[JFiorentino]

Dear Jeep Owner,

Please visit the following threat and give us your support.... http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/normal-automatic-transmission-4-0-i6-wrangler-124400/

I challenge each and every Jeep owner to send Daimler Chrysler feedback about this issue. If we get enough people to write them, they may finally address the problem.

You don't need to own a 2003 / 2004 TJ with the 4.0L and Automatic transmission to write DC. Just say that you have been reading complaints about this issue, and wonder what Jeep plans to do about it.

Here is a link to Jeep's customer service site where you can submit your message:

http://www.jeep.com/wccsapp/universa...ull&category=U

Please take a moment now to send them a note. State that this is a Problem, and that Jeep owners are dissatisfied that Chrysler will not address the issue.

Please post a cut and paste what you send them, along with their reply.

Just to summarize, the issue is with 2003 and 2004 Jeep Wrangler TJ with the 4.0L engine and Automatic Transmission. The Engine lugs in 3rd and 4th gears with the Overdrive on and off.

Thank You All in Advance,

[JFiorentino]

Here is my note to DC... Once they reply, I'll post that as well.

I'm writing you regarding my 2004 Jeep Wrangler TJ, 4.0L, with Automatic Transmission. While in 3rd or 4th gear, with either the Overdrive on or off, my engine Lugs.. The tach indicates that my engine is only turning 1200 - 1500RPM when it begins to Lug terribly. Being a member of several Jeep clubs and internet forums, I understand that this is a common problem with this model. I have talked to my dealership, but they do not have a fix to offer me. Please advise what Jeep plans to do about this known problem. My Jeep only gets 12 or 14 miles per gallon. I can't imagine that fixing this problem will worsen my mileage much. Please advise when a fix will be made available.
If, DC does not plan to fix this; I will begin bringing my Jeep to the dealership weekly until it becomes covered under the Lemon Law. I prefer not to take that route and hope that you can resolve this problem.

This issue is getting much negative attention. One person advised that his dealership was aware of the problem, but did not have a fix. They actually told him to have his differential gears changed even though he has stock wheels. I can't imagine that this is the best solution DC can offer? Please Help!

John

[nwquadriders]

I just wrote them a similar letter...I'm anxious to get a response back. I would think this problem could be fixed with something as simple as reprogramming the computer controller to tell the tranny not to shift into OD until the after reaching 50 mph, and to actually downshift on it's own into 3rd (without more foot on the pedal) before reaching the 1500RPM range (where the lugging begins).

Re-gearing will not fix this problem. I have a friend with 4.88 gears and his does the exact same thing....Maybe if enough people actually take the 5 minutes to write a letter they will address this issue.

[vargeg60]

There is a problem with the 4 speed automatic transmission that needs to be addressed. The jeeps lugs in between the speeds of 42 and 60. I feel there should be a recall to address this common problem.
There is a strong jeep community, and this problem has been brought to the attention of it. There needs to be some action taken in the form of a recall. It is a possible safety issue when on the highway. A sudden loss of power even for a few seconds can disrupt the prevailing rate of speed on a freeway, thus leading to a collision. DC needs to take responsibility for their design flaw.

I have the same problem with my 4 banger and 4.56 gears with stock tires. If we all post some letters to jeep we could get the ball rolling.

[JFiorentino]

Excellent!!! Keep them coming. If we get enough complaints into DC, they will have to take notice of our concern.

If your Jeep buddies are Lugging, and don't have web access, they can write or call DC at:

Contact Us by Telephone
1-800-992-1997
M-F 8:00AM-5:00PM
All Time Zones

Contact Us by Mail:
DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 21-8004
Auburn Hills, MI 48321-8004

[carabaoray]

I sent it, but forgot to copy it. Anyways I'm glad you started this, I think it might snowball into somthing they have to address.

[opiv]

That is a good plan - Jeep will respond if enough people complain. Do you know if it was fixed for the '05 model year or is it still an ongoing problem. I am considering picking up a TJU Rubicon soon. I would write in but I have a 2000 with a 3 speed.

[JFiorentino]

Originally Posted by opiv

I would write in but I have a 2000 with a 3 speed.

Don't let that hold you back... Just tell them you keep seeing posts about the Engine Lugging problem and don't want to buy a new Jeep until this is resolved. That will get their attention.

Digger

[JustPassinThru]

They have people standing in LINE to buy TJs. They're not concerned.

It is probably set up this way to achieve "better" fuel economy and/or lower emissions on a dynamometer. It's your letter-writing against the inert Federal bureaucracy. Guess who's gonna win.

You can just make up your minds to buy manual TJs from these years here on. A fix would be as simple as it would be illegal..."tampering," don't you know.

[carabaoray]

Originally Posted by JustPassinThru

They have people standing in LINE to buy TJs. They're not concerned.

It is probably set up this way to achieve "better" fuel economy and/or lower emissions on a dynamometer. It's your letter-writing against the inert Federal bureaucracy. Guess who's gonna win.

You can just make up your minds to buy manual TJs from these years here on. A fix would be as simple as it would be illegal..."tampering," don't you know.

Thinking like this allows them to get away with it. I say we can at least try, or bend over and accept it. I'm going to try.

[JFiorentino]

Originally Posted by JustPassinThru

A fix would be as simple as it would be illegal..."tampering," don't you know.

I'm sorry, but if a thing ain't right... Jeeps have been around forever... There is simply no excuse for Daimler Chrysler. They put out a product that could never meet stated fuel economy figures, then tried to cover that up by messing with shift points.

We put a man on the moon 40 years ago, Stealth fighters were designed back in the 70's. A battery powered PALM Pilot today has 1000 time the computing capability of yesterday's mainframes, yet car technology is basically the same as it was 100 years ago.

There is simply no incentive for car manufacturers to "Do it right he first time".. You can bet that with the new car boom in China, you'll be able to expect less and less from car manufacturers. They have a whole new market to saturate before having to worry about developing innovative new cars for us.

Car manufacturers keep our Middle Eastern friends fat and happy. Our Government has vehicles in production that will run 100 miles on a gallon of Gas, Diesel, Kerosene and even used vegetable oil.... Yet my 2004 Jeep only get's 14 miles per gallon, pings like a mother when I put in 87 octaine, and lugs at every hill. What's wrong with this picture All I ask is that for $20,000 that my vehicle runs, runs well, and runs as advertised...

Advertisers, stop showing TV commercials of a 4x4's driving off-road and blasting through mud... You and I both know that this will void your warranty... Read the fine print at the end of their commercials... And tire shops, don't sell me tires plastered with the words "Mud-Rover" then tell me that you won't cover the tires under Warranty because I drove off-road... If I wanted street tires, I wouldn't have bought Mud Tires... Do they really think we are all stupid...

Sorry, I'm just venting a little

Digger

[linux24]

I have written them a 6 page letter describing this with graphical representations of RPMs at speed in my experience along with quotes. I have spoken to HQ in person, but one more letter won't hurt anything.

I encourage everyone to make like a salmon and swim upstream. If they get the idea that we are aware this is a problem as a group, they might do something about it.

You know what will happen if we don't try? NOTHING.

------------------letter follows--------------

I purchased a 2004 Wrangler from Nalley Jeep of Roswell Oct 31, 2003. Since then, it has consisently had the same problem: When I ascend a hill and hit around 42-45mph, it upshifts to 4th gear, the RPM's drop from 2100 to 1500, and the engine begins to make a noise and lugs as if in too low of a gear.

Pressing the gas harder makes the Jeep downshift violently.

Driving with OverDrive set to OFF does not solve this problem, as the Jeep will lug at 35mph between 2nd and 3rd gear.

Please address this issue. To date, I 've been told by your service technicians various lies concerning this problem:

1. My gears are too low (I'm running 3.73 gears on 28 inch stock tires)
2. I'm buying bad gasoline (this has nothing to do with fuel)
3. It is not making a noise (the tech lied and said he couldn't feel the Jeep violently bouncing and jerking as it began to choke)

But other technicians have been more forthcoming, admitting that hundreds of people have brought this problem to them, and that your own research and quality control centers have Jeep with this problem. I have test driven many new Jeep Wranglers since, and I can make them all lug.

No automatic transmission should ever allow an engine to not have enough power to maintain high enough RPMs.

Please take action against this problem immediately.

I have written to you previously about this issue, but you have done nothing to date. I have begun making my concerns public on

http://www.jeepforums.com

and the people there confirm that they too experience this problem.

Please inform me when an update to the PCM is available. I assume you will provide this as a recall since it was a flaw in your design that caused the problem.

[JFiorentino]

Excellent! Keep them coming... It doesn't take but a few minutes, and who knows, it might just work.

I'd be more than willing to give up a gallon or two per mile to have my Jeep not lug like a mule.

Digger

[Saturdaynight]

Guys, one of the best things you can do is get your State Senator involved. They can do a lot more then we can, trust me.

My brother got an entire organization kicked out of the state of Vermont for malpractice, with one call to Bernie Sanders office in Washington, DC.

If there is truely something wrong with these Jeeps, your State Senator can get things moving in a very quick and swift way!

[Joe Diver]

Originally Posted by JFiorentino

..... yet car technology is basically the same as it was 100 years ago.

You kow, all in all though, that's my very favorite thing about my new TJ...I can work on it! It's a new car, but the engine bay is open and things are obvious...not packed in and buried under all sorts of madness...I can crawl under it too...I just love this. I have a new car that I can work on. I've sworn to do everything myself to this Jeep, except while it's under warranty of course...but fluids and such I do myself, and anything that would cost $$ that's covered by the warranty goes to the stealership. But once it's out of warranty, I doubt it'll ever see a dealership again.