kingfishracin

I purchased a 1999 Cherokee a year ago this month. It only had 50,000 original miles on it. I believe the original owner towed it behind a motor home. It has been performing flawless until this past weekend. I drove it on my vacation to the beach. The trip is about 200 miles one way. It did great on the way down and almost all the way back. When I was about 5 miles from the house I started noticing smoke coming out of the back of the Jeep. I pulled over and looked underneath. It was wet with transmission fluid. Upon further inspection I noticed that the transmission dipstick was out a little and the fluid had appeared to have been pushed out from there. Where should I start looking to solve this issue? It was definitely hotter on our return trip, and it was in the hottest part of the day. The Jeep always runs @ 210 degrees though. The previous owner said that he changed the transmission fluid and filled with Royal Purple synthetic. I don't know if that would have anything to do with it. Any help is greatly appreciated.

rzldzl

something MAY be wrong.

but also could be nothing to panic aboot

has happened to both my 98s

when i checked the fluid, levels were good, and have been fine for the 5-7yrs since it happened to each of them....still driving both

(one needed OD solenoid couple years later, likely unrelated)

dans98xj

I would start by looking at the vent tube from the top of the trans too see if it had become kinked or clogged.

fijicorey25

From what I've been reading around here is that the AW4 transmission runs best on Dex/Merc III transmission fluid. From their website, it appears that this fluid is compatible
(http://www.royalpurpleconsumer.com/p...mission-fluid/)

The previous owner could have over filled it too. Check your fluid level while the car is running and also up to temp (drive it around for 10 minutes).

Cvail

Could just be a simple overfill. I had my tranny rebuilt a couple years ago. Picked her up and a couple days later took it on a 300m interstate trip. Got about 10 miles down the road and the exact thing you described happen. Couldn't find anything wrong with it and now it's 50,000 miles later with one fluid change mixed in and she is still right as rain. They are sensitive to over filling.

kingfishracin

I checked the fluid level and it was perfect. I also pulled the top off of the vent line and the tube wasn't clogged there. Am i correct that the vent starts out from the trans as a small line and ends up as a large tube next to the dipstick? If so it looks to be a pain in the butt to check its full length. It looks like it starts above the pan on the drivers side then goes through some clamps on the bell housing before coming out near the firewall on the passengers side.

CCKen

If you get a chance, do this cold trans fluid check. This is basically from the FSM to check the fluid level when the transmission is cold but it has been used to determine if the transmission torque converter or oil pump is bad.





The transmission breather fitting is located next to the transmission dipstick tube, along with the transfer case breather fitting. The trans breather fitting is a white plastic fitting with a cap on it.



.

kingfishracin

Hmm the white capped breather is on the drivers side on mine and a black one next to dipstick. Thanks for the info. I am going to go check the fluid cold.

kingfishracin

I checked the fluid level when cold and it was a little above the max line. I then started the engine and immediately checked it. It was to the right of the ADD mark about halfway between there and the hole in the stick.

CCKen

That's good.

CCKen

The one on the driver's side is the vent for the front differential.


The breather vent for the transmission is (supposed to be) by the TC breather fitting. Look for it.

kingfishracin

I will look again. Do you think my cold test was OK? It did not drop as much as your pictures after starting. Is was a little to the right of "OK" on the stick.

CCKen

That should be okay.

CCKen

From the AW4 manual:



.

kingfishracin

Thanks for the information.