so i put a hitch on my xj and pulled a camper to the lake, and now it doesnt seem to have near the throttle response. The camper weighed approx. 2,000lb and it was a 80 mi. round trip and verry few hills...any ideas?

 

It could be all in your head.

Could be an actual issue. Start easy, pull a spark plug and examine.

Something completely unrelated to towing could also have coincidently gone wrong at the same time.

 

Check trans fluid, is it all burnt up? Might be a good idea to add a trans cooler. Towing shouldn't cause other issues, but that doesn't mean you don't have one.

 

Oh yeah, auto or manual?

 

says auto in his profile


Is it just feel or are you measuring the performance somehow? I know after towing my bike to and from Indiana it felt strange without the big heavy trailer back there.

 

If it's auto the trans could be low on fluid like suggested.

 

'Try shifting it manual. If it feels like it has more power then it is something trans related. I have seen this in person. Some one brought there cherokee in for the same thing, here he didnt relize it was stuck in third gear. It was the TCM

 

Stupid question.... did you happen to fuel up wile you were away on your trip? maybe you got some bad fuel

Did you Jeep get hot at all or during your trip?

 

+1
usually after bogging thru some deep mud my trans will get stuck in 3rd. im guessing it's overheating the trans. towing the trailer may have put enough strain on the trans to cause it to overheat, but in my case, it will go back to normal after a key on/off cycle.

check all the fuses.. does it take a LOT (like more than 1/2 throttle) of gas pedal to get the jeep goin from a stop?

 

My Jeep didn't get hot and about the fuel...now that I think about it I fueled up same place I always do but added stpee fuel injector cleaner...I really dont see that being the culprit.I will check plugs and fluids tomorrow .

 

...o and it doesn't take quite half throttle. Just isn't all there.

 

Is it sluggish always, or just when pulling out from a stop? Does it work OK if you start in 1-2 and upshift manually at 2500-3K rpm?

 

well..between manually shifting and getting new fuel its back to its old self. Why would a transmission get stuck in 3rd? i never smelled anything indicating a overheating tranny.

 

If the S1 shift solenoid has a problem the trans won't electronically select 1st or electronically shift 1-2 or 3-2.

 

There is a great write up on shift solenoids. Being stuck in third but able to shift fine manually is the main diagnosis I have seen. Mine shifts like a dream now. Check CF or JF