(UPDATE) Calling 42RLE Transmission Gurus

[LittleGiant]

Just spoke with the transmission place. Unfortunately the human body only holds 2 kidneys and you need at least 1 to live so I won’t be having them fix it. They quoted me $5K.

They are saying it’s mechanical. They did a pressure test and found that the pressure should be at 50 and it’s hovering around 100 for it to shift from 3-4.

Very demoralizing

 

[twisted-pixel]

I just had a new transmission fitted to my 2006. I was getting juddering changes 1-2 and flaring 3-4. I tried changing TCC solenoid, and valve body..no dice. New PCM from wrangler fix...no dice. Ended up just having to get a new transmission when it decided to vomit ATF all over the underside of my car. New one has been in a week and working perfectly so far...never known gear changes so smooth.

Had a cooler installed at the same time too...although it did blow a line connector and vomit ATF again...another $60 in ATF for the sake of a 50 cent piece that failed.

 

[LittleGiant]

I just had a new transmission fitted to my 2006. I was getting juddering changes 1-2 and flaring 3-4. I tried changing TCC solenoid, and valve body..no dice. New PCM from wrangler fix...no dice. Ended up just having to get a new transmission when it decided to vomit ATF all over the underside of my car. New one has been in a week and working perfectly so far...never known gear changes so smooth.

Had a cooler installed at the same time too...although it did blow a line connector and vomit ATF again...another $60 in ATF for the sake of a 50 cent piece that failed.

Where did you get the transmission?

 

[twisted-pixel]

Where did you get the transmission?

https://spprecision.com/products/42rle-transmission-sale.html

 

[rasband]

Just spoke with the transmission place. Unfortunately the human body only holds 2 kidneys and you need at least 1 to live so I won’t be having them fix it. They quoted me $5K.

They are saying it’s mechanical. They did a pressure test and found that the pressure should be at 50 and it’s hovering around 100 for it to shift from 3-4.

Very demoralizing

If you're selling a single kidney for sub 35k you're doing it wrong.

 

[MikeE024]

If you're selling a single kidney for sub 35k you're doing it wrong.

Don't forget to include it as misc income

 

[rasband]

Don't forget to include it as misc income

It's tips now!

 

[hear]

They did a pressure test and found that the pressure should be at 50 and it’s hovering around 100 for it to shift from 3-4.

So it has too much pressure??

Sigh, time for me to read the FSM on this sucker.

<unzips>

 

[LittleGiant]

So it has too much pressure??

Sigh, time for me to read the FSM on this sucker.

<unzips>

The way he described it….its requiring too much pressure to shift so parts are worn out.

He also said that there might be an issue with the wiring coming out of the top of it. He said that fluid on the wire harness can can ruin it And cause a short so it might have to be trimmed back and require that section of the harness.

 

[hear]

The way he described it….its requiring too much pressure to shift so parts are worn out.

He also said that there might be an issue with the wiring coming out of the top of it. He said that fluid on the wire harness can can ruin it And cause a short so it might have to be trimmed back and require that section of the harness.

Wiring is always a potential failure point. If you told me you cleaned up some wiring and it all started working it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Looking at the FSM, looks like I made one mistake on the clutch apply section:

Regarding the pressure tests, I don't really know where they're getting 50, but also 100 could also be out of spec, they didn't really say what pressure they were testing.

Bottom line is that thanks to the electronics, troubleshooting the 42RLE is immeasurably more complex than the 32RH. On the other hand, this is precisely how I got into this hobby. No way I was paying multiple $k for a job I could attempt myself for a few hundred.

 

[LittleGiant]

Here’s the write up

 

[LittleGiant]

They are saying it’s the 2-4 clutch. It’s supposed to be around 54 and it keeps dropping between 6&9

 

[Apparition]

It's tips now!

Just the tip

 

[hear]

Their write up is helpful, it corresponds to the troubleshooting steps in the FSM. If it's really just the 2/4 clutch or the seals in and around that subsystem, then a rebuild would fix it. I've never actually rebuilt one of these, but I did a quick scroll through the overhaul section of the FSM. It looks like you need a few special tools, which is unfortunate.

For it to be the issue, it would have to be responsible for the 2-3 shift as well as the 3-4 shift. In the former, the 2/4 is unapplying. In the latter, the 2/4 is applying. So it would have to be slow to do its thing in both directions. It's hard to identify a flare in a downshift since the RPMs are increasing anyway, but it would be nice to know if it was also flaring on the 4-3 downshift and/or 3-2 downshift.

I might try dumping some Lucas transmission treatment in there and hope for the best, and hopefully buy time to decide if you want a new unit, or a re-man, DIY, or just live with it. I wish I had better advice. You being in HI is not helping your situation, most likely.

 

[LittleGiant]

Their write up is helpful, it corresponds to the troubleshooting steps in the FSM. If it's really just the 2/4 clutch or the seals in and around that subsystem, then a rebuild would fix it. I've never actually rebuilt one of these, but I did a quick scroll through the overhaul section of the FSM. It looks like you need a few special tools, which is unfortunate.

For it to be the issue, it would have to be responsible for the 2-3 shift as well as the 3-4 shift. In the former, the 2/4 is unapplying. In the latter, the 2/4 is applying. So it would have to be slow to do its thing in both directions. It's hard to identify a flare in a downshift since the RPMs are increasing anyway, but it would be nice to know if it was also flaring on the 4-3 downshift and/or 3-2 downshift.

I might try dumping some Lucas transmission treatment in there and hope for the best, and hopefully buy time to decide if you want a new unit, or a re-man, DIY, or just live with it. I wish I had better advice. You being in HI is not helping your situation, most likely.

Thank you so much for all the time and energy into checking into this for me, it’s truly appreciated.

I think for now I’m going to check the wiring harness and see if I see anything weird as well as grounds.

I’m still going to send the TCM back to wranglerfix and see if they find any errors. I’m also debating on just buying a new PCM from them as well (it’s only a matter of time until mine goes out)

Are you aware of a Variable Line Pressure Solenoid? Does the 42rle have one?

The guy at the shop said that a certain part of the harness sits on top of the tranny and from what I read it’s called the variable line pressure solenoid.

I’ll also be draining the fluid and putting in new. What I have is only about 10K miles old, if that and adding the Lucas you spoke about. If I try a few things and they don’t work I’ll keep it as is until I’m back on the mainland. My wife is active duty and we are stationed here so I’ll be back in 1 year, then I’ll buy a new tranny to put my mind as ease. Any recommendations on brands?

Thoughts on going over on fluid? I figure it’s better to have than less because it has a bleeder valve. I’m told these are tricky with shifting when it comes to fluid

 

[LittleGiant]

Which one?

https://www.lucasoil.com/product/au...kZzEkdDE3NDk2MTU2NjYkajM2JGwwJGgxOTAxMzQwMDQ5

Or

https://www.lucasoil.com/product/tr...kZzAkdDE3NDk2MTYwMTMkajYwJGwwJGgxOTQyNTcwNDEw

 

[MikeE024]

Which one?

https://www.lucasoil.com/product/au...kZzEkdDE3NDk2MTU2NjYkajM2JGwwJGgxOTAxMzQwMDQ5

Or

https://www.lucasoil.com/product/transmission-fix/?_gl=1*5zbu50*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTA5Mjc0NzIyLjE3NDk2MTYwMTQ.*_ga_26ENRS3GHD*czE3NDk2MTYwMTMkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDk2MTYwMTMkajYwJGwwJGgxOTQyNTcwNDEw

Neither.

The consensus on BITOG is that lube guard red is superior to the Lucas offerings for the 42RLE with ATF+4. It’s in my 42RLE right now. For our needs, we want the red (not the platinum).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0007ZAJRM?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[macleanflood]

Push for PCSing to Texas and @hear can rebuild it for you! Or Lewis -McChord and I'll fly him out and he can help us with your 42 and my 4R100.

I used to work for the 366th out of MHAFB.

=)

-Mac

 

[hear]

Which one?

https://www.lucasoil.com/product/au...kZzEkdDE3NDk2MTU2NjYkajM2JGwwJGgxOTAxMzQwMDQ5

Or

https://www.lucasoil.com/product/transmission-fix/?_gl=1*5zbu50*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTA5Mjc0NzIyLjE3NDk2MTYwMTQ.*_ga_26ENRS3GHD*czE3NDk2MTYwMTMkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDk2MTYwMTMkajYwJGwwJGgxOTQyNTcwNDEw

Looks like you have your answer, but to be clear, I don't have any experience with either and was basically throwing a hail mary.

I forgot to ask earlier, have you drained/replaced the fluid? I did a little more digging and it's definitely pointing toward clutches or seals. If the clutches are bad you might see evidence in the fluid. To tell if the seals are bad you have to drop the valve body (not that hard) and do an air test to listen for excess blow-by when the clutch applies. In either case you'd need a rebuild which would replace the clutches and seals as standard practice.

But I'm also focusing on what the shop found. There is still the funny business around the computer, and your other thread where your computer in WranglerFix's jeep also caused flaring, right?

 

[LittleGiant]

Push for PCSing to Texas and @hear can rebuild it for you! Or Lewis -McChord and I'll fly him out and he can help us with your 42 and my 4R100.

I used to work for the 366th out of MHAFB.

=)

-Mac

We just came from Texas. We were at Lackland AFB in San Antonio