2004 TJ overdrive

Feb 12, 2004 4 Replies

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islandjeepman 22 years ago

I have had other vehicles with overdrive transmissions, but none that handle like my new TJ. It shifts from 3rd to 4th around 45mph (maybe 50 if I am accellerating) , even if I am going uphill. It does not want to shift down to 3rd unless I stomp on the gas or the hill gets real steep. Rather, it will lug slower and slower and end up shifting into 2nd. It seems that it isn't the shifting into overdrive, but the shifting out much too reluctantly. Is this computer controlled? Can it be easily adjusted? Only

4000 miles so far and not in for 1st service yet. It is a distance to dealership and 1/2 a day so I am looking for some info 1st.

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jdarg 22 years ago

Do some research - I've noticed similar posts on other Jeep forums WRT the new auto trans having a tendancy to lug going up moderate inclines, etc. General consensus was that either it's intentional to meet some sort of regulations and won't hurt anything or it's a bug which needs to be addressed with newer computer code, which I don't think DC has released yet.

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j carter 22 years ago

I sure wish my '04 GC acted like that. It downshifts at the least provocation!

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Davenport 22 years ago

I have a new Rubicon with the 43RLE automatic and also have been somewhat surprised by it's shift personality.

The following link gives some more information on the 42RLE and alludes to it being able to "adapt" to a person's driving habits, but I have not seen this confirmed elsewhere. Perhaps someone in this group with the appropriate service manual knows.

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GK 22 years ago

Same problem here. Shift point between 3rd and OD is terrible. Tranny will jump into OD at the drop of a dime. I typically do most of my driving with the OD "off" button turned on. This most likely could easily be fixed by DC with a simple reprogramming. People do this all the time on Chevys and Fords with those power programmer systems that plug into the OBD port. Funny thing is, I have found that my gas mileage has improved by turning the OD off. I think I read a TSB on

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regarding harsh shifting between 3rd and OD on 2003 models equipped with auto tranny. I am not sure if this impacts the '04s, but the shifting sure does suck. I believe I liked the T999

3-Speed auto on my 2001 TJ better.

Regards,

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