2.4 TJ loses power until it eventually doesn’t move

[Trisha]

Just got my 06 tj back up and running. New clutch installed 2.5 years ago. Shes a 2.4 with the NSG370 6 speed transmission. Topped off tranny fluid with redline MTL and went out for a ride. 6 hours later I start losing momentum. In gear but losing power until finally I cannot move. On jack, wheels move in gear but barely. No grind, no burnt clutch smell, no hard shift, nothing happened prior to losing power. She goes in all gears with ease and it feels engaged but power is simply gone. Oh and 4 wheel hi and low make no difference. Also, can shift into gears with depressing clutch now.

I am lost...any thoughts??

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Hard to say without being able to sit in the driver's seat but that sure sounds like some kind of a clutch problem if the engine revs normally.

 

[dennis461]

Starting out,

1. In gear does engine rev up, vehicle won't move or
2. does engine bog down and stall out

 

[chimmike]

throw out bearing/engagement issue with the pressure plate perhaps?
When you say in gear but losing power, can we clarify this? Is the engine revving freely but the jeep not accelerating or maintaining speed? Or does the engine not respond to input at all? (check throttle cable?)

 

[hear]

And the losing power bit...is that over a period of time, as in you progressively lose more power the longer you go, until you can't move?

 

[Chris]

Sure sounds like something transmission related to me.

 

[josb612]

Is it possible that the catalytic converter is clogged?

 

[Trisha]

Starting out,

1. In gear does engine rev up, vehicle won't move or
2. does engine bog down and stall out

Engine revs normally as do rpms just won't move enough to move jeep. Forever when jacked up both rear tires will move slowly in gear. Feels like a lack of power more than clutch not engaging

 

[TurboTJ]

Engine revs normally as do rpms just won't move enough to move jeep. Forever when jacked up both rear tires will move slowly in gear. Feels like a lack of power more than clutch not engaging

That is a very confusing statement. It “revs normally” but ”feels like lack of power more than clutch not engaging.” With the clutch engaged (your foot is off the clutch pedal) does the engine rev without the Jeep moving? If so, your clutch is shot. What the wheels do when on jacks means nothing. Does the Jeep move when on the ground?

 

[Moglocker]

That is a very confusing statement. It “revs normally” but ”feels like lack of power more than clutch not engaging.” With the clutch engaged (your foot is off the clutch pedal) does the engine rev without the Jeep moving? If so, your clutch is shot. What the wheels do when on jacks means nothing. Does the Jeep move when on the ground?

Clutch is shot

 

[Trisha]

Ok, the jeep will not move itself, no. But, what im trying to explain is that when in gear, while jacked up, wheels roll. As in powered rolling from being in gear. Just not enough power to move jeep. I've lost a clutch once in the past and that smell is unmistakable. There is no smell, no sounds or any indication that clutch was going. I did notice that transmission mount needs to be replaced.

 

[chimmike]

You're basically saying the same thing 3 different times. I think we all understand it doesn't move in gear. We are trying to help diagnose by asking specific questions.

Forget being in gear, forget moving the jeep. When stopped, clutch disengaged, transmission not in gear: does the engine rev freely to redline? Is there any stuttering, fuel smell, etc?

Second, but please. Do not answer this until addressing the first part:
When in first gear, engage the clutch and press the accelerator pedal, does the engine rev freely, but just not make the jeep move?
Can you sit still, put the trans in first gear, and engage the clutch without any accelerator pedal, and the engine still run but the jeep not move? I.e., does it stall or no?

 

[TurboTJ]

Ok, the jeep will not move itself, no. But, what im trying to explain is that when in gear, while jacked up, wheels roll. As in powered rolling from being in gear. Just not enough power to move jeep. I've lost a clutch once in the past and that smell is unmistakable. There is no smell, no sounds or any indication that clutch was going. I did notice that transmission mount needs to be replaced.

Never mind what the wheels do when they are jacked up. Just a little bit of remaining friction in a totally shot clutch will be enough to make the wheels move. The only thing that matters is what happens when they are on the ground. You have indicated that the transmission shifts fine and this was a gradual failure. Manual transmissions don’t gradually fail by slipping so we can eliminate the transmission as the problem. This is your checklist:

1) On the ground
2) Foot off clutch
3) Transmission in gear
4) Engine running and freely revs
5) Jeep does not move
6) Clutch is shot