32RH transmission slip

[Locky]

On my 2001 TJ 4.0, I have noticed for a couple of weeks now a small slip when putting it into drive. Well the other day I came to a stop sign and when i went to take off nothing at all so I ended up putting it in park and then back into drive and she went. When I got home the first thing I did was check the fluid level and all good there. I have been noticing now a slight slip when it is also shifting into 2nd and 3rd. Last spring I had a shop replace the leaking gasket and they also put a new filter in so I am sure that isn't the issue. What are your suggestions?

 

[HYRYSC]

What fluid did they refill it with? ATF 4 is the one to use for the Autos.

 

[Locky]

What fluid did they refill it with? ATF 4 is the one to use for the Autos.

I assume they did. They are a shop that is locally known for working on Jeeps.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Was your transmission in NEUTRAL and was the engine running while you checked its ATF level? If not the dipstick will erroneously show the ATF level is higher than it really is. Not many shops know your particular transmission, the 32RH, has to be in Neutral to check its ATF level. If it's in Park and half-way up the ATF level zone, they would probably assume it's ok. Shifting into Neutral in that situation would show it is actually underfilled.

Start the engine, pull the parking brake on, shift to Neutral, then check the ATF level. It must be all the way up to the full line, no lower. In fact if you offroad it would be a good idea to overfill it by 1/2 to 1 quart. Add nothing but ATF+4.

 

[Locky]

Was your transmission in NEUTRAL and was the engine running while you checked its ATF level? If not the dipstick will erroneously show the ATF level is higher than it really is. Not many shops know your particular transmission, the 32RH, has to be in Neutral to check its ATF level. If it's in Park and half-way up the ATF level zone, they would probably assume it's ok. Shifting into Neutral in that situation would show it is actually underfilled.

Start the engine, pull the parking brake on, shift to Neutral, then check the ATF level. It must be all the way up to the full line, no lower. In fact if you offroad it would be a good idea to overfill it by 1/2 to 1 quart. Add nothing but ATF+4.

It was not in neutral when I checked. I will go and try that now. Do i need to have it warmed up first?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

It was not in neutral when I checked. I will go and try that now. Do i need to have it warmed up first?

They always say it should be warmed up but I can't figure out how that could affect its ATF level.

 

[Locky]

So I did that and it shows there is enough plus a hair more. Now one thing that I do believe is that this is not the original dipstick. Once I push it in it seems to bottom out and then springs back up about an inch. Here is a video of it.

 

[Lou]

Fluid looks a little nasty for being freshly flushed. How does it smell? Does it smell burnt?

 

[Locky]

Doesn't seem to smell burnt.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Hmm it shouldn't spring back up, you could be right it's not the correct dipstick. I'd start googling for 30RH dipstick length info.

 

[Bionic_Scorpion]

The dipstick springing back up is normal. Mine does the same thing along with many others. There was a thread on here awhile back discussing it.

 

[Moab]

Mine doesn't spring back up an inch.

 

[Bionic_Scorpion]

Mine doesn't spring back up an inch.

No they spring back up about a 1/4". If you look at his video you can tell thats not an inch.

Here is the thread it was discussed in before. It may just pertain to the 32RH transmission.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...1-2-and-diagnosing-a-transmission-leak.30362/

 

[Modoc Guy]

From your photo, the fluid looks brown. If it’s been changed, I’d suspect not much of the fluid was changed.

It should be more red/clear. Not brown.

 

[AndyG]

Service it and change the clogged filter so it can build pressure again.

 

[Modoc Guy]

FYI, there’s a thread where Jerry Bransford (I think) outlines how to swap the transmission fluid, all of it, not what’s just in the pan.

It’s fairly easy actually.

 

[Modoc Guy]

The thread was: How do I change transmission fluid in 42rle by tzerambo.

I’m not good at searching the forum, so I bookmarked the thread on my phone. That’s why I can remember the title.

But I don’t know how to paste a link with the phone or I’d do it for you. Maybe someone else would be so kind.

 

[Earl B]

Mine springs back up too, There should not be that many Jeeps with different dip sticks.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Mine springs back up too, There should not be that many Jeeps with different dip sticks.

That's really odd, it should not be so long that it would spring back up.

 

[Earl B]

You can feel it bottoming out. if you push it down over the tube it will spring back up. First time on any auto that I've owned. I go by the dip stick touching the bottom.