C'mon little Cherokee - WTF?

[tazwegion]

Originally Posted by anthonygubbin

Yerr and both in Tas. With the shortage of decent Jeep wreckers here in Tas I doubt there will be two good cond SH units in the state.

Lucky that I'm in Victoria then, at least that gives you better odds at finding a decent used transmission... I'm looking down the barrel at a potentially very expensive rebuild, will have to wait and see.

I put approximately 3~3.5 Litres into the AW4 (around the recommended 4 US quarts), and double checked the level after running through the gears a couple of times, no Clarky the fluids spewed out the filler/dipstick pipe

[Tims_Jeep]

I had a similar problem a couple of weeks after getting my transmission serviced at a transmission "specialist". Needless to say I took it back and asked for a please explain, the explanation was that the clutches were shedding crud and had blocked the filter, they were worn and needed to be replaced, expect around $1700, if I didn't want to proceed they could change the filter and fluid and I could probably drive it home.

I actually drove it for about a week before it started slipping again, this time I bought a low km wreck ~$700 and swapped the auto. My thoughts are the "specialist" put the wrong fluid in it first time because it was fine before the service.

Bottom line, swap the filter and fluid and see if it improves, it might happen again but it sounds like you didn't swap the filter with the last fluid change so you might get another few years out of it.

[Roler]

Just a few of my cents here:

The AW trans filter is nothing but a screen type 'filter', to prevent large chunks from doing damage. Replacing that will not solve the issue, because its not causing it.

Agree with the fluid change. Discolored/tanned fluid means old/burned fluid. Which can be related to overfilling, bit more about there ahead.
I suggest you do a forward flush. The thought behind it, especially in your case, is you change ALL the trans fluid in one go and be done with it (this compared to the drain/refill/drive and repeat cycle, which only changes part of the fluid at a time, but is otherwise a fine procedure). Some will replace the filter on the last drain, which then needs the pan to be dropped. BUT: with the forward flush you also use the transmission's own pump, which, in your case, might be worth looking at because that might be in play here.

Fluid out of the dipstick is 'overfilling' or a situation that mimics that, say for instance that your "forward" flow is blocked, bad pump, blocked lines or severely blocked trans cooler, or for whatever reason.
Remember that it only takes 500ml for the level to go from "add" to "safe"on the trans dipstick. Refilling the amount that came out, only works if you had a previous good level (my 'shop' persons changed the fluid for me once (and never again) and over time, I had to drain almost more than 1 ltr of the ATF to eventually bring it back to normal levels. And I must say that is was by times difficult to see on the dipstick where the level was...

The AW4 needs DEX III (well, DEXIII/MERC but we don't have that in Oz) compatible fluid, which is vitally important. No other, or malfunction is on the cards.

[Doctor W]

Isn't Dexron III just about the most common ATF fluid around?.......and I take it that Mercon is another Trade Name/ brand for same??

[Roler]

The patent on the Dex III/Merc has lapsed IIRC, that's why its no longer for sale as such. DexIII is not obscure, but its something to closely check. Still readily available, but many now are Dex IV or more. Even though the Chrysler service bulletin states that 4+ can be advised, they did not put that advice into practise, until after the last AW4 ran out of it factory warranty....could be coincedence, but it makes you think...

[LuluBelle]

Cost me 3 n a half grand to get my 96 auto done up ......................more than the car is worth but still all the rest is good and well worth the $

[Roler]

Man, that better be a gold plated, hardly used, <10.000 km on it replacement they put in there, because that's a lotta dough. Dealer?