Noticeable Clunk When Putting Jeep into Drive or Reverse and Occasionally While Driving

[JTGuy]

I got no CELs or codes. Dealer says there is no problem and this is all normal. He has not mentioned my warranty possible void due to many mods. I am at 28K so it will probably go a long time.

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[hayduke-TX]

My 24 was doing this shortly after delivery, but not every time. Dealer reflashed the TCM and fixed it. I would insist they try this if they haven't already. The 3-4 burp is also a common issue with no fix at this time.

 

[JTGuy]

To do the flash I have to deal with the Tazer. then re do the Tazer. My Jeep dealer said that a re flash would not fix it. I wish the thing would just die. I hate waiting for the failure. My cold 3-4 shift is a real bump. I have looked and called several places and no one knows much about the ZF trans.

 

[JTGuy]

A phone conversation with dealer service manager, a good guy that I know. A hard clunk on time when cold going into reverse will not get the trans replaced. Has to be more in failure. They will keep it overnight to diagnose possible problem if I want. They don't fix it till it's broken.

 

[JTGuy]

A phone conversation with a huge Jeep repair shop here in So Cal and they say some do it and some don't. It's probably not going to cause a failure so just forget about it. Jeep might have a repair flash for it someday but don't loose any sleep over it. So I am done.

 

[arosen1997]

To do the flash I have to deal with the Tazer. then re do the Tazer. My Jeep dealer said that a re flash would not fix it. I wish the thing would just die. I hate waiting for the failure. My cold 3-4 shift is a real bump. I have looked and called several places and no one knows much about the ZF trans.

Be careful with the 3-4 shift. That's what my jeep started with and it got worse and worse until I needed to replace the whole transmission.

 

[JTGuy]

My 3-4 shift one time has gone between 3 and 4 a few times but is usually good. As soon as it goes through the gears one time then all is well. The 3-4 shift will sometimes feel like a power shift, one time. All I can really do is wait for a failure that might not ever come.

 

[Stan H]

Be careful with the 3-4 shift. That's what my jeep started with and it got worse and worse until I needed to replace the whole transmission.

Yep same here exact same then finally stopped shifting to reverse. It is a valve body and TCM problem . At least mine was.

 

[JTGuy]

Did you service the trans?? anything found in the pan? Did it make any bad noises?

 

[Stan H]

Did you service the trans?? anything found in the pan? Did it make any bad noises?

If your asking me I replaced it . The price of the repair parts was nearly the cost of a used super low mileage one so I jumped on it . @arosen1997 did likewise

 

[arosen1997]

Did you service the trans?? anything found in the pan? Did it make any bad noises?

I swapped fluid and filter shortly after symptoms started and found a good bit of friction material in the pan, new fluid didn't help it get any better, once it starts the damage is done. It'll keep degrading, then it'll start to hang going into reverse. Then eventually it will start missing fourth or outright refusing to shift into reverse.
I was originally going to try and repair mine, but I found a transmission pulled from a 2025 with 6 miles on it for 1800$ delivered so I elected to swap it like @Stan H

If you're still under warranty and it has started to show symptoms I would highly recommend going to the dealership and having them troubleshoot it so if it fails later you may still be able to get it covered since it was identified during the warranty period.

 

[Stan H]

I swapped fluid and filter shortly after symptoms started and found a good bit of friction material in the pan, new fluid didn't help it get any better, once it starts the damage is done. It'll keep degrading, then it'll start to hang going into reverse. Then eventually it will start missing fourth or outright refusing to shift into reverse.
I was originally going to try and repair mine, but I found a transmission pulled from a 2025 with 6 miles on it for 1800$ delivered so I elected to swap it like @Stan H

If you're still under warranty and it has started to show symptoms I would highly recommend going to the dealership and having them troubleshoot it so if it fails later you may still be able to get it covered since it was identified during the warranty period.

Absolutely % My story reads exactly like his.the Fluid and filter change didn't help. And Absolutely % agree if a problem is showing and your under warranty take it in.

 

[JTGuy]

Does anyone know what dealer can see about trans issues with looking at it on the computer. Will they see the reverse clunk or hard 3-4 shifts. That clunk is pounding the transfer case.

 

[Stan H]

Does anyone know what dealer can see about trans issues with looking at it on the computer. Will they see the reverse clunk or hard 3-4 shifts. That clunk is pounding the transfer case.

If it is under warranty I say take it to any of em. If it is as bad as mine was they will have NO problem telling mine sounded like the whole transmission fell out every time I finally got it to go into reverse . It literally wore out the two padded brackets that set under the rear of the transmission it was so bad. I probably narrowly escaped a complete blow up of the trans.

 

[JTGuy]

My dealer wants to see broken parts or a failure of some type before they do a warranty replace. But first void the warranty due to my mods. I will probably end up looking for a lightly used one .

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