So my 99 cherokee, 2WD, auto trans has started making a noise. Primarily in 1st/reverse. It sounds like a pinwheel, a steady clicking noise that gets faster with rpm. It generally goes away after shifting to 2nd. I jacked it up today and let it run in drive on jack stands. It made the noise the whole time until i revved it up and it shifted into 2nd, it was very light then and went away completely in 3rd. I believe the trans has 200k+ on it. i bought it used last year with no mtce records. I have not changed the fluid/filter b/c i'm afraid all the friction material may be floating in the fluid. Any thoughts would be great. Thx

 

Drop the fluid in the pan (3-4 quarts) and replace with fresh Dex/Merc III compatible.

Changing fluid in this manner is of no danger to your transmission.

If this "helps", then drive it for a couple of weeks and repeat the above two more times.

Fluid wears out and not changing it is bad news.

BTW, what color is the fluid now? What you want is red fluid, without a burnt smell..............

 

all of my experience is with GM transmissions, i have built a couple turbo 350's and 400's. That being the case, i'm relatively sure that the noise is unrelated to fluid quality. At this time i cannot afford to rebuild the trans as it is my wife's daily driver. I have seen a vehicle literally drive into the stall and then have no forward or reverse after a fluid change, sounds incongruous considering how much fluid is in the trans and torque converter but alas....

Has anyone had this prob and know what caused it? Any thoughts? Thanks