Have a 1998 cherokee sport. Bought it about a month back for a few hundred (expected some issues).

Exhibiting transmission issues. Still driveable, but requires manual downshift at a stop or steep grade to move forward...

suggestions? not a DIY novice, but it's soccer season on Maui (four kids out of six playing) and we have a forum with some great advice from good people that can help me eliminate extra time I don't have.

I know it'll drive for many years in its existing condition, but now that's not why we buy jeeps is it?

Mahalo for any advice

 

you'll have to check the tension on your kick down cable

 

Aloha.

What does the fluid look like and smell like? If it's burnt, it looks like a tranny job is in the future, or at least going with a used one. If the XJ has been sitting for a while, or not used for some time, it could be a fluid issue. I had this happen to a Chrysler we inherited.

You could try to have it flushed and the filter replaced. A gamble, but possible. Simply draining the system won't get rid of all the old fluid.

 

How is your battery???? I had an Optima in mine started having shifting issues, battery tested good, but changed in on a hunch.. never has shifted weird again...

 

WJN got it right...first, get a GOOD THOROUGH tranny flush. First thing to ask when you bring it is how they do it. IF they just drop the pan, go elsewhere. You have to look for a shop that has a machine to do it. I have one of them at my shop. It pumps the new stuff in while sucking the old stuff out. In this way, it gets the ALL The fluid out. Even the contents of your torque converter. You can try some shutter stop, which is a good additive, or I've seen Lucas trans additive work too. I don't think your kick down cable will keep it from downshifting coming to a stop. Don't take that as law, I believe it only kicks it into passing gear, as your moving....