Hi everyone. I own a 1996 Jeep Cherokee with the 4 speed auto and the 4.0 inline 6. I’ve noticed that my transmission clunks into gear but only after I’ve been driving for a while. When it’s cold it goes into gear really smoothly, such as going from reverse to drive, or park to reverse, etc. But whenever it’s warm it jerks into gear. Transmission fluid is full, and is relatively clean. The previous owner did a fluid change not too long ago. There’s also no play in my driveshaft. I especially notice the clunk when shifting from park into reverse on a hill, but that’s pretty normal from what I can tell. Shifting from 1st to 2nd, etc when both cold and warm is smooth. If anyone can give any tips on how to solve my issue it would be really appreciated. Thanks!!

 

Do you know what fluid he used? It's supposed to take DexIII/Mercon, not ATF+4.

 

I don’t know what fluid he used. Is there maybe a way to tell by the color, or smell or something?

 

have you adjusted adjust the throttle kickdown cable, as detailed in the FSM, or on this forum ?

 

You're talking about shifting into gear from a dead stop P>R>N>D right? I asked this same question a year or two ago, lol. Mine does the same. 98 with 230K. It hasn't gotten better or worse. Fresh fluid in NP231. If I recall correct I was told it was tolerances opening up a bit in the rear diff when hot? I may be completely off base there, but along those lines. Curious to know exactly what it is and if I could easily fix it.

 

I have, I did it about 6 months ago and also just did it last week, still has the same issue

 

Yep, only when at a complete stop

 

Have you guys lubed the splines under the boot on the rear drive shaft?

 

I haven’t tried that, how would you lube the splines?

 

https://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/...ite-up-357569/

 

For what it's worth greasing those splines didn't fix my clunk into gears when hot. I read that fix is more for when you get a clunk from stop and go, the splines are dry.

 

certainly worth trying though