A few weeks ago, I was driving my stock 2000 TJ Sport (106K mi, 3-speed auto trans) down a steep winding road (10% grade) at 15-20 mph, and shifted into 1st gear to save the brakes. I then heard a loud clunk and a grinding/growling/clicking noise followed. Initially, the noise occurred only in 1st gear, not when the transmission shifted to 2nd, 3rd, or neutral. I replaced the transmission mount and the 2 engine mounts but the grinding/clicking sound remains. The grinding/growling sound now occurs when the transmission is dropped into reverse but the clicking starts when the vehicle is moving forward. The sounds all but disappears when the vehicle is raised off the ground and shifted into gear. Any ideas what the problem might be? The local Jeep dealer wants $3,000 for a new tranny, no surprise. I'm vacationing in Oregon at the moment and can't make the 2100 mi drive back home to the FL panhandle until I can get my Jeep fixed. Thanks in advance.
Is there a quick and dirty way to check the transfer case fork position? I drove 25 miles to my parents' house after the initial damage but only short test drives since then. Nevertheless, would the transfer case fork position explain the presence of noise at low speeds (<20 mph) and no noise at high speeds (>20 mph)? Or cause the sound to occur on the ground and disappear when lifted off the ground? Only curious, not trolling.
Yes, I plan to do that before installing the cable kit just to confirm that is indeed the problem. The linkage did seem a little sloppy although it didn't appear out of adjustment, so I decided to get a cable kit anyway. After replacing the tranny mount/fluid/filter, both engine mounts, front sway bar end links, track bar, engine oil/filter change, and front/rear differential service (before the 2,500 mi drive back home), I feel I need a break. Will update after testing/cable kit installation is complete. cheers.
I had a highly-recommended local transmission specialist listen to noise and he's pretty confident that the grinding/clicking noise at slow speeds (<20 mph) is due to a planetary gear set in the transmission that is either chipped or broken. Will cost $1,500 to remove, rebuild, and reinstall my transmission, which is cheaper than the $3,300 that the local Jeep dealer wants for a rebuilt transmission.
No, he seemed pretty confident it's one or both low planetary gear sets in the transmission. Will update after the rebuild, though.
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