Hi Everyone.
I am new (today) to the forum so please bare with me. I have a problem and come cap in hand looking for advice. My 2001 Grand Cherokee momentarily failed to reverse 2 weeks ago, and 2 miles later started surging forward, plus the engine management light came on. As I was on a very busy roundabout I coaxed the Jeep about 50 yards up a more quiet road then rang the AA. When I checked there was transmission fluid running from the bottom of the radiator area. The AA arrived but as the road was still busy told me I need a piggyback and ordered a truck. The truck took me 1/4 mile to a Halford Auto Centre, where the Jeep was left for repair. Following up I was told that 2 high pressure oil cooling hoses had burst & the radiator connection was broken - fix for £785. After 1 week, when I chased up the repair, I was told that the hoses had not arrived and would take a further 3 days. When I chased up again I was told the hoses had still not arrived, and neither had the transmission fluid.When I chased up again I was told that Chrysler/Jeep was being sold to Fiat and the stores were in a mess, but the garage had got 2 HP hoses from a farming implement supplier local to Durham and these would be fine. Jeep wanted £159 each for new hoses and the repair manager told me he would recommend I stayed with the farm factory hoses and that the fluid would arrive in a further 3 days. Also that the radiator was actually OK and I would save around £500. Eventually after 2 weeks Halfords phoned to say all fixed and road tested - come and collect. As I am disabled I had to wait for a lift to the garage and got there just before closing on Friday , paid up £285. collected the guarantee and went to the Jeep. As I attempted to pull away the Jeep surged and then drove norma,l although a little fast on revs. After 20yards it revved very high surged 3 times and went as normal. I returned to Halfords and told the manager all was not well and questioned the road test as the mileage was still the same as when the AA piggybacked me? The manager insisted he had done a test and all was fine. Both manager and I drove the jeep to test it and at first all appeared OK then the engine began surging revs and leaping forward and eventually the engine management light came on, so we returned to Halfords. Manager checked diagnostic on managment light but message was blank. Outcome is he doesn't know what is wrong. He says there might be insufficient oil in the gearbox but can't test it as there is no dipstick. He advised me to drive it to a Jeep dealer some 20 miles away in Newcastle, but I was reluctant in case more damage is done. I have left it with Halfords to get a dipstick and test the oil level. Halfords have advised that a dipstick has been located and with them tomorrow. I am not sure what to do if the oil level proves to be OK and where Halfords stand in this as the took the Jeep to fix in the first place, plus I have paid them some money for work that hasn't remedied the fault. I would love your advice as the stress is getting to me and I cant think straight. Thank you for reading this mail & sorry for the length.

 

Welcome to CF.
I'd threaten legal action if they didn't reimburse the money you payed them, since it didn't fix the problem. And also they probably lost the dipstick themselves. I wouldn't drive it any further until it's fixed. My opinion of course.
Sounds to me like your WJ's ('99-'04 Grand Cherokee) transmission needs to be reflashed by a computer at a Jeep dealer. Our '04 was shifting in a similar fashion, and was corrected by doing as stated. Smooth as silk since.