Hey Everyone,

This story will expose my stupidity but hopefully it will help others.

I own a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0L 6 Cylinder with 132,000 miles. The transmission was replaced at around 85,000 miles.

My car had been shifting a little rough so last week I dropped the trans pan and swapped the ATF and filter. I figured the fluid was old, cheap, and probably low. I put in a new filter and Mobile 1 Sythetic ATF (the best stuff available I hear.) I seated the cork gasket with a touch of RTV sealant. The transmission then started to shift very smoothly. However, there were two problems. The car would "shutter" whenever I shifted out of P or N into D or R and also when idling at a red light. Sometimes it would shutter, the RPM would drop real low, and the engine would stall. The other problem was that there was a significant leak originating from around the pan.

I figured I messed up putting the gasket in correctly. So, I located a rubber (reusable) gasket (just in case I messed up again) and proceeded to swap it in. Inside the pan I noticed that the magnet was broken into about 5 pieces. Very wierd. I salvaged the large fragments and put the trans pan back on (seating the gasket dry.) I tightented the bolts to 10 pounds foot torque. Still leaking and still shuttering.

Last night I dropped the pan again and inspected it for small dents around the seating area. I did find some very minor ones. So, instead of shelling out $125 for a new pan I used a layer of RTV between the gasket, the pan, and the tran case. The gasket is not leaking anymore!

Using a mirror I noticed that a leak was coming from the actual trans case. There is a hairline crack originating near one of the bolt holes. Also, inside the pan the magnet broke some more. I should have just tossed it. But I put it back in. Plus, it still shutters.

Anyway, this morning the tranny was shifting smooth. After work, i took it on the freeway, and it immediately went into limp mode. I figured I hadn't put in enough ATF this time (i put in 2 quarts last night, checked the dip stick whith the engine running, trans hot and in neutral, and shifted through the gears, and it read in between "OK" and "Max".) But this seamed oddly low. I pulled over and added more. No matter how much more I add the dipstick reads the same. The owners manual says add 4 quarts when servicing the fluid. I have around 3.5 quarts in there now. I know if i put in too much it will foam up so I am being extra cautious here.

Anyway, I don't know what else to do. I should take it to a shop and just give up. Problem is the car is only worth around $2500 now (when fixed.) So it is worth it?

Friends, any suggestions?

Hey Everyone,

This story will expose my stupidity but hopefully it will help others.

I own a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0L 6 Cylinder with 132,000 miles. The transmission was replaced at around 85,000 miles.

My car had been shifting a little rough so last week I dropped the trans pan and swapped the ATF and filter. I figured the fluid was old, cheap, and probably low. I put in a new filter and Mobile 1 Sythetic ATF (the best stuff available I hear.) I seated the cork gasket with a touch of RTV sealant. The transmission then started to shift very smoothly. However, there were two problems. The car would "shutter" whenever I shifted out of P or N into D or R and also when idling at a red light. Sometimes it would shutter, the RPM would drop real low, and the engine would stall. The other problem was that there was a significant leak originating from around the pan.

I figured I messed up putting the gasket in correctly. So, I located a rubber (reusable) gasket (just in case I messed up again) and proceeded to swap it in. Inside the pan I noticed that the magnet was broken into about 5 pieces. Very wierd. I salvaged the large fragments and put the trans pan back on (seating the gasket dry.) I tightented the bolts to 10 pounds foot torque. Still leaking and still shuttering.

Last night I dropped the pan again and inspected it for small dents around the seating area. I did find some very minor ones. So, instead of shelling out $125 for a new pan I used a layer of RTV between the gasket, the pan, and the tran case. The gasket is not leaking anymore!

Using a mirror I noticed that a leak was coming from the actual trans case. There is a hairline crack originating near one of the bolt holes. Also, inside the pan the magnet broke some more. I should have just tossed it. But I put it back in. Plus, it still shutters.

Anyway, this morning the tranny was shifting smooth. After work, i took it on the freeway, and it immediately went into limp mode. I figured I hadn't put in enough ATF this time (i put in 2 quarts last night, checked the dip stick whith the engine running, trans hot and in neutral, and shifted through the gears, and it read in between "OK" and "Max".) But this seamed oddly low. I pulled over and added more. No matter how much more I add the dipstick reads the same. The owners manual says add 4 quarts when servicing the fluid. I have around 3.5 quarts in there now. I know if i put in too much it will foam up so I am being extra cautious here.

Anyway, I don't know what else to do. I should take it to a shop and just give up. Problem is the car is only worth around $2500 now (when fixed.) So it is worth it?

Friends, any suggestions?


Did your O/D OFF light come on when it went into limp mode? If the light came on then it is overheating and kicking it out of O/D to help cool the tranny.

When it goes into LIMP MODE it will be stuck in 1st or 2nd gear. Is this whats happening?

Hey thanks for the response...

Did your O/D OFF light come on when it went into limp mode? If the light came on then it is overheating and kicking it out of O/D to help cool the tranny.

Hmmm... not sure. I didn't notice. I'll check momentarilly.

When it goes into LIMP MODE it will be stuck in 1st or 2nd gear. Is this whats happening?

Yes. It starts in 1st gear.. shifts to 2nd gear, and remains in 2nd gear.

-Rice_80

I just drove the car around the block to check for "O/D OFF" light. It did not come on.

I also checked for any stored malfunction codes by turning the key to the "ON" position three times. It returned a 5-5 code which I believe means everything is fine.

Still in limp mode and still leaking ATF.

Just spoke with Jim of:

All Transmissions of South San Francisco (http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=transmission+repair&near=Brisbane,+CA+94005&ie=UTF8&latlng=37681104,-122400118,6332755038785367166)
66 A St, S San Francisco, CA
(650) 589-7760

Nice guy. He reconfirmed my gut feeling. Probably not enough ATF. The pan holds 4.5 quarts (the jeep manual says 4 quarts.) I have around 3.5 quarts in there now. I'll add the fluid, disconnect the battery for ten minutes, then start her up again.

As far as the crack in the case, he said grab some JB Weld. The procedure is to make a "v" shaped incision allong the crack (for the JB Weld to fill up) and let the stuff dry, then file down the excess JB Weld.

Sounds like the crack is causing your problems. I'd address that pronto.

gonna attend to the crack tonight. should have this baby ticking again by the end of the weekend.