2001 wrangler transmission shift problems
sasquatchmystery
12-29-2007, 08:11 PM
Hopefully someone can help me on this.
I have a 2001 TJ Jeep wrangler with a 4.0l Auto trans. It is stock. I just changed tires and stayed with the same size tire just more aggressive tread to get through the mud. Right off the bat up in the woods the transmission acted up. There was no passing gear and the trans was shifting funny.
When I gave it gas and made turns, as the jeep shifted from first to second it acted like it was slipping. I figured it was the passing gear cable so I installed a new one. I adjusted it to the specs from my Dodge dealer. I took it for a test drive and now I had passing gear, bur now the transmission shifts from second gear to third right away. When I punch the throttle it downshifts ok, but goes right back into third. The only thing I can think of is that there is a solenoid in the transmission that is haywire but I don't know it's function. The transmission fluid is full although smells a bit but is clean. I do not know what ATF+4 smells like other than what is in the trans. If I manually shift the trans from first- third it shifts. When I go into drive the transmission will slip and the engine revs. before going into drive.
I thought that it was from the tires, but staying the same size on the jeep should not make a difference, I think a component was weak and just quit working. The Jeep only has 38,800 miles on it and has never been offroad much before as it was a rental from Hawaii.
any help would be appreciated.
UPDATE: A stick must have gotten wedged up above the transmission and skid plate. The bracket that retains the cable had bent. It didn't look bent but my Jeep mechanic confirmed it and bending it back fixed all the shifting problems so if anyone has this problem check the bracket and cable first.
Happy New Year.
I have a 2001 TJ Jeep wrangler with a 4.0l Auto trans. It is stock. I just changed tires and stayed with the same size tire just more aggressive tread to get through the mud. Right off the bat up in the woods the transmission acted up. There was no passing gear and the trans was shifting funny.
When I gave it gas and made turns, as the jeep shifted from first to second it acted like it was slipping. I figured it was the passing gear cable so I installed a new one. I adjusted it to the specs from my Dodge dealer. I took it for a test drive and now I had passing gear, bur now the transmission shifts from second gear to third right away. When I punch the throttle it downshifts ok, but goes right back into third. The only thing I can think of is that there is a solenoid in the transmission that is haywire but I don't know it's function. The transmission fluid is full although smells a bit but is clean. I do not know what ATF+4 smells like other than what is in the trans. If I manually shift the trans from first- third it shifts. When I go into drive the transmission will slip and the engine revs. before going into drive.
I thought that it was from the tires, but staying the same size on the jeep should not make a difference, I think a component was weak and just quit working. The Jeep only has 38,800 miles on it and has never been offroad much before as it was a rental from Hawaii.
any help would be appreciated.
UPDATE: A stick must have gotten wedged up above the transmission and skid plate. The bracket that retains the cable had bent. It didn't look bent but my Jeep mechanic confirmed it and bending it back fixed all the shifting problems so if anyone has this problem check the bracket and cable first.
Happy New Year.
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026