How is it that my 2005 TJ Sahara has a 32RH transmission?
- Thread starter Bob.Gibson
- Start date
That's a 42RLE. You can see the two speed sensor connectors just above each end of the selector cable boot, and four bolts sticking out just above the edge of the pan.
OK from the pics it looks like I have a 42RLE.
But my console selector must be wrong. I can only feel the 1 2 D indents with the selector!!!!!!
But my console selector must be wrong. I can only feel the 1 2 D indents with the selector!!!!!!
The floor shifter allows you to hold the transmission in first or second gear for steep hills, off roading, etc. Drive lets it shift normally first through fourth gear, and the O/D switch allows you to disengage fourth gear for towing. The fourth gear in the 42RLE is way too much gear drop for most owners, so many of them just get in the habit of switching off the O/D every time they get in the vehicle and just drive it like it's a three speed.
No worries.
Just a side note for decoding chrysler transmission numbers/letters:
32RH means:
3 = three forward gears
2 = power rating of 2 (higher number = stronger transmission)
R = rear wheel drive (F is front wheel drive)
H = hydraulically controlled
42RLE means:
4 = four forward gears
2 = power rating of 2
R = rear wheel drive
L = longitudinally mounted
E = electronically controlled
Just a side note for decoding chrysler transmission numbers/letters:
32RH means:
3 = three forward gears
2 = power rating of 2 (higher number = stronger transmission)
R = rear wheel drive (F is front wheel drive)
H = hydraulically controlled
42RLE means:
4 = four forward gears
2 = power rating of 2
R = rear wheel drive
L = longitudinally mounted
E = electronically controlled
Some people don't like the 42RLE because it has a 0.69:1 overdrive ratio rather than the typical 0.75-0.80:1 overdrive ratios found in most automatic transmissions. This causes the rpms to drop too much when the transmission shifts from D (3rd) to O/D, i.e., below the optimum power band which results in engine "lugging."
There are two primary workarounds, one free and one spendy:
1. Manually turning O/D off whenever the vehicle is put in Drive is easy and free, and gears 1, 2 and 3 have ratios very similar to the 32rh 3-speed auto used in earlier TJ's.
2. The other common remedy is to re-gear the axles to a lower (numerically greater) gear ratio, for example 5.13:1 or 5.38:1 if one is running 35" tires and 4.56:1 or 4.88:1 if one is running 33" tires. This causes the engine to turn slightly faster in each gear, which isn't harmful to the engine at all, and when the transmission shifts to O/D the resulting rpms are now great enough to remain in the power band and not result in lugging.
Other than the O/D gear ratio, the 42RLE is a good transmission and there is no reason to avoid it.
I tried turning O/D off each time I drove but I wouldn't always remember and it was always a minor irritant. Since I run 35" tires I eventually re-geared my '06 LJ Rubicon to 5.38:1 and haven't looked back.
There are two primary workarounds, one free and one spendy:
1. Manually turning O/D off whenever the vehicle is put in Drive is easy and free, and gears 1, 2 and 3 have ratios very similar to the 32rh 3-speed auto used in earlier TJ's.
2. The other common remedy is to re-gear the axles to a lower (numerically greater) gear ratio, for example 5.13:1 or 5.38:1 if one is running 35" tires and 4.56:1 or 4.88:1 if one is running 33" tires. This causes the engine to turn slightly faster in each gear, which isn't harmful to the engine at all, and when the transmission shifts to O/D the resulting rpms are now great enough to remain in the power band and not result in lugging.
Other than the O/D gear ratio, the 42RLE is a good transmission and there is no reason to avoid it.
I tried turning O/D off each time I drove but I wouldn't always remember and it was always a minor irritant. Since I run 35" tires I eventually re-geared my '06 LJ Rubicon to 5.38:1 and haven't looked back.
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