Did I chase a gremlin out or what?

BobbyA1

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2021
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36
Location
Virginia
2000 TJ, 5spd NV3550, 4.0L i6. 195,000 miles on odo.

So how is this possible> Since I bought this TJ a year ago, it would always grind going into 2nd gear at speeds above 15mph. Below 15 it was fine. Been that way for a year. This past weekend I decided to replace the entire EVAP system, needed something to do project. So replaced the steel line to the fuel tank, the charcoal canister, the leak detection pump, solenoid and filter. Seems like the motor running really smoothly, but oddly now I don't have any grinding shifting into 2nd gear at all, not at 15mph, not at 20mph, even shifting into 2nd at 25mph. It's smooth sailing. How can this be possible? Is it just coincidence, perhaps the 100 degree temps this summer have the gearbox running smoothly or what?
 
If there is any connection I’d sure love to know what it is- If there is one consistent weakness with that transmission it seems to be the second gear synchronizer

I think you’re the first person on here that has tackled an entire evap system but I may be wrong.

It couldn’t have possibly been an AMC Gremlin you flushed out of there. They are pesky.
 
If there is any connection I’d sure love to know what it is- If there is one consistent weakness with that transmission it seems to be the second gear synchronizer

I think you’re the first person on here that has tackled an entire evap system but I may be wrong.

It couldn’t have possibly been an AMC Gremlin you flushed out of there. They are pesky.


Was just looking at it again and totally forgot 1 thing and could be very important. When I was replacing the EVAP system I had noticed that the bolt head on the Engine Mount (same side) was broken off and essentially the engine wasn't bolted down all the way, had some play or flex in it. So I had drilled out the remnant of the broken bolt and threaded/installed a new Grade 8 bolt into that upper driver side engine mount.

Possibly if the engine had a little too much flex, then that would also cause some lateral movement on the transmission bell housing and perhaps have had some influence on the gearbox shifting into 2nd? Now that it's all bolted down, perhaps explains the smoother shifting?
 
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Was just looking at it again and totally forgot 1 thing and could be very important. When I was replacing the EVAP system I had noticed that the bolt head on the Engine Mount (same side) was broken off and essentially the engine wasn't bolted down all the way, had some play or flex in it. So I had drilled out the remnant of the broken bolt and threaded/installed a new Grade 8 bolt into that upper driver side engine mount.

Possibly if the engine had a little too much flex, then that would also cause some lateral movement on the transmission bell housing and perhaps have had some influence on the gearbox shifting into 2nd? Now that it's all bolted down, perhaps explains the smoother shifting?

Good eye.
 
Some things just can't be explained. :unsure:
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