DjRoulette

I have a 03' Grand Cherokee Inline 6, 96,000 miles, Auto, 2wd. Today I was changing tranny fluid. The fluid was dark red. In the bottom of the pan was some silver tint and sludgy stuff around the magnet, along with a piece of metal!!!!!!
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1282517502
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/attach...1&d=1282517502

What is This? should I be worried?

Next. I was putting everything back together and wasn't paying attention and over tightened 2 bolts, the first bolt just damaged the threads on the tranny, so I think a little re tapping is in order, what do you think? Damaged meaning if I tighten to 114 inch it won't torque just turns. it stiffens up slightly, then lossens when I turn it again.

The second bolt a little more damage. the mounting surface on the tranny side has a hairline crack. it spans about 4 inches. It starts at the threads and move inward toward the inside of tranny. nothing is cracked on outside. Is this repairable? Do I need a new tranny?

DjRoulette

on the last picture you can follow the crack inward, it is very small and hard to see

candymancan

Im not an expert here however i will try to help, for one next time obviously you need to go slow and carefull and pay attention when tighting bolts to something like this.

Next is i would think as long as the crack isnt on the outside it should be ok... I could be wrong, as the the bolt that stripped the threads. The only fix i know for this is to re-thread the hole to a bigger size.. I dunno thats what came to mind.. im problably way off tho.. You know i wonder if you could weld that crack to keep it from spreading.. Since the bottom of the transmission is just a reservior i doubt that would harm anything.. Im just throwing ideas out here..

I do know 1 loose bolt wont cause major problems,, you will probably have a very slow transmission leak and need to keep an eye on the fluid level if it does leak. My transmission had 2 loose bolts.. im talking loose enough i could unscrew with my finger, and i had a super slow drip from the transmission.. Needed like half a quart of fluid every 3 months until i figure out it was lose bolts lol.


Not sure what that peice of metal was tho, as for the silver tint or dust thats normal wear mine has that too and its got 160k miles

DjRoulette

Yes I know I should have payed attention I have been kicking myself for this mistake, but must move forward. I will look into the welding. Do you know what this is made of?

candymancan

I think its aluminum.. Pretty sure about that, only thing im worried about now that i think of it, is aluminum is a good heat sink and the transmission will probably get extremely hot. You might have to put some kind of copper heatsink onto it or something if you weld it.

DjRoulette

This was posted on another forum. from a guy i trust. What do you think?




Hory chit, Batman!

That tranny is SCREWED unless there's very little stress at the crack location.
First try a shop and see if they'll weld it as Blackhawk states.

Or, DIY just like you'ld do with a trail repair:
Find the end of the crack, and drill a 3/16" hole centered on the exact end.
This will prevent the crack from propogating farther, and will in no way make the tranny weaker.
Install a bolt one-size bigger a couple threads into the hole, to spread the crack *slightly*.
Clean the crack with a toothbrush and denatured alcohol.
Fill the crack with JBWeld for aluminum, and remove the spreader bolt; allow 48 hours for complete curing.
Drive 'til it explodes; next week or next decade, nobody knows.

Then address the stripped hole.
I would be tempted to epoxy a stud into it, and use a nut for all future access/service.
I would also stud the other hole, so no future tightening can bust the crack repair.

candymancan

Yea what he said, is what ive been finding on google.. The hole drilling and JB weld thing, one guy said he did that and the transmission ran for another 11 years

Bustedback

Time for a reman transmission. That hunk of metal looks like a piece of a snap ring.

DjRoulette

no not a snap ring, tranny shifts fine W/ no issues