Transmission Issues?

[slingworks]

I have an old Jeep Liberty, a 2005 RHD that I used as a mail vehicle in the past.

It was having some transmission issues when I parked it. If I remember right, it suddenly didn't want to shift past 1st, then if it did was a real weak shift that took multiple tries. I changed the shift pack with a new one, and then it wouldn't work at all. Only the faintest buzz when it shifted into reverse. (the pack usually made a pretty loud buzz). The original pack also became a pretty weak buzz when it stopped working right.

Now won't do anything and of course wont move in any direction.....

What's the thoughts? I don't think it's actually the transmission or the shift pack. Rather I'm wondering if the TCM could be faulty? I have a spare regular LHD Liberty that's also a 2005, same motor/trans. Can i simply swap the TCM and give it a try?

What else could cause this issue? Anything Im overlooking? Fluid level is good, filter good. Wiring appears to be good, but maybe hard to tell at the same time.

 

[slingworks]

Ok, a bit of updated info:

I'm starting to believe that the electronics maybe just fine.

We jacked up the back axle to get the wheels off the ground and I shifted it from N to R/D dozens of times and then played with the 4x4 selector. I was able to feel a bit of gear jump here and there. After a few dozen tries I was able to get the rear wheel to spin slowly if there was no load on it.

This jeep had a trans that was fully rebuilt and installed right before I received it. (Unfortunately a SC rebuild).

it always had an odd whine to it for the 2 years I used it. Now the "whine" is gone. I can hear a very faint "wooosh" sound of fluid flowing when I shift it in and out of drive, maybe being pumped to the cooler, can't really tell.

I'm starting to think the torque converter has completely failed. Any thoughts?

 

[KJowner]

Sounds like time to get oily!

 

[xrey]

I have an old Jeep Liberty, a 2005 RHD that I used as a mail vehicle in the past.

It was having some transmission issues when I parked it. If I remember right, it suddenly didn't want to shift past 1st, then if it did was a real weak shift that took multiple tries. I changed the shift pack with a new one, and then it wouldn't work at all. Only the faintest buzz when it shifted into reverse. (the pack usually made a pretty loud buzz). The original pack also became a pretty weak buzz when it stopped working right.

Now won't do anything and of course wont move in any direction.....

What's the thoughts? I don't think it's actually the transmission or the shift pack. Rather I'm wondering if the TCM could be faulty? I have a spare regular LHD Liberty that's also a 2005, same motor/trans. Can i simply swap the TCM and give it a try?

What else could cause this issue? Anything Im overlooking? Fluid level is good, filter good. Wiring appears to be good, but maybe hard to tell at the same time.

I have the same issue with my 06’. I think it’s the ****** solenoid.

 

[slingworks]

I have the same issue with my 06’. I think it’s the ****** solenoid.

Hey Xrey thanks for the reply. What solenoid is that?

When it bit the dust a while back I changed the solenoid pack with a new one and didn't improve any. As it sits I can sort of get the rear wheels to spin a rotation or 2 in drive, but that's it...

Planning to take the trans out tuesday.

 

[blackhawk]

You can test the torque converter, if you put D, apply brakes , accelerate at fullest and you don't see any strong reaction of the vehicle moving forward.....

You can also scan the kj and see if the pcm/tcm is recognizing the gear selected; p,r,n,d etc if so, the tcc is in good shape

 

[slingworks]

You can rest the torque converter, if you put D, apply brakes , accelerate at fullest and you don't see any strong reaction of the vehicle moving forward.....

You can also scan the kj and see if the pcm/tcm is recognizing the gear selected; p,r,n,d etc if so, the tcc is in good shape

Hi Blackhawk. it doesn't do anything when shifting into any gear. I was able to get it to make a slow rotation of the rear wheels by manipulating the transfer case in and out of neutral while it was in drive. I did this in the air.

Does this trans require connection to the TCM to work in any gear?

 

[blackhawk]

Hi Blackhawk. it doesn't do anything when shifting into any gear. I was able to get it to make a slow rotation of the rear wheels by manipulating the transfer case in and out of neutral while it was in drive. I did this in the air.

Does this trans require connection to the TCM to work in any gear?

As far as I know, yes. Can you hear the common sound of the package when you apply any gear?

 

[blackhawk]

It would be good to know the codes you have

 

[slingworks]

As far as I know, yes. Can you hear the common sound of the package when you apply any gear?

Are you referring to the solenoid pack? I can sort of hear the faintest hum shifting into drive. Nowhere nearly as strong as the usual was. I don't know if the weak buzz is something electrical or if the possible lack of hydraulic pressure is the cause of it?

 

[blackhawk]

Ya, I meant the solenoid pack.
You can also test the torque converter by disconnecting the cooler pipe (sorry my English is not good), if you get a lot of pressure coming out of this pipe, the torque converter is good. I'm pretty sure that the mayor problem is the torque converter as you don't have any movement from transmission.

 

[slingworks]

Well I finally got around to replacing the transmission in my Liberty.
Surprisingly, the results are the same. Wont go in any gear. Fluid level is good.
I used a known good used transmission from another 2005 and it's matched torque converter. (Was my wife's car before she bought a new Cherokee).

I'm really at a loss....??

Before I installed the new trans I used a new filter kit that I had. (Probably the same kit I used on the other trans).
I noticed that these filters are made in China and seem to be not very snug in fit. (I think I had purchased a few on Ebay a few years back). The Oring is hardly snug, and will fall right out if you don't hold it in place to screw it down.

Seems like most every Chrysler product I ever worked on had a trans filter that held in pretty snug.

I'm wondering at this point if I just happened to come into a bad batch of filter kits??

Do these filters need to fit tightly or am I just barking up the wrong tree?

 

[DadOSix]

Well I finally got around to replacing the transmission in my Liberty.
Surprisingly, the results are the same. Wont go in any gear. Fluid level is good.
I used a known good used transmission from another 2005 and it's matched torque converter. (Was my wife's car before she bought a new Cherokee).

I'm really at a loss....??

Before I installed the new trans I used a new filter kit that I had. (Probably the same kit I used on the other trans).
I noticed that these filters are made in China and seem to be not very snug in fit. (I think I had purchased a few on Ebay a few years back). The Oring is hardly snug, and will fall right out if you don't hold it in place to screw it down.

Seems like most every Chrysler product I ever worked on had a trans filter that held in pretty snug.

I'm wondering at this point if I just happened to come into a bad batch of filter kits??

Do these filters need to fit tightly or am I just barking up the wrong tree?

Assuming the fluid level is correct, I would be in favor of dropping the pan (yet again) and taking that filter off. Big surface area of filter svcks up fluid and is routed thru the pickup tube - maybe 1/2 inch diameter. What difference would it make with out it. The filter is on the suction side of life, so a poor fit could cause low fluid pressure.

I don;t recall if you have access to a real time scan tool, but if so, It might be worth a look at the fluid pressures. I was going to bet TC until you stated that you replaced the works as a single unit.

 

[slingworks]

Thanks for the input DadOSix.

The oring on the filter was undersized. After changing it everything worked properly.

Now what's ironic is that I stopped on the way at Napa and bought a Napa boxed filter. When I got there and took it out of the box, it's the EXACT same filter that I bought online a few years back as a generic. every mold mark/sprue and marking on the filter was identical, everything except the date in the star-wheel.....Chinese made, of course.

Anyway, I guess the Napa brand is still "Gold" because their filter worked.....And my Ebay match didn't....

In the process I think I found a problem with the "old" trans. It was a full rebuild w/PNH torque converter dated 2018. I bought it in 2019 and the original owner had a new rebuilt trans and motor installed. The trans lasted to 2021.
It always made a bit of a high pitched stripping sound from the trans that I could never put my finger on. When I dropped the "rebuilt" unit I discovered there were no dowels mating the engine and trans together, only bolts.....Lucky that I had the parts jeep to steal a couple out of. I'd imagine there was some play off axis and might have been a contributing factor.