Hello one and all, I'm new to this forum but hoping I can get some good feedback. Just recently bought 03 WJ limited for my wife to drive. First issue is that it will not drop into passing gear most of the time. Secondly, when the first problem is taking place there is always a shutter when coming to a stop. I've been told that this could be the torque converter failing to engage and disengage. Another side note is that if I push O/D button when slowing down, seems to prevent shutter from continuing. Now, it would seem to me that the shutter is happening because of a failure to downshift properly. Again, have been told could be torque conv. but just dont know enough about these transmissions to say for sure. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

Do you have any issues at all at highway speeds? 55+? Next time you get a chance, get it up to 60 or 65 and set it on cruise. If the rpms raise and fall sort of dramatically (almost like it is trying to get into overdrive) it's a pretty good indication that it could be the TPS (throttle position sensor). You can replace it in about 5 minutes and it's anywhere from $30-$40. I would go with the borg warner that you can get at O'reily or Advance. Hope that helps.

 

The passing gear issue could be a misadjusted throttle pressure cable, do a search on this forum for the adjustment proceedure. The shudder you're feeling can be caused by having the wrong fluid in the transmission, you should have ATF-4 fluid in the transmission, but the last owner may have done a tranny service and used the wrong fluid to refill it. I would adjust the trottle pressure cable and change the fluid as the first steps. Keep us informed of what happens.