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Need advice with possible transmission issue!

4K views 14 replies 6 participants last post by  DMB423 
#1 ·
Hi everyone,
So i have a 2010 Grand Cherokee with 83,000 Miles and i was experiencing a pretty violent vibration when i would drive on the highway. At 2000, 2500, and 3000RPMs i would feel this vibration. I took it to the dealer and they said my Transmission oil was very dirty and they suggested we flush the trans and put New oil in. They did that and it seemed to clear up the issue about 80% of the time. I am still getting a slight vibration but it is driving much better.
My concern now is, what if the trans still has a problem because i am still feeling the vibration to some degree? Does this mean my trans is starting to go bad and i will have to replace it 1 or 2 years down the road? Any suggestions on what to do or how to handle this? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

-Adam
 
#2 ·
? Transmission oil dirty? And it helped?! OK, I guess anything is possible...

Usually vibration is a suspension part worn, sometimes a driveshaft, CV joint, etc.

Never heard of a transmission doing it, that usually causes a shudder or similar... and never heard of a transmission stopping doing it by changing the fluid.
 
#3 ·
To your point lstowell, it was a shudder or what i have been reading they call it a "fish-bite". It looks like this has been an ongoing issue for about 3 or 4 years with Jeep. People have changed the trans oil, swapped out the torque converter, and updated the computer software and it has helped. Seems it maybe UNFIXABLE from what i am reading. Any one have any additional suggestions?
 
#4 ·
I don't know that transmission... are there any independent transmission specialists in your area that might be able to recommend a change out of any of the innards to a bit better ones? A performance oriented place that knows exactly what you are talking about when you describe your model and symptoms would be a good place to start. Dealers tend to be limited a bit in what they'll think of... unless Mopar has performance bits for it.

I wouldn't expect an auto that creates shudder at the level you've described to be good for either the transmission or the rest of the drive train components due to the shock from the shuddering.
 
#5 ·
Was this shudder happening during steady operation, or just after acceleration? Was the transmission fluid change overdue? Did you see the fluid when it came out?
If it happens after light acceleration on the highway, then it most probably is due to the torque converter clutch which engages. During engagement it will gradually increase the pressure on the clutch, until there is no more speed difference between torque converter input and torque converter output.
 
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#6 ·
The shudder is happening while in steady operation at certain RPMs. The trans fluid was dirty, not sure if it was overdue but even after changing that (which help it about 80%) it is still occurring just not as bad or as frequent. I did not see the fluid when it came out. Do i have the torque converter replaced?if so how much does that cost? and what if that doesn't fix it?
 
#7 ·
At steady speed (and no uphill or downhill driving),the transmission should not change gear, nor the torque converter should unlock/lock. Eventhough the shudder/vibration happened at different rpm, are you sure it is not coming from unbalanced wheels?
 
#8 ·
I just got off the phone with my Jeep dealer who originally (last week) replaced the trans fluid. They are going to be replacing the transmission. Not sure if it will be a completely new transmission or a rebuilt one. The rebuilt one would only be if one component needs to be replaced, they will not know this till they get the transmission out and completely opened up. I will post any updates on the issue.
 
#11 ·
The dealer had seen the fluid which came out of the transmission, so maybe that gave them a better idea what was going on, otherwise i would wonder if the problem is transmission related and not the torque converter. Going uphill can make the torque converter clutch to release and apply, or if the hill is steep even the transmission to downshift. I expect that they change the transmission and torque converter together, so you should be good thereafter.
 
#12 ·
I had a similar problem with a Ford Mustang auto recently, It uses the same trans fluid Ford reccomend replacing after 30k miles Cleared judder after first drive out. Jeep say oil is good for 120k miles Thats why we get no trans dipstick on a WK. When I got my WK CRD one of the first things I did was a trans filter and fluid. fluid was dirty but now clean and perfect shifts always!!
 
#13 ·
A little update....Dealership removed and tested the torque converter and it completely failed. They are going to replace the torque converter before going any further. Again still under warranty but hopefully that was the problem. Any thoughts? does this sound correct? Remember i don't have the HEMI in this GC, it is a standard laredo.
 
#14 ·
It certainly sounds like it could be the torque converter.

There is a long-standing debate as to whether it is worth just changing the torque converter without changing the transmission and vice-versa, because if one goes it is likely caused by the other and/or can contaminate the other with the debris from a failure. Many recommend replacing the torque converter and the transmission as a set. Many also say it is fine to just do one.

Since you are under warranty, you don't really have much of a choice in how they want to fix it, so it's a moot point.
 
#15 ·
Thats exactly what i said to the dealership today, I'm worried about one affecting the other (new TC and OLD Trans). But im at the mercy of the dealership since its a warranty thing. But earlier they just changed the trans fluid and it helped, doe that trans fluid only go into the trans? or does that fluid effect the torque converter? Just a thought if the fluid only effects the trans and not the converter that may say that the trans is actually the problem as well as the torque converter.
 
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