bad transmission problem

1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee. AWD. auto trans. 215,000 miles. . i bought it in August 2007. and it ran fine untill it started to get cold then on my way to school one morning i got on the highway and traveld the 15 miles i do. At about 40mph it stuttered from second to third, and i was still holding the gas down and it was getting pretty high in rpm. and it shifted into 3rd i think but wouldnt go higher. it reminded me of an incomplete fraction or ratio. the further the gas was down the faster it is supposed to go at an even rpm, but the problem was the rpm was red lining at at me keeping constant at 50. and so it does that 9/10 times and on a good day it wont do that untill i come to a stop. but when i speed up again it starts to hiccup. i know people have had this problem or anything related but how to fix it.. a mechanic said i just need a new tranny but thats more$$ than i paid for the vehicle. i think?? 2,400. thanks.

also, my engine bay is very dirty. i had to drive through some mud and deep water with out a snorkle to pull my buddies truck out when he went mud bogging, any tips on how to properly clean the guts would be greatly appreciated and where to find a new airhog filter and a closing for the bottom was jacked by a mechanic when he replaced it the first time. i would greatly appreciate a reply soon im very sick of riding a bus to school my senior year. thanks again ahead of time.

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I always like to start with something simple like a bottle of Lucas transmission treatment. Check the tranny fluid to be sure it's nice & red (not burned & brown). That usually gives me something to do while I'm continuing to search for the answer.

When you pulled your buddy out of the mud was your Jeep really hot and the water really cold? This has the risk of cracking something from the temperature shift.

We'll get you back on the road before graduation. Hang in there, and in the mean time, be sure to tell your buddies on the bus how your Jeep is temporarily out of commission while you rig it up as a "School Bus Recovery Vehicle". That sometimes works - at least it makes me feel better.

ill check and see as soon as i get it back from the mechaninc sometime this week. no it was a pretty warm/wet day i just never cleaned it so the mud dried inside. my air filter was soaked. but im pretty sure the tranny fluid is fine. im ready for an oil change however.

transmission fluid is flushed and new. ABS light comes on, check engine light, and the over drive light comes on when i turn the key just befoe start.

I've had off-'n-on shifting problems with my '95 Orvis. First time was around 40K miles; they changed fluid and cleaned the valve body/spool(s). Started doing it again around 120K, but (because of the miles) this time "they" wanted to rebuild the whole tranny, even though I told them what the problem was the last time. I left, a bit peeved, and went to Schucks and bought a jug of some miracle-juice called Trans-X...figger'd "what the heck". It really did work miracles for me. Now, any time I start having shifting issues (delayed 2 --> 3 upshift, l-o-n-g delay going into reverse), I add 1/2 a bottle of T-X and I'm good again. Now up to 144K miles and going strong. For what it's worth. Patrick

thanks man ill try it, im at 217k miles :smokin:

Those issues are the simple OD sensor issues. Just swap them out for new ones when you do a tranny flush and filter change.

couldnt find any trans-x put a diff. brand of same kind of stuff in. it is still acting up.

I had tried another brand of "snake-oil" without improvement, before I had good results with Trans-X. No guarantees, other than you're guaranteed to save a ton of $$$$ if spending $ keeps you from having to rebuild/replace.

Just out of curiousity, try to see if there are any codes in the trans. Turn the key quickly from off to run (not start) three times, leaving the key in 'run' the third time. Watch the OD Off light and it will flash out any error codes. You'll see them as blink blink blink blink <pause> blink blink blink <longer pause> blink <pause> blink (your number of blinks may vary). IIRC anything other than the code 55 means trouble. Post any codes and we'll have a better idea here what's going on.

ok ill try in a few hours.. where do i find the codes? do i determine the code by the number of blinks?

Yes: The blinks spell out the code.
For example, "blink-blink (pause) blink-blink-blink" means "2-3".

k ill try it at 4. peace.

1-2-5-5 confirmation video will be done uploading shortly

1-2-5-5

can i get a reply? 1-2-5-5 trans code

I think its 12-55.

12 I believe that means the battery has been disconnected within a short period of time and 55 means the end of codes.

the battery disconnected from what the PCM? would that be the problem with not shifting right?

If I'm right then it would just mean the battery cables have been disconnected at some point and put back on. Have you disconnected it at all?

i did after i retrieved that code. maybe the mechanic did before i snatched it back. i forgot to mention in my first story that my moms boyfriend unplugged my distributor cap so the ignition would start the engine. and i put it back on myself but i dont think that is the problem.. i am honestly sick of waiting. i dont know what to do. i got a louisville slugger in my trunk that might finally come in handy and maybe ill bring the shotgun out too :banghead:

I would bet it's either your input shaft sensor or your output shaft sensor on your tranny. Goodluck.

if only i knew what that was. ill take your suggestions to a friend

Just had a look-see at your video, butterj. The CEL light pulls engine codes. 12 and 55 are common.

If you took it to a mechanic recently for some work that may have necessitated pulling the power, the 12 is expected. Means that the PCM's lost power completely within the last 50 drive cycles. 55 means 'end of codes.'

The same procedure can be used to pull the codes off the OD Off light, except those will relate to the transmission. You had the key cycle right on. Try it again, but this time see if anything shows up at the OD Off light (you said it was flashing when you started up sometimes?) The codes are given in the same manner as the Check Engine light. After it acts up, check them and compare them to this link if any are present: http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl922f.htm

As some of the other forumites have suggested, it may be a sensor, best of luck!

I would bet it's either your input shaft sensor or your output shaft sensor on your tranny. Goodluck.
They are about the diameter of a quarter and about 2 inches long and are very easy to change, one 10mm bolt holds them in place. They sense the speed of the corresponding shafts and when they go out it feels really weird like you're riding the brakes, mine did anyway and couldn't get over 30mph. I believe, you don't even lose any tranny fluid. Do you have a AutoZone or Advanced Auto around, their code readers may pick up on the tranny codes. On mine, both sensors were the same(interchangeable), but only 1 was bad.

I had a similar problem with my Focus. It refused to go to the highest gear. It was easily fixed by replacing a solenoid.

Any new codes? Good luck...

got code 55. and nope no auto zone. i live in bfe

*attached bomb to under side of hood, and poured trail of gasoline from the engine to the ground and holding a torch over top of it*