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Tranny jerks into gear during slow and go traffic.

19K views 23 replies 18 participants last post by  soontobesrt 
#1 ·
I've noticed that my 2007 WK Overland clunks into gear when I'm going 10-15 MPH and put my foot on the gas. No matter how softly I press on the pedal, there's a pretty noticable jerk from the transmission.

My Jeep was modified somewhat when I bought it. Has an airaid cold air intake and a magnaflow catback exhaust system. Looks like the previous owner was into modding somewhat and I was curious if it might be a programming thing? What's the best way to determine if the engine has a chip or been programmed by one of those aftermarket performance tuning computer modules?
 
#4 ·
Your Torque Converter is locking up.

"normal"
 
#6 ·
I have the same issue. Mines an '08 stock and does this on occasion. It has done it ALOT less now that i dont punch the gas everytime i go lol Mine spent about a month at the dealers and they concluded it was a normal Jeep characteristic.
 
#8 ·
i had this issue to but i dont think its normal they replaced the clutch system and it hasnt done it since, but again its not normal for your jeep to lock and bump forward when shifting thats usually a tranny slip or a bad clutch shift!
 
#9 ·
well im really glad someone brought this up, mine does it a lot as well. Apparently its normal from everyones posts....but that is a little disappointing, i mean im glad nothing is seriously wrong, but i wish it could go away. I thought it might have been something with tranny fluid being low, or needing changed, but i guess not
 
#10 ·
Yeah im glad to hear its common mine does it a lot when shifting from 1st to 2nd especially after I just turn the car on and start to drive.
 
#12 ·
sometimes when the WK sits overnight the fluid drains and it takes a few seconds to fill up. You can overfill the tranny fluid just a tad.....seriously
 
#13 ·
is my problem also 'normal'.....??

i just noticed this the other day... when shifting from N to drive on a flat surface completely stopped, it takes a few seconds (2-3 idk) for the actual shift to take place....meaning i shift to drive and dont immediately start rolling forward... (im pretty sure this was no awlays the case...just seems like a lil too much lag time b4 it engages)
This is with my foot off the gas, as i dont want to rev the engine and then have it shift n something bad happen...


On a side note... (maybe the reason y i have this problem.... maybe not..)
Is it good or bad for engine/trans to shift to N while waiting at a stop light?
 
#15 ·
My 06 Overland used to do it too....no longer though. First I changed the fluid and filters and added the Sonnax Line Pressure Booster. Then I updated the PCM/TCM with the latest CALID flash file using my Diablosport Tuner. Then I added the Superchips Tuner with the Advanced Transmission Tuning App. That cured it. It also works well with the Diablosport 91 Tune, which is what I am currently using.
 
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#17 ·
Same here. If I unplug my battery overnight the rough shifting will go away but it comes back after 2-3 hours of normal driving. I'd expect this to happen if I was an aggressive driver, but I don't drive fast and I'm usually one of the slower accelerators. I've also tried the opposite(faster acceleration) to see if it helped at all... it doesn't seem to do the trick either.

...Then I added the Superchips Tuner with the Advanced Transmission Tuning App. That cured it...
I just ordered a Superchips Flashpaq this week. I'm under the impression the advanced transmission tuning requires the user to select the shift points. If you don't mind, could you please post the shift points that worked for you? Also, with the 91 tune, did you run 91 octane? If not, what'd you run? Thanks in advance.

If the SC Flashpaq fixes the problem on my stock GC 5.7, I'll update this thread letting you guys know.
 
#18 ·
Thex2, yes, the user has to select the up/downshift points, or you can use the ones the Superchips folks provide. They really don't give you much guidance, because it is really almost completely personal preference, because of different driving styles and vehicle usage. There are also plenty of different shift schedules people have come up with. You may want to do an internet/forum search and see what you come up with.

IMO, the best way to set it up is to carefully observe your current up/downshift schedules, and make note of which ones you don't like, and why. Then go in to the program and make the appropriate changes. It took me about 3 tries to get mine the way I like it.

Here's my latest shift schedules. I didn't mess with anything but the upshifts. Mine may also work differently from yours because of my line pressure booster. Once you have your SC Tuner with the ATT App. you'll see what all these numbers mean. Alone they don't mean much.

Up 1/2 Up 3/4
15.24 38.46
18.14 41.36
21.04 44.99
37.18 80.55
39.18 104.5
41.36 106.6
42.09 110.3

Up 2/3 Up 4/5
21.04 64.58
29.75 66.08
31.99 70.39
66.76 80.55
70.39 122.6
72.57 127.7
75.47

Up 2P/3
22.49
26.95
35.55
66.76
72.57
76.92
 
#19 ·
Wow Im glad I read this, This problem has been concerning me for awhile.. I also got PISSEd when I went to check my trans fluid levels and realized jeep doesnt put a dipstick in the wk models. I read the manual and it says, "Transmition fluid does not need to be checked often. If you feel you might be low please bring your jeep by a dealership" or something to that extent. What a f***in joke.
 
#20 ·
Only the 3.7 and the 6.1's don't have the dipstick. They have the Mercedes NAG1 transmission and the 4.7 and 5.7's have the RFE545 with a dipstick. I have an 05 LX with the NAG1, and I have never checked the fluid in it, and won't until I do a fluid/filter change in 12000 miles. I figure if it's not leaking, it's not going to be low. It's been almost 7 years and so far, so good. Also, with the NAG1 you'll need to have the fluid level chart and a way to read tranny temps, otherwise you wouldn't be able to get it right.
 
#21 ·
This was shortly after I bought it that I noticed the weird shift at slow speeds, Since I hadnt owned it very long I wanted to check my levels to assure that wasnt the issue.. I understand if youv owned the vehicle then you know better that if it was not leaking then it wont be low..
 
#22 ·
I think you'll need to take a trip to the dealer to have it checked, or find a Chrysler specialist (or tranny shop) that has the stuff to check it. I would hope they don't charge for it, but you can bet they'll try to sell you something during the operation. How many miles on it? If it's got more than about 60K on it, I'd do a fluid/filters change. Measure the amount that comes out, put the same amount of new stuff back in and then head to the dealer for the final check.
 
#23 ·
new trans issue came up today as i was trying to get onto the highway....

i was going about 40 on an onramp and when i hit the gas...normally to match the traffics speed of around 65 the RPMs just raced high and nothing happened....
i think it came out of gear and i was just coasting around 45... then i let off the gas and it finally switched gears and sped up... followed by the check engine light...

luckily... was not too far from a dealership and had them check it out... they said 3 different codes came up... but they still didnt know what the problem was... i need to bring it back monday and it will take them around a week to take apart the trans to try and find a/the problem...........

only 14k miles...
although it should not cost me any $$ i am certainly bummed... and very glad it was not an 18 wheeler coming in the lane i was trying to merge into..!

any thoughts? similar issues? WTF?
 
#24 · (Edited)
I have it also, think im going to agree its pretty normal on these jeeps as well as many automatics vehicles today. Definitely the TQ locking/unlocking at lows speeds is what most are feeling when they describe the jerking movements.

Id have to say that the tranny doing anything besides the described jerk is not normal and should be dealt with in the appropriate manner like mentioned above.

Mine will act funny if/when I got to WOT and it drops down a gear and then gets going and then I bring her back down or coast, hates the rapid changes in speed. Any sudden change on the output side of the tranny and the TCM freaks out, had it looked at, no codes, no nothing so its really random and weird but I just try not to beat on it and keep my fingers x'ed! Out of warranty since shes an 05 and has tons of mods, just hoping and praying, taking it day by day :)


Hers some good info regarding what many may be experiencing at lower speeds, usually is the culprit:

"That jerky response is related to the torque converter which is what allows you to drive without the use of a clutch because it allows the transmission and engine to 'slip' when you aren't moving. However, when your speed gets above about 40 mph there is a 'lock-up' of the torque converter so that the slipping will not occur which gives you better gas mileage, cooler operation, and better braking when on the highway. The problem occurs when the lock-up doesn't release when you slow down below 40 mph and the jerk happens when it finally lets go.
There is a valve inside the part of the transmission called the valve body (the torque converter lock-up piston) which may be sticking in the 'on' position rather than releasing. That would be repaired by opening the transmission drain pan and removing the valve body to service that piston. It is not guaranteed to be the 'fix' but it would be worth trying because the alternative possible fix it to remove the transmission and replace either the lock-up clutch or even the entire torque converter."

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Chrysler-Repair-807/2009/8/Automatic-transmission-jerks-coming.htm
 
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