Clutch or trans?

2004 Wrangler SE 5 speed with the 2.4L 4 banger. We'll be taking it back under warranty next week, but since most dealers aren't too sharp, wanted to check with the minds here first.


When starting out in 1st, there is a shudder, like the clutch is slipping intermittently; while slipping the clutch to start moving from a stop, there will be maybe 6-8 of these sensations until the clutch is fully engaged. Both my wife and I have experienced it, and tried various techniques and are both veteran manual transmission drivers so it's not us. There is also an accompanying rattle like things in the drivetrain are moving around. Along with these the vehicle doesn't start moving smoothly, you can feel a little discontinuity in the acceleration.

Funny thing is, if you start out in 2nd (or use reverse) you don't get the same effect; in fact, 2nd is very smooth and the clutch seems perfect. There is no problem with any other shift or gear, and the clutch does not slip under any condition.

I'm thinking there may be a problem with 1st gear, inside the transmission.

The problem started suddenly, with no previous symptoms.

Any thoughts?

When are you taking it to the dealer??

Where do you sense the "shudder" thru the steering wheel, the pedels, gear shifter or where???

Could be the cushioning springs in the center of the clutch disc

The "discontinuity in the acceleration" you mention could be an engine driveability issue and initiating the "rattle" in the clutch.

If it was an internal trany problem like a bearing it should show up in more than one gear.

Let us know what they say....

JD

Shudder was in the drivetrain, you could hear it mostly, and feel it through both the seats and the shifter.

It actually started after we'd had it in to the dealer, the #3 coil failed and they replaced both the wires and the plugs under warranty. [It seems that a lot of the Jeep 2.4L have been having their plugs, coils, & wires degrading. There's only 30K on the vehicle.]

But...

After one day of acting up, it returned to normal. Very odd that would happen. I'm thinking there may have been something on the clutch disk? But then again, how would they get something down there when working on the plugs?


Never thought of the clutch springs....

Thanks for the reply; I'll post back if it reappears.