Jeep advice

[twaymouth]

Hi All, First post here but hopefully not last as I am planning to become a jeep owner at some point.

I am looking for some advice / a sanity check on a potential Jeep purchase. Long story short I am in the north of Melbourne and have been offered a 2005 2.8CRD Jeep Cherokee KJ with a 545rfe transmission for $3500. The only catch being that its done 180,000KM and that the transmission has no reverse. Going into more detail the transmission has been on a diagnostic computer and has thrown code 0763 - Shift solenoid c electrical. Other than this it drives normally / shifts smoothly in D. The current owner claims to have frequently maintained it (although has no paperwork), the engine looks clean and all the fluids are clean and at the correct levels.

I have got the rebuild manual for the 545rfe, done my research and being a reasonably mechanical minded individual believe that fixing the gearbox should be as simple as checking the wiring between the TCM and the gearbox and replacing the solenoid pack. I have tried to validate this logic with some local mechanics however they are all rather negative about the situation, giving numbers anywhere between 2K and 7K for them to fix.

Given the above and also that a reasonable example of the same vehicle can be found for around 7K - 14K mark can anyone experienced with these vehicles / transmissions comment? Is it likely to be just an issue with the shift solenoid or should I be running away while I still can?

Any advice, opinions, suggestions appreciated.

[glend]

Well at 180,000 kms it will be approaching the requirement for a second timing belt change, but if maintained to the schedule that engine can run to 500,000kms and it can be rebuilt unlike many new diesel engines. It uses wet liners and all rebuild parts are available. I would be concerned about the service history given that the transmission has not been looked after.

[chris0375]

Budget about $1200 for timing belt and labour. Worst case if it is stuffed you can part the car out for what you paid for it.

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[DarrenR]

code 0763 - Shift solenoid c electrical.

This is a break in the electrical harness between the TCM on the firewall and the plug on the transmission. Its not always the same wire, sometimes its one, sometimes two, sometimes a cross of circuit, sometimes limp mode (will happen 6km or 14km after clearing code), sometimes not. But always the same cause.

unbolt and remove the TCM which allow better access to the harness plug, its a bit of a pain to access it. unplug the transmission plug

*Then check continuity of each wire until you find one that's broken.
*I generally start testing the "solenoid c" circuit and each one closest to it.
*If no dice, check continuity between circuits, including the solenoid c circuit and wires next to it.
*When you find a broken one/two or a cross of continuity from one to another.
*Run a new one/two wires from close to TCM plug to same on transmission plug.
*Sometimes the old circuit needs to be cut from the harness plug on the TCM.
*Test drive for a day or so.
*Once you are sure all is good, make sure your new wires run in the same path as the original harness and conduit up the new wires and the old harness, so they become as one! zip tie as required, put all the rest back together.
*Pat yourself on the back and think how clever you are.

I've had this fault come into me prolly a dozen or so times over the years, unfortunately two customers before bringing their KJ to me had already had the transmission replaced and one had also had the TCM replaced. In both cases the fault remained and in both cases the transmission specialist had wiped their hands of the job, after the customer had paid the $4500, and $6000 repair bill....

Good hunting and do let us know your progress.

Regards
Daz

[chris0375]

[QUOTE=DarrenR;1549626]In both cases the fault remained and in both cases the transmission specialist had wiped their hands of the job, after the customer had paid the $4500, and $6000 repair bill....
/QUOTE]


That's absolute robbery.


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[twaymouth]

Thanks for the replies. Darren sounds like you know your stuff, based on the fact that it is still driving normally in the foward gears do you think that it is unlikely that the transmission is terminal? Could this fault also be the solenoid pack? Or would that present differently? I.e limpmode / stuck in 1 gear? You have me really tempted now, I think it would be a good cheap hack to learn about Jeeps on.

[glend]

Download the Service Manual from my Sticky thread at the front of the KJ Forum. The Service Manual has a complete wiring diagram to assist with your search for the TCM wire fault.