Ok. So I have a '96 Cherokee with over 275,000 miles on it. It was bought at a state auction a year and a half ago. It has the police package.

My problem is this. Several months ago I started making 4 hour round trips on the interstate with my jeep hauling a trailer. Not heavy could not of exceeded 5000 lbs. But right before Christmas I was driving home in a snowstorm and my jeep started klunking. Almost like a brake was catching. I replaced the rear brakes as they were in need and I thought was the culprit. I was wrong. As I was test driving the new brakes my transmission started grinding and I completely lost power to the wheels. I pulled over checked fluid level as my jeep likes to mark its territory with Transmission fluid. It was low and so I limped to gas station and filled it up. Overfilled it to be precise. Transmission continued to grind and slip. It has become more evident in reverse. It will not go into reverse once it is warmed up. Unless I have it in 4 low.

Today I was working on my jeep and I drained some fluid out and added some trans additive (Lucas) and my jeep ran fine until it warmed up. At which point it would not stay in any gear, unless it was in 4 low.

I've done some research and I've not seen anything posted that was this severe. I don't get it. I've seen suggestions that it could be the actual fluid. I used Dextron.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Sounds like your clutches are toast.

 

either the clutches are toast or the valve body is cooked. Hows the fluid in the transfer case? I had a friend who had the same problem you did and his tcase was low. it would only work in 4low until he got the fluid right. worth a shot.

 

5000 pounds is not a light load. And is this the original transmission? If so, it doesn't owe you anything.

My guess is that your transmission is toast.

Dex/Merc is the recommended fluid, so no problems there.

I'd start shopping for a new transmission. Salvage yard is a great option here. Plug and play and you are back on the road.

 

Thank you for the responses. I filled up the transfer case as it was low and that has not resolved the problem. I can make it about a block before it starts grinding and I completely lose power. If I stop and shift into 4 low it will move (slowly) but still move. I am convinced my problem is not a transmission problem because of this fact. I have done research on my t-case but I've not found this problem anywhere else. At least not as I would describe it. I am a newbie to this 4-wheel stuff so I'm not sure if the t-case can be the culprit or not. I've read about there being a chain inside the case, but it doesn't seem to me that that would be the problem. It behaves like the vehicle has two gears meshing and for whatever reason they disconnect and instead of engaging each other they just rub and make a horrible noise. Could this be the transfer case.

 

It could be your xfer case as well, the xfer case has a chain and over time the chain stretches and will rub on the inside of the xfer case, with over 275000 mile you should look at the transmission and xfer case, it will not be a simple fix like add some lucas additive, parts wear out,your jeep has done its job, so give it some love ($$$$$)