Transmission / Transfer Case Whine

topfuel83

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New to this forum, but not new to Tj's. Drove a 99 4.0 manual for over a decade and had a lot of fun wheelin it. Recently acquired an 06 LJR with the 42RLE with 125K miles. I've been going through it doing maintenance. I recently changed the transmission filter and (transfer case fluid at the same time), after doing two drains from the transmission pan to change all the old fluid (it was slightly burnt due to slipping, now completely solved by a Wrangerfix PCM (thank you Mark!)).

Since doing the fluid changes I have noticed a gear whine coming from the transmission/t-case area. Most prevalent around 30 MPH, changes pitch with speed, and almost completely goes away once fluids have warmed up. Transmission is shifting fine, no slipping, nothing else abnormal. I used Valvoline ATF+4 in both the transmission and T-Case. No codes or pending codes. Anyone have any ideas as to what is going on?
 
I’d pull the front shaft- It could need rebuilt and you never, ever want one of those to fail.
 
I’d pull the front shaft- It could need rebuilt and you never, ever want one of those to fail.

Both shafts rebuilt this summer with Spicer sealed joints. And I'm running without the front shaft currently. Pretty sure the whine is coming from either the transmission or t-case.
 
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Both shafts rebuilt this summer with Spicer sealed joints. And I'm running without the front shaft currently. Pretty sure the whine is coming from either the transmission or t-case.

Got ya - all good moves man.
 
Maybe it was this way before you bought it and the PO put in an additive to quiet it and you flushed it out?

Interesting thought. I would have thought the noise would have been more apparent earlier this summer as I did 2 pan drains with the drain plug.