 22, 4 made it past 250k and 2 made it past 300k. These numbers don’t include people whose transmissions were still alive at the time they posted, so our chances might actually be better than it seems.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Mine went at like 150k and replaced it around 160k, took a bit to actually figure out it was done. The torque converter went out.

 

[klc]

CARFAX says mine was repaired at 148k miles, four years before I bought it. There’s about 85k on the new parts.

 

[lfhoward]

CARFAX says mine was repaired at 148k miles, four years before I bought it. There’s about 85k on the new parts.

Nice! You won’t have to worry about yours going out anytime soon. Thanks for the info.

 

[klc]

Welp…
Five hundred miles from home and it throws a P700. I’m at a repair shop now waiting to find out what’s gone off.

 

[lfhoward]

Welp…
Five hundred miles from home and it throws a P700. I’m at a repair shop now waiting to find out what’s gone off.

Oh no! Was your Jeep listening to our conversation and crying out for attention? I hope it is not bad. Have you noticed any weird shifting issues or shuddering?

 

[klc]

Oh no! Was your Jeep listening to our conversation and crying out for attention? I hope it is not bad. Have you noticed any weird shifting issues or shuddering?

No issues beforehand. Shop thinks a solenoid might showing low voltage. I drove another 75 miles without anything out of the ordinary. I’m going to carry on with my trip, and take it to the transmission place when I get home.

 

[lfhoward]

No issues beforehand. Shop thinks a solenoid might showing low voltage. I drove another 75 miles without anything out of the ordinary. I’m going to carry on with my trip, and take it to the transmission place when I get home.

Best of luck on the remainder of your trip.

 

[desertdriver]

330k and still going

 

[monstermangraphic]

I'll add mine to the "still going" group.

2006 Liberty 3.7L 4WD — original 42RLE, currently at ~197,000 miles and still shifting normally.

Mine had a pretty serious event around 150k when a transmission cooler line failed on the highway and it lost a large amount of ATF. It started slipping as I got off the interstate, so I shut it down rather than trying to drive it any farther. After the repair it went another 8–9 years without any further slipping.

I just had the pan dropped at ~197k, OEM filter replaced, magnet/pan cleaned and refilled with Valvoline ATF+4. Mechanic didn't report anything concerning when he had the pan down. Transmission shifted normally before the service and is shifting normally afterward.

So put another original 42RLE down at 197k and still going.

Hopefully I'll be joining you in the 238k club eventually.