Engine or Transmission problem?

bluedemon

Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2017
Messages
41
Location
Hartford, WI, United States
Hi everyone! It has been awhile since I have posted on here. Working 2 full jobs don't give you time to do much of anything LOL! I have a problem with my Jeep and I don't know what it is. It seems that until my jeep is completely warmed up it stutters and coughs and sometimes dies especially when I stop at a stop sign. When I first start it and I go from park to reverse and back out of my driveway as soon as I hit the brakes it will stutter and almost die. I will put it in drive and go to the stop sign and it will stutter more before I hit the gas. When I get to a stop sign it will feel like it wants to stall but doesn't. I have no codes and from what I can see I have no vacuum leaks. When cold and I put it in low it almost feels like it is shifting in another gear but it can't! I have had the transmission fluid changed and a new filter put in but I really don't feel it is the transmission giving me problems because it shifts fine when warm. Any tips on what I can look for or do to remedy this? Any and all help is greatly appreciated. It is a 2000 Jeep Wrangler sport in-line 6. I absolutely love driving my Jeep so I just want to get whatever this is fixed ASAP!
 
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Try putting the trans in neutral when coming to a stop. If it doesn't stutter, then it's most likely a trans issue.
 
Okay I will try that and let you know. Thanks!
Okay I tried it and as soon as I hit the brakes and it is in gear it stutters. When I take off it feels like it is slipping. When I stop and I put it in Neutral like you guys said it does not stutter or cough. I take it this means it needs a transmission?? The fluid is a light pink so I know it isn't dirty. If so what type do I need and should I rebuild the one I have or get a used one.
 
I know nothing about these transmissions, so I'm not sure if this will be relevant or not. My Grand was acting similarly before, and it was because of a bad transmission sensor. Once replaced, it was fine. I don't know what these have for sensors, or even if they have any though. @Chris might know though.
 
Well, it could be a lot of things, but one thing that comes to mind first is indeed a sensor.

However, if it is acting up as you say it is, it should almost certainly be throwing some sort of check engine light. If it is, scan it and tell us what code it's showing. That will be important, as it's better than just throwing money at it (and guessing) blindly.
 
Also check your transmission fluid level.
You check it in neutral with engine warmed up.
Atf 4 is what we use.
Need to mention, check fluid level while engine is warm and running.
 
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Also check your transmission fluid level.
You check it in neutral with engine warmed up.
Atf 4 is what we use.
Need to mention, check fluid level while engine is warm and running.
Thank you for getting back to me. I have no codes and when I asked a mechanic to check the transmission codes he said there are no codes to check on the transmission. I have a 2000 Wrangler sport. Not even sure I have sensors on the trans.
 
I'm not transmission expert by any means. I do however know that while the engine on a TJ can last 600k plus miles without any internal rebuilds, the transmission is always going to be the weak point. Once these things get to see 150k plus miles (sometimes less), you'll often times start noticing that gears slip on the auto transmissions, and they start going out. If that's the case, it is indeed time for a re-build.

I really, really hate to guess on things like this when there is no check engine light or codes. I say that because you could easily end up throwing money at something that doesn't even fix it. I'm a huge DIY guy, but there is one thing I don't mess with, and that's the transmission. If this was my TJ (I have an auto as well), and this started happening to me, the first thing I would do is take it into a place that specializes in transmissions. AAMCO or something similar. They will usually give you a free diagnosis and tell you what the issue is. That way you could easily find out if it's the transmission needling rebuilt, or if it's something much simpler.
 
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I'm not transmission expert by any means. I do however know that while the engine on a TJ can last 600k plus miles without any internal rebuilds, the transmission is always going to be the weak point. Once these things get to see 150k plus miles (sometimes less), you'll often times start noticing that gears slip on the auto transmissions, and they start going out. If that's the case, it is indeed time for a re-build.

I really, really hate to guess on things like this when there is no check engine light or codes. I say that because you could easily end up throwing money at something that doesn't even fix it. I'm a huge DIY guy, but there is one thing I don't mess with, and that's the transmission. If this was my TJ (I have an auto as well), and this started happening to me, the first thing I would do is take it into a place that specializes in transmissions. AAMCO or something similar. They will usually give you a free diagnosis and tell you what the issue is. That way you could easily find out if it's the transmission needling rebuilt, or if it's something much simpler.
Good to know. I will see what my trusted mechanic says first. I am going to have him drain the fluid completely and change the filter even though I just did it last year and the fluid isn't even dirty. My mechanic doesn't flush the fluid he drains it ,fills it, runs it then drains it again. he does this like 3 times. It is a little expensive but worth it. Then I will see if it takes care of the problem. At least then I will know where I stand and I can go from there. I did some searches on line and saw a video of this guy who sounded like he had the same problem I had and when he changed his fluid and filter it took care of the problem. Thank you for all your help and advise so far
 
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Let us know what you find. Hopefully in your case it's nothing more than something simple such as the fluid!
 
Let us know what you find. Hopefully in your case it's nothing more than something simple such as the fluid!
Well I just got the Jeep back from my mechanic and he drained and filled it 3 times. He said the fluid was a little dirty but not too bad. WOO HOO!!!! the Jeep no longer stutters at stop signs and runs and shifts like a new Jeep! Evidently something was making it shift weird but whatever it was is gone now. I would have to say that before anyone thinks that there transmission is on it's way out do a complete drain fill-drain fill-drain fill and change the filter. I think the last person I had do the transmission filter and fluid change probably didn't use ATF+4 and thought anything would work. They also probably only drained it once and that was it so all the old stuff was still in the Torque Converter. Just my $.02 worth.Thank you to everyone that told me what to look for or gave me ideas! I appreciate it!!
 
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Good to know man, I'm glad it turned out to be such a minor issue. Makes you wonder what it was! Either way, sometimes old transmission fluid can indeed do that. I think most people (myself included) often times forget to change their transmission fluid.

It's also possible that you had the wrong transmission fluid in there as well.