Complete Loss of Power to Wheels

[ArdentJeeper]

I was driving my tj the other day and when I was accelerating from 45mph to 55mph, simultaneously, the engine reved up to 4,500rpms and there was a complete loss of power to the wheels.
I tried to accelerate again while still moving but it did the same thing.
I pulled off and came to a stop then tried again but still completely no power to the wheels, I also tried it in reverse and nothing.
Also while in both drive and reverse there was a kind of clanking noise but not in park or neutral.
Two days later I started it and it did move in drive but not in reverse.

The jeep is a ‘05 Jeep Wrangler 4.0L with a 4 speed auto transmission and overdrive.

I would appreciate any help with diagnosing this. Thank you!

 

[macleanflood]

Transfer case in gear? Wouldn't be the first nor last time someone bumped it just enough to knock it loose. Run it all the way to 4 low and back and make sure it's really clunking into gear.

-Mac

 

[Artsifrtsi]

What's the transmission fluid level? What's it do if shifted into 4hi?

 

[ArdentJeeper]

I put it in 4h, low and back to 2wd. It felt like it was clunking into gear with each change.
In each position it would let me move in drive but still wouldn’t go into reverse.
The transmission fluid is full and nice and red.

 

[hear]

Does it drive normally in D, or does it feel like you're starting off in 2nd or any other weird behavior?

 

[ArdentJeeper]

It feels normal in drive.

 

[hear]

It feels normal in drive.

I don't know a ton about the 42RLE, but I do know that there is a reverse clutch that is only in use while it's in Reverse. You described a lot of other stuff going on that I can't explain that sounds like more than just a clutch pack giving up the ghost. It probably a good idea to look at & smell that fluid, and see what trouble might have fallen into the pan.

There is also a Low/Reverse clutch that is used in Reverse, but also in 1st. If 1st works ok then it's probably not that.

 

[ArdentJeeper]

I don't know a ton about the 42RLE, but I do know that there is a reverse clutch that is only in use while it's in Reverse. You described a lot of other stuff going on that I can't explain that sounds like more than just a clutch pack giving up the ghost. It probably a good idea to look at & smell that fluid, and see what trouble might have fallen into the pan.

There is also a Low/Reverse clutch that is used in Reverse, but also in 1st. If 1st works ok then it's probably not that.

Thank you, I’ll check that out.

 

[macleanflood]

This might help...wonder if it's a solenoid...



-Mac

 

[hear]

This might help...wonder if it's a solenoid...



-Mac

very well could be, I always forget those are computer controlled. Although I thought R was not via solenoid, just via the manual valve.