Lurching/stalling in 1st and reverse?

[Spidey]

Had some strange issues start today on the way to work, didn't really seem to start until I came up to my 3rd or 4th stoplight, but happens every time now. Coming up to a stop, when the transmission finally downshifts into 1st, it seems to want to stall and is kind of 'jumpy' when accelerating in first as well. While sitting still, in gear and holding the brake, it is acting like it wants to stall, the RPMs moving from 400-700 up and down. The faster I come to a stop, the more likely it seems to want to stall(or try to). Also upon arriving at work(~30min drive), I go to back into my spot, and upon putting it in reverse it lurches and stalls out, did this 2-3 times.
Prior to leaving work I checked the fluid(cold) and it appears fine in color and level, and does not smell abnormal. I turn off O/D and hold the brake and put it into D, seems fine, no bucking or lurching. I stop at a gas station and upon leaving, put it into R and it lurches and stalls 3 times while I hold the brake and place it in reverse. I finally had to put it in reverse without keeping my foot on the brake and when I felt the gear catch give it gas to move before it could stall, but once it was moving it seemed fine.
I haven't heard any noises, and it appears to be acting normal otherwise aside from shifting a little early I think. Any ideas?

 

[Spidey]

Just want to add that while in first, after being at a stop, it only tries to stall while holding the brake, otherwise it'll creep forward with no lurching, etc.

 

[kj924]

Vacuum leak at the brake booster?

 

[Spidey]

You know, I have thought that I've had a vac leak for a while now just because the Jeep would stumble sometimes, and my brakes have felt a bit weak lately. Is there a good way to test for them or just inspect everything?

The only thing that makes me think it is more transmission related is the noticeable lurch when it downshifts into 1st coming up to a stop(although it has always done this), it's not like it throws you forward but is noticeable. Hmm...

 

[Simpleman]

Sounds like transmission problems to me. Hope the best to ya on this one. I would take it in and have the stealership put it on the machine. Mine did not throw any codes when the ****** went and it was all of the sudden.

 

[kj924]

How does it act when sitting there in Park and foot off the brake?

Spray any possible vacuum sites with say...WD40 while the engine is idling...this should pick up the revs if there is a crack in the hoses or leaks on fittings/booster canister.

 

[Spidey]

Yeah, no codes yet. I do plan to take it in if it keeps up, I'm hoping it is simple but it is up in the air at this point. Knowing my luck, it is never something simple.

It acts perfectly fine in park and neutral, brake pressed or not, it even seems fine at times in drive and sitting still with my foot on the brake. Reverse is when it seems to be the worst, I'm going to crank it up here soon and play with it in the driveway. Will test the WD40 trick as well, thanks!

 

[Spidey]

Slipping a bit at random today, blah! Definitely the transmission. Fortunately I have a friend at a junkyard that has a few '02s up there, one with 40k miles supposedly, $250 for the ******. I do all of my own work normally but not sure if this is something I really feel like tackling, even though I am capable. We'll see though.

 

[Spidey]

Appears this was a very common problem for the CRDs and TSBs were issued way back when it was all happening, although this was happening for them within a short period of time after being purchased new. I found several threads on different boards about stalling when coming to stop lights, bucking/shuddering, a 'jerk' when coming to a stop and shifting into first, etc. I'm going to take it in for a transmission flush and filter change and reflash/relearn and hope that, as one of the threads mentioned, changing the filters will fix a potential internal leak. I'm just baffled why it hasn't thrown a code already, if this is something that a sensor should potentially detect.

 

[Spidey]

Well I went a different route, I picked up a used trans(40k) and reman'd torque converter and spent the past 2 days(probably about 15 hours with breaks and taking my time) swapping. What a pain in the ass, though I don't think it'd be as bad if I had to do it again. Just finished a few hours ago and my Liberty is back in business now(and also going to be for sale)

 

[valvestem]

I just caught this post. I was going to say that shuddering and stalling on coming to a stop is a sure sign that the "kickdown" solenoid is going bad in the trans. It won't let the trans shift the gears down cauing the stalling and shuddering. Sort of like coming to a stop in a vehicle with a standard trans in gear without pushing in the clutch pedal.

 

[Spidey]

Hmm, well whatever the case, it's taken care of now. The thing that makes me think it was not that solenoid is that I could feel the trans downshift each gear and everything. I'm almost certain it was the torque converter going out, for whatever reason, and not unlocking. If when I first started driving I turned O/D off, it would never do the lurching/stalling at a stop.

 

[valvestem]

Hmm, well whatever the case, it's taken care of now. The thing that makes me think it was not that solenoid is that I could feel the trans downshift each gear and everything. I'm almost certain it was the torque converter going out, for whatever reason, and not unlocking. If when I first started driving I turned O/D off, it would never do the lurching/stalling at a stop.

You are probably right given all the other symptoms. I re-read through all the previous posts about the issue, and agree replacement was the best way to go. You got a good price on the trans too. And the labor was cheap.

 

[incommando]

Classic symptoms of the convertor staying locked. Glad it is fixed.

 

[Spidey]

Thanks fellas, and yes the labor was cheap, just had to buy a transmission jack! And well, I'm still a bit sore from the whole ordeal but at least my wallet isn't