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1996 Limited 5.2 V8 - Multiple Issues

My Jeep is mad at me and is about to give up.

I have many issues I have neglected so far, mostly due to lack of understanding of how to fix them. I am hoping some of them might be related.

The first problem was present when I first bought the Jeep. From 1st to 2nd gear changeover, there would be what I can only describe as a forceful slam coming from the rear, audible and enough to shake the passengers. The dealer refused to fix it. Like an idiot, I let it ride while still under warranty.

The second, which is far more recent, is a metallic whine at pretty much any speed, coming from the rear also and varying in pitch with speed of vehicle. My first guess is bearings in U-joint at differential, but I am not sure, and I don't have a lift where I can check.

The third problem is that, sometimes at stop light, unless I press on brake really hard, the engine will stall. Putting gear in park while waiting at light entirely eliminates the problem. I don't have a clue on this one.

The other final most annoying problem is that, while driving, the transmission will not shift from 2nd to 3rd gear. I have actually been playing tricks with it over past few months, accelerating, easing up off gas, then giving little more to help the computer know when to shift. Obviously something is seriously wrong. What's more disturbing is that, while I'm driving, I can actually feel the transmission shifting between 3rd and 4th gear, back and forth, constantly no matter what, about once every 3 seconds. The gear indicator is not *exactly* aligned either.

Since it's 10 years old, I'd rather do all the repairs myelf, even though I am inexperienced.

Any help appreciated.

-Le Chaud Lapin-

Reply to
Le Chaud Lapin
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Without looking at the vehicle, what you most likely have is a bad ring and pinion. This is possibly a result of bad carrier and/or pinion bearings. That is your most serious problem. Additional possibilities are low transmission fluid, a bad lockup converter, shifter improperly adjusted, and something I can't figure out causing the overdrive to hunt. As an inexperienced mechanic, about the only issue you can hope to address yourself is the transmission fluid level. You need to get a good and honest mechanic to look at this vehicle soon.

Earle

Reply to
Earle Horton

Thanks. I am definitely going to start looking into these ideas to see what I can find.

Though I live in area where it is easy to find a honest mechanic, I purposely decided not because I want educate myself on automotive repair. My job is is only 17 minutes away by car, and no one else depends on this vehicle, and since it's almost 10 years old, I figured that now is a good time to learn these things (maximum cost of mistake is value of vehicle - brakes, etc. notwithstanding). I have already prepared myself for the slapdowns that I will undoubtedly occur as I go through my education, so hopefully I can hang on to the coat tails of people in this news group and elsewhere as I move forward. :)

The good thing is, as an engineer, I do know when to excercise discpline and put the tools down and go get someone to help me fix the mess I made.

-Le Chaud Lapin-

Reply to
Le Chaud Lapin

I can offer a couple guesses.

First off the u-joints can be checked on the ground. You just block the wheels and/or use the parking brake, then put it in neutral to unload the drivetrain. You then can reach under and twist and pull every which way on each u-joint. You also look for rust marks at the caps. If you find any play or rust coming out of a cap, that joint is dead.

Parking over top of a ditch or two front wheels on a steep bank can give you lots of room also, block the wheels for this.

If it is internal rear end trouble you could be looking at large money likely to repair it. It is not something most mechanics will do, there are specialists for that job. If it is just something like a pinion bearing, not too bad for expense, but still up there....

The odd shifting can just be a dirty connection on the throttle position sensor. I recommend the sensor plug and socket be cleaned with an electrical contact cleaner, then some dielectric grease be put on the plug's sealing skirt. WD40 can be used in a pinch as a cleaner and spark plug boot protector is dielectric grease.

All the plugs and sockets on the throttle body can benefit from the clean, so can any on the sides of the transmission itself, but I would do up top and see what happens first.

I also highly recommend you get the cheap Haynes manual for fast easy lookups on most stuff and the real factory manual if you are really into it.

Folks here can help with lots of things too.

I'll bet we all shudder remembering the last time our Jeep got mad at us... LOL! I have 2 of 'em and they gang up on me sometimes....

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail >
Reply to
Mike Romain

Do you have a second vehicle?

Carl

Reply to
Carl

LOL!

No, but if things got really bad, I'd probably go out and get the motorbike I've always wanted but couldn't justify buying.

-Le Chaud Lapin-

Reply to
Le Chaud Lapin

Reply to
L.W.( ßill ) Hughes III

.Mike, Did you deserve it?

Reply to
billy ray

Ahhhhhh the truth comes out! You want it to be, temporarily, out of service so you can justify a new toy!

Reply to
billy ray

LOL! Yup....

Mike

billy ray wrote:

Reply to
Mike Romain

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