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Transmission is starting to get very annoying

7K views 45 replies 24 participants last post by  1quick1 
#1 · (Edited)
Cruising down the road in 8th gear at 400rpm (sarcastic) the light ahead turns yellow. Seeing I have plenty of time to make it I apply a little more gas to go through the light but really not speeding up. Jeep then tries to accelerate in 8th gear. Okay give it a little more gas...down shifts to 7th at 600rpms and still no acceleration. Okay a little more gear, viciously downshifts to 2nd at 6500rpms (5 seconds later) and I'm now flying.

So obviously a gross exaggeration but this is how I feel lately with this thing. You're either in 8th gear at idle rpms and if you need to speed up just put your foot to the floor and wait for 4-5 seconds as it goes 7th? nope let's try 6th..nope..okay 5th? Nope ahhh fuk it downshift to 1st.

:slapfight:
 
#5 ·
It was, I can try it with it off and see how it does.

I have found that immediately depressing the pedal about 1/2 way almost instantly drops 2 gears and I'm gone. Flooring it does have a delay for some reason.

Not sure if it would be the same with the V6, but worth a try. A little more gas at a time is no way to insure a vehicle will downshift.
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Yea it just seems like it's unsure if it needs to downshift 1 gear or if I'm trying to drag race and when it finally decides it really doesn't matter anymore.

lmao I got a good laugh out of this .. though I don't seem to have this issue.
Lucky. But you also likely have a lot more low end torque.
 
#3 ·
I have found that immediately depressing the pedal about 1/2 way almost instantly drops 2 gears and I'm gone. Flooring it does have a delay for some reason.

Not sure if it would be the same with the V6, but worth a try. A little more gas at a time is no way to insure a vehicle will downshift.


---
 
#4 ·
lmao I got a good laugh out of this .. though I don't seem to have this issue.
 
#6 ·
Cruising down the road in 8th gear at 400rpm (sarcastic) the light ahead turns yellow. Seeing I have plenty of time to make it I apply a little more gas to go through the light but really not speeding up. Jeep then tries to accelerate in 8th gear. Okay give it a little more gas...down shifts to 7th at 600rpms and still no acceleration. Okay a little more gear, viciously downshifts to 2nd at 6500rpms (5 seconds later) and I'm now flying.

So obviously a gross exaggeration but this is how I feel lately with this thing. You're either in 8th gear at idle rpms and if you need to speed up just put your foot to the floor and wait for 4-5 seconds as it goes 7th? nope let's try 6th..nope..okay 5th? Nope ahhh fuk it downshift to 1st.

:slapfight:
You just perfectly described the reason I traded my 2012 3.6 (5 speed of course) on a 2014 V8. The 2014 3.6 with the 8 speed is much better than the 5 speed versions preceding it, but with the Hemi, I have seamless power whenever I ask for it.

Do you have the latest transmission software TSB installed?
 
#7 ·
Wow, good thing I don't have the 5spd or else I probably would be frustrated. It does sound like I have a couple options. I'll try ECO mode off and hopefully that helps with city driving. The highway I don't have any complaints. Or 2nd option trade it in on a V8 lol.

And my vehicle was build 9/10/13 and I took delivery 9/28/13. I believe the TSB was applied but I'm not entirely sure.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Cruising down the road in 8th gear at 400rpm (sarcastic) the light ahead turns yellow. Seeing I have plenty of time to make it I apply a little more gas to go through the light but really not speeding up. Jeep then tries to accelerate in 8th gear. Okay give it a little more gas...down shifts to 7th at 600rpms and still no acceleration. Okay a little more gear, viciously downshifts to 2nd at 6500rpms (5 seconds later) and I'm now flying.

So obviously a gross exaggeration but this is how I feel lately with this thing. You're either in 8th gear at idle rpms and if you need to speed up just put your foot to the floor and wait for 4-5 seconds as it goes 7th? nope let's try 6th..nope..okay 5th? Nope ahhh fuk it downshift to 1st.

:slapfight:
You need the latest Transmission TSB "REVC".
If your dealer said it was done. Check again.

That is EXACTLY what mine used to do and it even caused a small accident within first 3 days in that exact situation where you have plenty of time to goose it through a yellow light. Well, yeah it did. At 6500 RPM in 1st gear and someone decided to turn in front of me. I had so much torque built up that I DIDN'T need or want I could not stop in time. I also was not used to emergency stopping distance. If it was just a proper goose (like 1 or 2 gears down) I could have stopped fine. I didn't. It could have been very bad. But I only crack that chrome trim on the bottom.

This problem is fixed, even in ECO mode. In fact I NEVER take it out of ECO mode now. It will instantly do small downshifts, like it should.

One trick that I developed until it was fixed was double pumping the gas pedal. Press it, back off and press again and it would down shift more appropriately.

The TSB you need didn't exist at the time you picked it up. It was not released until December 2013.
 
#15 ·
The same exact thing would happen with my early build (4/13) 2014 V6 Limited, then I finally got the latest transmission reflash, and things got MUCH better.

After recently trading in my Limited for a late build (12/21/13) 2014 V6 Overland, the transmission is even better...just about seamless.

:thumbsup:
 
#17 ·
I just push the gas pedal. Works every time.

Serioullsly. I used to use non-eco and sport all the time before flash.

Since the Rev-C flash I don't use either.
 
#20 · (Edited)
In Eco mode it would make me laugh to be rolling through town at 35mph in 7th gear at maybe 1100rpm. Very surprising that it never felt like it was lugging.

I haven't had a problem with it downshifting in town (in or out of Eco mode) when I needed to accelerate... my problem was the exact opposite.

Out on the highway I was having problems with it going back into 8th gear. If I was accelerating onto the highway it would stay stuck in 7th for far longer than expected once I leveled off at cruising speed. One time for almost 8 miles on flat level highway.

I could understand it downshifting into 7th when going up a slight rise but it would again fail to upshift to 8th once I got to the top and the road leveled off. It would take a couple of miles before it decided to upshift.

I had the trans reflashed the other day and everything seems to be working the way it should be now.
 
#24 ·
What I've noticed in eco-mode... the transmission shifts according to the demands of acceleration. If you're accelerating lightly it will upshift quicker and at lower rpm's. Under harder acceleration it will upshift slower and at higher rpm's, like in normal mode.
 
#25 ·
What I've noticed in eco-mode... the transmission shifts according to the demands of acceleration. If you're accelerating lightly it will upshift quicker and at lower rpm's. Under harder acceleration it will upshift slower and at higher rpm's, like in normal mode.
Exactly.
 
#28 ·
Just got my transmission flashed and now Eco mode runs fantastically. Prior to the update I found it jerky on and off throttle. I feel I have no need to use normal or sport mode now. It responds to my driving style perfectly.

The dealership I used was a pia and will be the first and last visit with them. They didn't want to do the update and told me Eco isn't for city use. Highway only. They stats some BS that Chrysler advises not to use Eco mode I the city. I challenged her to find me literature stating that but she just brought out the service manager who spouted the same shit. I challenged him as well and advised him this is the same ZF tranny used in Bentlys BMWs Audis ect and the main difference is programming and that I wanted to most up to date programming to give me the smooth responsive transmission that ZF is supposed to be. They backed down and did the job. But they did forget to do the alignment I asked for and it took them 7hrs to do a 20min flash. The girl at the service desk was rude from beginning to end. Last visit there and my new work vehicle which is a JGC v6 will also not be going there.
 
#29 ·
I had the latest flash done last week and the trans is a lot better, almost perfect. If you think it doesn't downshift quick enough just use the paddle shifters to downshift a couple gears so you can be in the correct gear for acceleration, then put it back in drive. The human brain is smarter than the trans computer.
 
#30 · (Edited)
I just got the transmission flash done today. Much improved shift points. Downshifting has also been corrected. My jeep was kind of jerking when I applied the brakes as the trans downshifted. Now, 90% better. If the jeep drove like this from day one id have had zero complaints.

Side note, service guy said he applied a power train update...I'm wondering if anyone knows what that is supposed to correct...I should've asked him I guess....

Very curious about that..
 
#35 ·
Just got the rev c update two weeks ago when I went in for an oil change and the instrument cluster recall.

Prior to that I had the rev b version which still seemed sluggish in Eco mode but tons better than the original version. Gotta agree with everyone, the rev c makes it near perfect. Very smooth in all modes.

The biggest difference I have noticed between Eco, normal, and sport mode is how sensitive the gas peddle is. In sport mode, the engine feels stronger with less peddle input, in Eco mode you have to press more. The shift points due change.

I do agree that even in Eco mode, if you stomp on the gas it will perform just like sport mode, but you have to really bury the peddle.

Coming up on one year and still very happy with it. Handled the Chicago winter beautifully. Traded in an 08 highlander limited. What an upgrade!

Mike.
 
#36 · (Edited)
Just got the transmission flash, along with 4 other flashes done today. I am finding it stays in a lower gear slightly longer. I thought the previous version was slightly smoother, but will give it a few days for me to adjust to the new shifting. Otherwise, no significant difference, but never had a problem with the transmission since I bought the Jeep. Mine was built in September/October, and was one of the first EcoDiesels off the line.
 
#37 ·
I have one the first EcoDiesels as well. No flashes yet. My transmission hasn't shown any noticeable behavior except a shudder if accelerating hard and it upshifts right after I lift the accelerator. The engine is dropping rpm while it shifts. It feels like the torque converter is locking after the shift and I feel a slight shudder as engine rpm drops quickly....almost like a manual transmission shifted at too low an rpm and creating a shudder as the engine rpms sync to the transmission. Anyone else notice this?
 
#40 · (Edited)
The biggest complaint I have is the clunk after starting out. I.e. Start the vehicle, gradually accelerate and let off the accelerator to come to a stop and then a very noticeable CLUNK. It occurs about 95% of the time.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
Mine never clunked in any condition on any firmware (I never had the earliest firmware though).

I think CLUNKing might be a hardware issue. It's mentioned quite a bit.

I suspect it has something to do with the "Valve Body" (as mentioned in some threads) and a valve is sticking, or slow to open or close when it should.

It could also be how you drive and how it has adapted to your driving that accounts for differences in behavior that people see.
 
#42 ·
The issues described in the OP are mostly limited to the smaller ZF and 3.6 motor combo. Expecting a small low torque motor setup to deliver efficiency to perform without aggressively applying throttle is unreasonable...especially in a 5k pound vehicle. The ECO mode shifts early to higher gears and resists downshifts so that only makes the feeling of sluggishness more apparent.

The Pentastar 3.6 is setup for maximum economy but as soon as you drive it in a non-economical manner, the engine is no longer at its most efficient rpm range where it has minimal torque, and efficiency goes out the window. To prevent that, ECO mode resists down shifting. The firmware can be changed, but there goes the efficiency.

You can't have it all...at least not at the same time!
 
#43 ·
I purchased a $45,000 loaded limited 4X4 in December 13 with a build date of October 13. I have been experiencing hard downshift issues and a lurching forward when stopping since delivery.

I have brought it in several times to 3 different service departments, all in the Bay Area, CA. I even took a "Jeep Transmission Specialist" on a test drive, in which he noticed that the car severely jerked and lurched forward when coming to a stop whether at a stop sign or a red light. Mind you, that was AFTER the "TSB Software Update" that was designed to "address" concerns over the transmission. He admitted that the car did not seem to performing normally, and kept the Jeep for 8 days meanwhile putting me in a Challenger.

Low and behold, I get a call from the Area Service Manager after 8 days who says that Jeep Engineers and Chrysler Corporate admit that a "repair" is needed, however there is not a repair available right now, so they are labeling the lurching/jerking while stopping "normal and acceptable car behavior." He said that there was nothing they were willing to do, and to come pick up the Jeep immediately. He told me that the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee was "essentially a beta product" and that the company "learns from issues on their models."

I refused to accept that, as a young father, I put my children's safety at risk due to this "normal behavior" while coming to a stop. I have been in constant communication with Chrysler Corporate and have been elected to be a part of their "Enhanced Customer Care" group. They were considering a buyback of the vehicle or replacing the Jeep with a different one, however have just called me and told me that they were not willing to do so. They admit that there is an "issue" however as it is now considered "normal behavior" so we, as consumers, should just accept that.

I informed them that I would be looking into the Lemon Law of California and other consumer advocate groups that would assist me with my concern. Paying $600 a month for a vehicle that you are apprehensive to drive due to a safety issue is absolutely ridiculous. They seemed nervous when I brought up the term lawsuit, and gave me a number for a "Chrysler arbitration" company that would negotiate with me.

Sorry for the long rant, but this really is ridiculous. I previously had a 2012 Grand Cherokee that has no issues at all, and this "normal behavior" is anything but. Luckily my employer has a lot of legal resources and is looking into the issue for me.

Not to sound like a typical American, but anyone interested in a Class Action? Or at least getting together an open letter to send to Chrysler Corporate with all the names of those experiencing this issue? Let me know your thoughts, PM or here
 
#45 · (Edited)
I purchased a $45,000 loaded limited 4X4 in December 13 with a build date of October 13. I have been experiencing hard downshift issues and a lurching forward when stopping since delivery.

I have brought it in several times to 3 different service departments, all in the Bay Area, CA. I even took a "Jeep Transmission Specialist" on a test drive, in which he noticed that the car severely jerked and lurched forward when coming to a stop whether at a stop sign or a red light. Mind you, that was AFTER the "TSB Software Update" that was designed to "address" concerns over the transmission. He admitted that the car did not seem to performing normally, and kept the Jeep for 8 days meanwhile putting me in a Challenger.

Low and behold, I get a call from the Area Service Manager after 8 days who says that Jeep Engineers and Chrysler Corporate admit that a "repair" is needed, however there is not a repair available right now, so they are labeling the lurching/jerking while stopping "normal and acceptable car behavior." He said that there was nothing they were willing to do, and to come pick up the Jeep immediately. He told me that the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee was "essentially a beta product" and that the company "learns from issues on their models."

I refused to accept that, as a young father, I put my children's safety at risk due to this "normal behavior" while coming to a stop. I have been in constant communication with Chrysler Corporate and have been elected to be a part of their "Enhanced Customer Care" group. They were considering a buyback of the vehicle or replacing the Jeep with a different one, however have just called me and told me that they were not willing to do so. They admit that there is an "issue" however as it is now considered "normal behavior" so we, as consumers, should just accept that.

I informed them that I would be looking into the Lemon Law of California and other consumer advocate groups that would assist me with my concern. Paying $600 a month for a vehicle that you are apprehensive to drive due to a safety issue is absolutely ridiculous. They seemed nervous when I brought up the term lawsuit, and gave me a number for a "Chrysler arbitration" company that would negotiate with me.

Sorry for the long rant, but this really is ridiculous. I previously had a 2012 Grand Cherokee that has no issues at all, and this "normal behavior" is anything but. Luckily my employer has a lot of legal resources and is looking into the issue for me.

Not to sound like a typical American, but anyone interested in a Class Action? Or at least getting together an open letter to send to Chrysler Corporate with all the names of those experiencing this issue? Let me know your thoughts, PM or here
What date was it that they came back and said there was nothing they could/would do?

It does appear there is something else going on with jerking, clunking hard shifting beyond the TSB firmware updates that not everyone shares.

If it were mine, I'd try clearing the adaptive learning (which I suspect they already did). I'm not sure the method even works to clear adaptive learning. But you disconnect battery for a little while and hold brakes for a minute to bleed it down.

I'd also want to see evidence (proof) that all flashes have been applied. Not just an invoice. Or their word. I'd want to see it hooked up to computer saying no updates needed.
 
#46 ·
Thanks for all the info. I'm glad to hear there is a TSB out and many people are reporting better shifting. My Jeep was built 9/10/13 and it's now due for it's 1st oil change at 6 months 3900 miles.

Also to the guys talking about the clunking and lurching..mine does that too when I first start the vehicle and take off. It's like it tries to hold first gear then just slams into the next gear. It only does that at the beginning and I guess chalked it up to the fluid needing to warm up.
 
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