8 Speed Auto Transmission slipping problems at 13,000 miles (3rd time in for repairs)

[ilovebikes99]

You said you bought it used? That ZF 8 speed in these is pretty much flawless and your issues aren’t normal at all. I hate to say it, but it sounds like it’s been really abused. I’d dump it and get another one. Especially, with the crazy resale value these days.

The gas engine does not get the ZF trans. It gets a variation, made by FCA, not ZF. The two trans cannot be more different

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[NC_Overland]

The gas engine does not get the ZF trans. It gets a variation, made by FCA, not ZF. The two trans cannot be more different

It’s the ZF design, but licensed under “Chrysler” to manufacturer. It’s easier to just call it the ZF.

 

[Gladman]

It is really telling that these dealerships are backed up for weeks, not in a good way. (I know its that way with every dealer not a knock against Jeep/Fiat/Chrysler). I know parts are scarce but its not like you leave X vehicle sitting in your bay while you are idle.

Don’t overlook another reason for vehicles backed up at dealers.
A number of dealerships around here simply can’t get the techs - they don’t exist. Was at the dealer here yesterday to get the CEL reset and there was only an apprentice working under the service writer. Several other techs simply moved on, and 1 of them went to work in the oil patch after 10 years as a tech. Just wanted to do something different.
My nephew is a service manager at a Cadillac dealer in a very popular area, desirable place to live, and he tells me they can’t find techs as well.
If this persists all the higher tech vehicles will be waiting for labour.

 

[MrZappo]

You said you bought it used? That ZF 8 speed in these is pretty much flawless and your issues aren’t normal at all. I hate to say it, but it sounds like it’s been really abused. I’d dump it and get another one. Especially, with the crazy resale value these days.

Why does it sound like its been abused ? Just because its used AND has a trans issue ?

It could just as easily just have an odd trans issue ...

I don't buy that ... It could have been abused ... Or not ... He has not said anything to make it suspect ...

It could just as easily simply have a defect or a bad part ...

 

[NC_Overland]

Why does it sound like its been abused ? Just because its used AND has a trans issue ?

It could just as easily just have an odd trans issue ...

I don't buy that ... It could have been abused ... Or not ... He has not said anything to make it suspect ...

It could just as easily simply have a defect or a bad part ...

Used. Max tow. Not remotely common. Unless, I missed something, doesn’t know the vehicle history. Been in the auto biz since 2007 and grew up in a car biz family. So many red flags. My two cents.

 

[ZX6steve]

OP here. NOT used. Bought brand spanking new. Truck only has 13,000 miles on it, and I put all of them on it. Vehicle never abused, barely had it off road at all, only on flat dirt roads in the desert. Parked in the garage overnight, and in a parking structure at work, only a 4 mile commute. Funny how the narrative gets changed on here. Never mentioned that I bought it used, or that I didn't know the vehicle history. Red flags? hhhmmm......?????

 

[Gladman]

OP here. NOT used. Bought brand spanking new. Truck only has 13,000 miles on it, and I put all of them on it. Vehicle never abused, barely had it off road at all, only on flat dirt roads in the desert. Parked in the garage overnight, and in a parking structure at work, only a 4 mile commute. Funny how the narrative gets changed on here. Never mentioned that I bought it used, or that I didn't know the vehicle history. Red flags? hhhmmm......?????

Well you did say in the op that you bought it new. Obviously many/some don’t read the posts before commenting. Sorry for your trans issues, but as pointed out these transmissions are really very good. Unfortunately even the best fail sometimes. There are not a lot of failures of these to compare to.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The gas engine does not get the ZF trans. It gets a variation, made by FCA, not ZF. The two trans cannot be more different

Really?
That's curious.........
This is what FCA said in an article -

Jeep sources its transmission for the Gladiator from South Carolina's ZF (pronounced "zed eff"). The ZF plant employs 1,650 people and is one of the largest employers in its area. After the transmission is built, it is then tuned and calibrated by Jeep at the Jeep Auburn Hills Michigan location.
--------
And this is a blurb about ZF (it's a huge company, diverse, a lot of divisions and production in the states)->
ZF participates in the NAFTA Region. With 16 locations, one R & D center near Detroit and about 4,700 employees, North America is an important market base. ZF has manufacturing plant in Laurens County, South Carolina. Groundbreaking took place in January 2011, and the facility was completed in April 2012.
-----------------------

Sounds to me like the ZF SC location builds the transmissions for Jeep and Jeep tunes and calibrates but does not MAKE the transmission.

Hey, wikipedia calls if a ZF transmission. Jeeps calls it a ZF transmission ->

IS the other information a simple repetition of what's been seen or read elsewhere and repeated enough times to become fact?

 

[Gladman]

Really?
That's curious.........
This is what FCA said in an article -

Jeep sources its transmission for the Gladiator from South Carolina's ZF (pronounced "zed eff"). The ZF plant employs 1,650 people and is one of the largest employers in its area. After the transmission is built, it is then tuned and calibrated by Jeep at the Jeep Auburn Hills Michigan location.
--------
And this is a blurb about ZF (it's a huge company, diverse, a lot of divisions and production in the states)->
ZF participates in the NAFTA Region. With 16 locations, one R & D center near Detroit and about 4,700 employees, North America is an important market base. ZF has manufacturing plant in Laurens County, South Carolina. Groundbreaking took place in January 2011, and the facility was completed in April 2012.
-----------------------

Sounds to me like the ZF SC location builds the transmissions for Jeep and Jeep tunes and calibrates but does not MAKE the transmission.

Hey, wikipedia calls if a ZF transmission. Jeeps calls it a ZF transmission ->

IS the other information a simple repetition of what's been seen or read elsewhere and repeated enough times to become fact?

Hey Papa, some confusion might exist around the detail that the gas and diesel have different ZF models/designations. Not sure, but it is a possibility.

 

[DAVECS1]

ZF is a huge company that make killer drivetrain parts for many industries. When Chrysler began using their designs, thats when things got fun again. Finally had a transmission that was head of the class vs not even participating. My first Brand New purchased with cash vehivle was a 2009 Ram 2500 with a Cummins and the automatic of that time. The night after Xmas with 16k on the clock I was on a 600 mile drive to my Father's house with my pregnant wife and 3 year old. It scattered the transmission all over the interstate. Chrysler tried to fix it for 4 weeks, in the town where it broke. Finally I went to my selling dealer and explained everything. They gave me a car to drive and apologized. On the way out I saw a beautiful brand new 2500, I joked and said I will take that one. My dealer called me two hours later and told me my truck was ready. Curious I stopped by, they had it worked out a deal that of I wanted I could take home the new 2500 and they would take ownership of my old one, with minimal fees. This kept me a Chrysler fan and I have boight feom that dealer ever since.

Long story longer, find a dealer you can work with. This is not the norm for these transmissions. I personally would ask for a new trans as there are not many dealer techs I would trust with a ZF rebuild. Once the new trans is in you will never have to look back, I have confidence it will work the life of the vehicle.

Jeep is doing the calibration and assembly of these transmissions. My opinion the calibration is solid from a life perspective, but the driveability of it and entirety of it seem half baked in my experience.

 

[MrZappo]

Really?
That's curious.........
This is what FCA said in an article -

Jeep sources its transmission for the Gladiator from South Carolina's ZF (pronounced "zed eff"). The ZF plant employs 1,650 people and is one of the largest employers in its area. After the transmission is built, it is then tuned and calibrated by Jeep at the Jeep Auburn Hills Michigan location.
--------
And this is a blurb about ZF (it's a huge company, diverse, a lot of divisions and production in the states)->
ZF participates in the NAFTA Region. With 16 locations, one R & D center near Detroit and about 4,700 employees, North America is an important market base. ZF has manufacturing plant in Laurens County, South Carolina. Groundbreaking took place in January 2011, and the facility was completed in April 2012.
-----------------------

Sounds to me like the ZF SC location builds the transmissions for Jeep and Jeep tunes and calibrates but does not MAKE the transmission.

Hey, wikipedia calls if a ZF transmission. Jeeps calls it a ZF transmission ->

IS the other information a simple repetition of what's been seen or read elsewhere and repeated enough times to become fact?

We call that information "PFA".

Plucked from air.

"The two couldn't be more different" makes no sense.

Even if it was made by JEEP under license it would be identical or nearly identical. They would be following a plan and building it to "spec" I'd think.

Couldn't be more different ? That does not make sense.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

We call that information "PFA".

Plucked from air.

"The two couldn't be more different" makes no sense.

Even if it was made by JEEP under license it would be identical or nearly identical. They would be following a plan and building it to "spec" I'd think.

Couldn't be more different ? That does not make sense.

You captured my thinking. Where was it said Jeep made them - and under license? That makes no sense when they can do like auto makers have done for decades - buy from a company that developed the transmission and has the expertise.

IF it were true (which really isn't) when you license something, the party you license from maintains ownership and control.

After the transmission is built, it is then tuned and calibrated by Jeep at the Jeep Auburn Hills Michigan location.

To ,me, this says it all. After the transmission is built......
It is built by ZF in SC.
Why would Jeep build all the machines and equipment necessary to make something that's already designed and the equipment already set up to make? Casting those aluminum housings alone would take a lot to set up for.

 

[ilovebikes99]

You captured my thinking. Where was it said Jeep made them - and under license? That makes no sense when they can do like auto makers have done for decades - buy from a company that developed the transmission and has the expertise.

IF it were true (which really isn't) when you license something, the party you license from maintains ownership and control.



To ,me, this says it all. After the transmission is built......
It is built by ZF in SC.
Why would Jeep build all the machines and equipment necessary to make something that's already designed and the equipment already set up to make? Casting those aluminum housings alone would take a lot to set up for.

Shadows, I really don't want to waste more time on a person that quotes Wikipedia as a reliable resource of information. You're clearly just getting the hang of all this.
Your 850RE transmission is not the same as my ZF 8HP75. Otherwise I would have the 850RE in the diesel. The 850RE has issues the ZF does not have. It also shifts nicer, faster and handles more torque. FCA bought rights from ZF to produce a version of their own 8HP75 which is called 850RE TorqueFlite 8. The REAL ZF 8HP75 is made in Germany not in South Carolina.
So to add to your theory, you got a replica/fake 8HP75.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This is from MOPAR -

Chrysler is making its transmissions (and most of the parts for them) in its various Indiana plants, and ZF is building them in Greenville, South Carolina.

Other info -
In parallel with Chrysler Group, ZF had set up a new transmission production plant in Gray Court, South Carolina.[7] ZF Friedrichshafen and Chrysler Group have reached a supply and license agreement for the 8HP. Chrysler Group is licensed to produce the 8HP at the company’s Kokomo Transmission Plant and the Kokomo Casting plant

So according to MOPAR - looks like both.

Here's more direct from MOPAR - showing apparently both FCA and ZF build transmissions for Chrysler


According to Mike Kirk, Chrysler's director of axle, driveline, and manual transmissions, there were two main reasons for Chrysler's changes to the ZF automatics.

Kokomo was already set up with its own tooling and robotics, which are different from those used by ZF. Some changes to the transmission were made so they could use Chrysler's equipment and methods.

Chrysler also needed to make many more transmissions than ZF; choices that make sense for 50,000 transmissions a year may not make sense for 200,000 per year.

Mr. Kirk said that the partnership with ZF had been mutually productive; while Chrysler owns the intellectual property of any changes they make to the transmissions, they keep ZF informed. Chrysler can patent any of their changes and methods, including the software and controls, and is motivated to improve the transmissions and production methods to stay balanced with ZF.

Standards for both manufacturers are high, and the two companies use the same end-of-line test centers, driven by the same software.

 

[ilovebikes99]

There are many variants of 8HP. But your gasser does not carry the 8HP75. And it is not made by ZF.

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