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2014 EcoDiesel Overland Transmission Issue

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2014 overland
17K views 84 replies 16 participants last post by  muzhik 
#1 ·
So I have roughly 7,500 miles on my 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland EcoDiesel that I bought in March. I'm hoping someone can help me. I noticed about a month ago after getting on the highway at about 51 mph that i was getting a shudder (the feeling similar to that of going over those rumble trips on the side of the highway). If i increased speed or decreased speed it would go away. I had a very difficult time replicating it. The RPM's were between 1.5 and 2 and the car definitely wasn't under load. No codes were kicked. If i started to feel it happen and I kept the gas pedal there it would just continue to shudder/vibrate. A week or so later (i don't do much highway driving) i got back on the highway and it did it again at 69mph while in cruise control. Exact same thing. Has happened a few times since then all at 69/70 mph, never under load. Has never kicked a code and the dealer can't replicate it. I'm very worried because a very similar thing happened to my 2004 jeep grand cherokee overland and it never kicked a code until 2nd and 4th gear went.

The dealer insists these 8 speed transmissions have seniors everywhere and very sophisticated (i laughed because i was told that on my 04 when I had the problem and it didn't kick a code). I've also noticed since i bought the car the transmission shifts very rough between gears. Anyone else have similar issues? ideas?
 
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#4 · (Edited)
These transmission use a servo based valve body. The servo valves can oscillate causing shudder. ECU tuning can correct this within limits but some valve body units are out of spec and can't be controlled properly. I would request a valvebody swap before giving up on the vehicle. Other manufacturers have had similar issues with this type of technology.

The other possibility is the Torque converter which, during lockup, creates torsional vibrations that are supposed to be dampened by a sophisticated LUC torsional vibration spring/damper arrangement. This is a documented issue with the 8HP70 used in BMWs.
 
#6 ·
I would love for Jeep to buy it back. This past thursday I was driving on city streets and my check engine light came on yet again. I went to the dealer the next day and it turned out to be the jeep needed to go into re-gen mode. They tried to force it into re-gen mode but it wouldn't go. I was told I baby the jeep to much and need to "push it". This car "wants to be driven aggressively". I'm concerned now that i'm not getting the typical alert (that in the 6 months that I have owned this car has only happened once) to go onto the highway at highway speeds for 20 min. What happens if I'm away and i get a check engine alert because the car needs to go into re-gen mode and then the car goes into "limp mode"?

I agree that it is most likely the torque converter that is causing the shudder that I am getting at highway speeds. My concern is that I can't get it to happen all the time, and once it occurs once or twice it doesn't happen again for a few days.

My dealer finally called yesterday to have me bring it in for a couple days so they can figure out what is going on with it and giving me a loaner. I would LOVE to give this car back. I can't get over what a horrible experience I have had buying a brand new jeep. This is my second jeep grand cherokee overland (my first being a '04) and my third jeep goal (my first being a '99 jeep cherokee sport)
 
#7 ·
It's not only the TC that's causing shudder. I am not releasing the fix online until Jeep figures out what they are doing with mine. I don't want it fixed at this point and I am not doing their job for them.

I'll just say I was data logging when it happened and found some interesting info.
 
#10 ·
Well I have made it known to my dealer that I don't want the car anymore but they won't buy it back. All they will do is a trade in.

Sadly the Massachusetts Lemon law doesn't apply because they can't even diagnose the problem because every time I bring it in the tech can't find anything wrong. For the lemon law to apply I would need to have the exact same problem fixed three times and then I would need to send a certified letter to jeep notifying them of my intentions and all this needs to happen within a year a buying the car or 15,000 miles.

I've also made it know that I don't trust it.
 
#57 ·
So here is my dilemma: My JGC EcoDiesel is still in the pre-release status. I'm not a mechanic like you guys, don't own a code reader,nor am I interested in being a beta tester for this car. I love everything about the car that I read prior to joining this forum, but now I'm wondering if I should just tell my dealer to cancel my order. Between the shift issues, DEF issues, cat issues, I'm wondering if Jeep knows what they're doing?? My other choice was a Toyota Highlander (I have a 2005 Highlander with 160,000 miles without any problems for 10 years) - not exactly the same idea as the Grand Cherokee but probably a whole lot more dependable.

I want to take long drives to see family in other states, maybe drive to Alaska. I want to actually get where I'm pointed! It sounds like I'd be asking for trouble with this Jeep unless there is a fix that actually fixes something.

Raven, Excursion Diesel - what would you guys do at this point. Any confidence that the 2015's will be any better or just more of the same problems?
 
#20 ·
Have heard that some people have fixed this issue by removing the battery cable for a short time to reboot all the systems after the flash updates.
 
#21 ·
Yea I did this 2 weeks ago , I have a SRT 2014 model and I had the rough transmission shifts and the bang or clunk in the transmission when shifting down gears especially at low speeds ,so I disconnected the battery and left it disconnected for 10 hrs but some people say 30 mins anyway I left it off for 10 hrs and I'm happy as larry now the transmission is awesome ,great shifts and no more bump,clang,or bang while changing down gears or stopping at traffic lights ..

And I have been putting up with this bad transmission since June 2014 until 2 weeks ago when I done the battery disconnect ..


iPad @ JeepGarage
 
#35 ·
It is located under the front passenger seat - there is a small compartment that you have to remove the cover to access.
 
#25 ·
No shudder at all, and your battery is under your drivers seat just move the drivers seat forward all the way towards the steering wheel then pull on the plastic lip that has carpet on it under the drivers seat vola there's you battery ? ..now I don't no if it worked for me because I left the battery disconnected longer which left power drain completely out of the system and that's why the transmission relearned itself again ?.

Because most people that have done this only disconnected for 30mins ,maybe that's not long enough for the system to discharge fully ? I don't really no just a guess really but it won't hurt to try it I guess . But for now I am really wrapped it's the way this car should have come ?



iPad @ JeepGarage
 
#29 · (Edited)
Yea sorry mate mine is a RHD I'm from Australia , Soz about that I forgot to mention , well your right there about draining it with touching negative and positive but I never tried that to be honest , I just disconnected at the weekend one night went to bed and woke up in the afternoon and reconnected lol , but it really did work for me so far the whole battery disconnect


iPad @ JeepGarage
 
#31 ·
Good luck! If you don't mind, please keep me posted. Dealer still has mine (day 2) and no word as of yet. I just discovered the "fishbites" term, and discovered more users on this forum that have the same effing issue. shocking all jeep does is through software update after software update at it.
 
#33 ·
Just got min back from a world record 76 days in the shop. Long story in another thread. I had Fishbites and which occured consistently on warmup. It occured on inclines with 4-5 and 5-6 shifts every time, warm or cold. On flat ground, warm...sometimes.

Now, with the TSB, it appears my shift points are changed to a slightly higher rpm when cold. The shift and TC lockup seem to occur sequentially instead of simultaneously. The TC lockup is also softer. I haven't had a shudder yet. Still testing.
 
#37 ·
Yep. I'm expecting a free 120k Chrysler Bumper to Bumper warranty at no charge for my trouble.

To be fair, my brake booster broke doing the recall and a parts shortage was the majority of the time. It took about 2 weeks to fix my DEF/SCR issue. They had me in a rental the whole time.

I'm back running great now so it's all good.
 
#42 ·
If it only shudders on a uphill shift, or when cold, and isn't happening costantly, the TSB should fix it. Mine only occured under those conditions but that happens everytime the vehicle is driven from a cold start. So far, I'm at 500 miles with no shudder after the TSB. We'll see if it stays that way.
 
#51 ·
Hmm mate I feel for you it sucks when you have reached your limit and have to reside going to a lawyer been there myself on a few occasions over the years it's a hard battle but myself I have won against the car company's .But maybe just try with the dealer one more time and see how he's response or attitude is towards the problem , taking your case to a lawyer is a long process at times .. Good luck mate


iPad @ JeepGarage
 
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