freewheel transmission?

[outlawsean417]

i believe my 88 cherokee transmission is some how in a freewheel mode.when i drive everything shifts fine but when i let off the gas it feels like the trans disengage and coast down the road.when i step back on the gas it reengages into overdrive or when ever gear it should be in. is there any way of fixing this?

[Saudade]

I assume you have an automatic. This is essentially how it should behave. You don't get much "compression braking" in Drive.

Or did I miss something?

[outlawsean417]

Originally Posted by Saudade

I assume you have an automatic. This is essentially how it should behave. You don't get much "compression braking" in Drive.

Or did I miss something?

i do have an automatic,and my breaking seems to be find.what is happening is when i am driving my jeep i let off the gas and the transmission seems to go into nuetral,when i give it gas again it'll kick back into gear and drive normal.it will do it every time. it almost feels like it wont stay in gear when i let off the gas.

[Saudade]

I'm still confused. Are you hearing any kind of noises? Clunking, thumping, anything? If not, then I suspect your transmission is operating normally. Have you driven a car before with an automatic? If so, maybe you can describe how the Jeep feels different from it.

You have a torque converter that is designed to "slip". Since there is no direct connection from the engine to the transmission (OK, if the TQ has a Lockup but let's keep it simple), you can back off the gas and still coast along slowing down gradually. If going downhill, you might even pick up speed (if the hill is steep enough).

[outlawsean417]

Originally Posted by Saudade

I'm still confused. Are you hearing any kind of noises? Clunking, thumping, anything? If not, then I suspect your transmission is operating normally. Have you driven a car before with an automatic? If so, maybe you can describe how the Jeep feels different from it.

You have a torque converter that is designed to "slip". Since there is no direct connection from the engine to the transmission (OK, if the TQ has a Lockup but let's keep it simple), you can back off the gas and still coast along slowing down gradually. If going downhill, you might even pick up speed (if the hill is steep enough).

there is no noise. i do have expierence in driving many different cars . when i let off the gas it feel like im rolling in nuetral and when i give it gas i can feel it re-engage because it down shifts when i give it gas ...after a second or so it will go into overdrive.

comparing this feeling is just like i said it feel's like im in nuetral unlike my other car i can let go of the gas and i feel like i am coasting not like im in nuetral.basically it feels like there is no torque or pressure on my trans when i let go of the gas.

[Saudade]

Sorry, I guess I can't offer anything more. As I've said before, it sounds fine. There's no noise and it shifts OK. Since (obviously) I can't drive it myself, I can't experience what you're feeling with it.

Unless someone else chimes in differently, I'd not worry about it.

[oljeeptek]

Sounds like normal operation.

Make sure your tps isn't set too low. It could effect shift timing.

[outlawsean417]

thank you guys for trying to help, i really like my jeep and dont want anything to happen to it. i just replaced the front main seal, rear main, freeze plugs, water pump, thermostat,head gasket,vavle cover gasket, tranny seal and filter,and the oil pan gasket..i will be replacing the entire front end bushings ,upper and lowers.
is there anything else i should worry about. such as what are the main problems with jeep.i already sank alot of $ into it and i just want to be able to jump into this summer and drive to cali 3 different times. my first trip will be may 16th. i will be going from branson, MO, to redding cali, up to eugene OR, then to kent washington , down to ogden ut, and then back to branson MO. so i will be putting the mile on for sure. each of these trips are the exact same.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by oljeeptek

Sounds like normal operation.

Make sure your tps isn't set too low. It could effect shift timing.

I agree.

It sounds as if you are describing how the torque converter unlocks when you let off the gas.
This happens in most automatic overdrive transmissions.

It may be a bit disconcerting if you are used to a 3 spd automatic, or another manufacturer's transmission.

Try driving down the highway in third gear (no overdrive) and let us know if it still does the same thing.