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After Tranny Flash 21-018-14

5K views 16 replies 11 participants last post by  Jeepster910 
#1 ·
On Monday I had the 21-018-14 Tranny Shift and Diagnostic Flash and a Software Flash for PCM done.

Now I'm noticing a rev and surge when the car downshifts from 5 to 4 and to a lesser degree from 4 to 3.

And..... I've also noticed an "engine knock" sound during some acceleration scenarios. Can't say for sure if it is engine knock or not.

Has anyone else who's had these flashes done noticed the same phenomena?

2.4l 4x4 Latitude.

Thanks
Steve
 
#2 · (Edited)
That's what ours was doing before and after the 21-018-14 flash. The mountain pass we drive over frequently is fast road on our side and slow/twisty on the other. When we hit the top of the mountain we naturally lift off the accelerator. The KL, however, would do a 5-4 downsfift and rev up. This isn't just an annoyance, it's a definite safety issue.
I think the 4-5 and 5-4 shifts are the issue as this is the point in the shift pattern where the first dog clutch (F) either disengages (4-5) or engages (5-4). Dog clutches require a torque reduction and RPM match to take place to properly engage or disengage and the TCM programming seems to be at fault because of the lack of control exhibited during these particular gear changes. I only hope that Chrysler gets these things working as they should in the near future.
We just had the trans and TCM replaced after it decided to cook itself. The tranny seems to be doing OK, only time will tell I guess. We still notice funkiness in the 4/5 shifts and that has got to be totally a transmission control problem. :confused:
 
#3 ·
I have the same problem. I had hard upshifts at 1,2,3. I had the update applied and went on vacation. Going up hill in the smokey mountains it struggled to find the correct gear. On the down side of the range was heavy engine braking followed by a high rev down shift that made the vehicle accelerate.

Once we got to our destination i heard an engine knock when stationary in drive. It went away in park.

Lemon law time.
 
#4 ·
My wife had one instance of uncontrolled acceleration on her drive home from work where she entered a speed zone, lifted off the accelerator, and the car took off on it's own. She had to keep on the brakes until it decided to calm down. This speed zone is a 35, so that would put the car at a 5/4 shift. Chrysler Care said to take the car to the dealership (50 mi) so that they could assess the problem. The issue is we haven't been able to duplicate since that one instance. We've got about 1K on it since the tranny/TCM replacement, so I think maybe the kinks are worked out. I still don't like the downhill reaction of this 9-speed. It still feels like it's accelerating when your off the throttle and there's absolutely no compression braking unless you gear down a ridiculous number of steps, revving the engine way up.
 
#5 ·
Well, I brought the car back to the dealer for a re-check. After a test drive by a service manager, the diagnosis was that there "wasn't an acceleration problem". I was just "experiencing the sensation of the clutch releasing". That this was normal on the 5 to 4 downshift. "Before the TSB flash, this clutch release happened at the 6 to 5 downshift." (I never noticed this "sensation" then).

They said to keep an eye on the issue and if it got worse to come back in. They also said that the transmission tweeks were a work-in-progress and that there would very likely be another flash sometime down the road.
 
#7 ·
Help me understand something. I have an early build 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited ADII 3.2L. I custom ordered it in September of 13 and it was delivered November of 13. The vehicle will be one year old in a couple of weeks. I have never, ever had a TSB/flash done to my transmission and honestly it shifts just fine. I am a perfectionist and have a case of OCD. Believe me if there was a problem in my transmission I would be all over it. So my question is how can I have an early build transmission that has had no flashes and it be perfect so far and yet later builds with all the TSB/flashes done are experiencing problems? My Service Manager is so pleased with how my transmission shifts he has a big sign in my account file. Do not do any TSB/flashes to this transmission without getting the owner's permission first. His greatest fear is that one of his techs will screw it up. My only conclusion is that the way the transmission operates corresponds to how the transmission has been broken in. I am old school. I believe if you break in a vehicle fast it will stay fast. I broke my Cherokee in out on I 75. I can't believe Chrysler's quality control at its Kokomo, Indiana transmission plant is that sporadic for all of these problems to be popping up. I am really pleased so far in how my Cherokee runs. It is one peppy/hot rod vehicle that I am afraid is going to get me a ticket sooner or later.
 
#8 ·
I am old school. I believe if you break in a vehicle fast it will stay fast. I broke my Cherokee in out on I 75.
It was your experience that convinced me to break my transmission in following the letter of the law from FCA. I'm at about 160 miles in (I do a 25 mile commute daily) and rarely go above 50. While I'm early in my life I've had 0 transmission issues.
 
#10 ·
I had the tranny flashed about 3 weeks ago to address several minor shifting issues. So far, no real noticable change, but it's still learning. Not hopeful but overall love the Cherokee TH.

Desert Hiker
 
#11 ·
From what I understand the transmission still has to complete AL, Adaptive learn that is.
Depending on your particular driving habits it could be longer or shorter.
Now that is even with the new updated software. Much better now than it was when I took delivery.
Mine was a 12/11 build with the old software. It was a a rough experience but it completed it fine.
The only thing you want to watch out for is slamming gears. That is not good.
With mine it was shifting but it seemed like it could not make up its mind on the gear.
Hesitation was an issue also.

What I would suggest is that any one that is having a real bad time with shifting, especially after a TSB you do the following.
Talk to the Service Manager about doing TSB 21-13-13. That TSB has 2 techs, one driving and the other with a laptop in the vehicle. The Tech manually sets the shift points/clutches to shift better. Generally it is only for vehicles that have a certain level of software but can be applied to "problem shift" vehicles.
It is involved and time consuming for the dealer. It must be done correctly to work.

But AL must still be completed and stored in memory.
 
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