Hello,

I have a 1997 Jeep Cherokee (2wd) and I love it. It has about 111k miles on it and has had lots of work done to it over the last few years (front end, alignment, starter, alternator, and most recently new clutch). I got the new clutch in Feb of this year and it was working fine. Last week, I started having problems with not being able to get it into 1st gear, particularly if I was on an incline or a decline. I took it to the shop that put the clutch in and was basically told a bunch of stuff that made no sense to me (being that I am not mechanically inclined whatsoever).

The mechanic told me that he put some "supplement" in there to make the friction less when shifting and that he noticed some "shavings" but I don't know what that means. Has anyone else had this particular issue arise with their Jeep Cherokee? I am freaking out because I have a job that requires me to drive a lot and I don't want to get stranded somewhere. The mechanic told me that would probably not happen, but that I would eventually need to look into a new transmission. Wouldn't I just be better off getting a new car? Any help will be much appreciated.

 

sounds like your syncros are going. or your not getting enough throw in the clutch.

heres a good vid that explains the basics of manual tranny function

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission.htm

 

Yes, synchros! I remember that word... is that a huge deal?? Can I get by for a while without fixing it? I am low on cash at the moment. Thanks :P

 

what a sycro does is line up the gears while at speed to help them mesh. They can be fixed without replacing the entire trans. Trucks and many cars had no syncros in first for a long time, its kind of a pain to get it into gear but as long as you don't grind the gears you shouldn't cause any harm to the trans. You just want to be at a stop or close to it before you put the trans into first.

 

Thank you very much, Aaron. I always get a little freaked out being a girl going into a mechanic... some of them try to take advantage of your naivete. I feel much better now.

 

here's what will get you by for now... if you have time at a traffic light or any other dead stop, cut the engine off, put it into first and start it back up. if you don't, try to take off in 2nd gear. but that will be hard on your clutch.
it's strange though, i haven't seen too many syncros go out in 1st gear.
let me ask you, when you're slowing down, do you ever shift down to 1st while still rolling?

 

hmmm, generally, I put it into neutral and stop and then put it into first. but that is actually a good question because I am not sure if I have a habit of doing that. I will have to pay attention to how I am driving when I go to work tomorrow. I am assuming that that is not a good thing??

 

X2 I'd guess that you downshift into first a lot. not picking on you, but its something to think about the next time around if it is true.

First gear is really only intended to start the truck. by spinning it up at speed your running the gear at a higher rpm then it was designed to causing a lot of stress on the syncro

 

My mustang was like that in order to put it in 1st I had to put in the clutch and put it in 2nd then it would slid right into 1st. It was the same with reverse I had to put it in 5h then reverse. lol TRy that. Just put it in 2nd then try 1st.

 

Actually, I can swear on my momma's life I never downshift into first.

 

let's leave momma alone for now... could just be that the person who had it before you had that habit. not that you'll need one, but just price around and see how much you can get a used transmission for. sometimes you'll find them for less than $150 on craigslist. might be cheaper than syncro replacement.

 

I believe you. Your momma can live But either way I'd take it to a different shop, I'd do a bit of research on the subject so-#1 you know what their talking about, then know if their blowing smoke...... #2 you can help them pinpoint the issue and possibly help them save you money

 

Thanks for all your help and advice, fellas. much obliged.

 

Try going 2nd then 1st and see if it helps any. Its not a fix but it helps untill you get some cash for a new tranny. lol