02tjsport

What did you have to do to get the new tranny. I have a 14 that has been reprogrammed multiple times, new valve body, the list goes on. I haven't had it back since the new valve body, but would be willing to take it in if there is a good fix.

guitar54

Open up a case with Jeep Customer Care. Then - and this is key - make sure you have a good relationship with your service person at the dealer. Jeep Customer Care helps the dealer with support to get the issue fixed, but the dealer is the one who makes the decision. My service guy and I have a good relationship. I've had lots of issues with the Cherokee and he's grateful that I'm not pissed off all the time and willing to work with him on getting everything to my liking.

Be nice to people and they respond positively.

guitar54

Oh - one more thing. My service guy had his trans tech take go with me for a ride. You MUST be able to duplicate and demonstrate the trans issue to this person. The first time I went out w/him I could not duplicate. So I told them I'll be back...Once I figured out how to duplicate, I went back, had another ride w/him and within seconds, he got it! New Trans!

cherkl

How do you see which gear it's in? Looked all over the options in the dash display but could never find anything like that.

guitar54

While in drive, move the gear shift to the left. Then look at the instrument cluster. You can see what gear you are in. Make sure you flip the gear shift back to the right. Else it will not shift and stay in the gear it's in. The left allows for manual shifting.

Watchful

I use manual mode a lot. When the vehicle seems sluggish, like merging into high-speed traffic or hanging a fast right turn, I often pop it into manual, downshift, and pop it back into automatic: kind of a left-up-back-right move. I find this gives a burst of power since the auto transmission always likes to be a gear higher than I need it.

guitar54

With the new trannys - this problem has been reduced. My trans now shifts like it should and it sees 2nd gear! 2nd gear is like the most important slow gear and now my KL has power! It's like a rocket now! AND my gas mileage is like 3-4 mph better...go figure. No need for manual shifting...FYI

cherkl

Awesome! Glad to hear it's working properly now, much more enjoyable to drive I'm sure. I have been surprised by how strong they pull off the line all the way up to highway speeds.

MoToad

Nothing wrong with my tranny except 9th. It's wasting space and weight!

guitar54

9th gear is for going downhill. I've seen it engage while going downhill at highway speeds. I think it's meant for better gas mileage going downhill...now that makes no sense! haha

MoToad

The only time it has engaged for is is going down a long hill at 85 mph. And only till I got to the bottom. God, I must have saved thousands!

grandriver125

I share your view - same experience except ours kicked in once at 80.

I've felt advertising 9 speeds when the only time it kicks in is when it is over the highest speed limit in Canad by almost 10 mph is questionable advertising.

The small Rover has the same 9 speed but 9th kicks in at 70 - which should be the case with the Cherokee - unless there is a difference in the engines.

macdragonfl

I have a 2014 KL Limited with 32,000 miles, Though i never had any major problems with the 9 SP, it did shift harder first to second. Overtime i took it in for maintenance i would ask the advisor to check on trans updates. Each time there was one it got better and better, I believe they did this 4 or 5 times. Its fine now and smooth so there are ones that are ok, i think that many did not know about the updates to do them. Jeep's biggest weakness is their service departments. I've had 4 Jeeps. A TJ Wrangler, XJ Cherokee, WK Grand Cherokee, and the KL Cherokee. I also have BMW's more problems than any Jeep I've ever had but there service departments are amazing, free loaners, lunch, breakfast. It makes a huge difference when you have a problem!

MoToad

It's simply not geared correctly. If 9th kicked in at 70 it would probably be running at or below idle speed. No fuel maintaining power to be had there at all. And I believe we would call that lugging.

grandriver125

I don't buy that. Convince me please.

For 8th the ratio is .58 and for 9th it is .48. I don't see that difference dropping the vehicle below 800 revs at 70 mph.

I've been wondering if the 9th gear shines when fuel consumption is tested on rollers without wind resistance where it could well go into 9th at something like 70 mph. But, EPA supposedly has features in its rollers that create resistance like one would find on the road. But then again I'm not an engineer.