First trip hauling, trans problem.

[JeepJunky]

I just drove 7.5 hours about 4.5 in mountains. Narrow twisty slow driving. I was hauling a single axle trailer with SxS on it. The combined weight is well below the 7,000 lb tow capacity of the Mojave. I noticed some wound out engine braking, that sounded more like the refusal of the transmission to upshift. But what do I know. About 20 minutes from my destination, the transmission was out of gear, and the check engine light came on. Nice. I coasted to a safe spot, and shut Jeep off for 10 minutes. No fluids leaking etc. I restarted, put it in gear and drove the rest of the trip no problem. The assist button couldn't connect as no cell service. It's a fine place to leave me, Lucille.

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[JeepJunky]

UPDATE: Two days later, it's time to return from the trip. The Jeep has been parked the last two days. I loaded the trailer, and a friend followed me in case the Transmission gave up the ghost. The entire time I have been thinking 'so much for a Jeep being the reliable go anywhere workhorse'. Quite a bummer on my vacation. We had a WInter Storm warning coming in, so we left early rather than risk a seemingly ready to die Jeep, driving in the snow. I get 10 minutes into the drive back, and the 'Check Engine' light turns off. I observed the shifting and drove 10 minutes under the speed limit to take some of the strain off Jeep duringf the 2.5 hours traveling on US 52 to I-79. About 4 times I heard what sounded like bad choices in gear shifts. I was able to get an upshift by giving a bit of gas instead of just letting the Engine braking occur, which would knock it back to an appropriate gear. After 7.5 hours of driving, I had no issues. My 'wild guess' is that on the trip outbound, the Jeep did so much high rpm engine braking, the temperature was too hot for the transmissions. (around 195 degrees after sitting for 10 minutes in 30 something degree air) I don't know what normal is. I'll start watching now. Hopefully it was a new Jeep fluke. It is now over 3000 miles after the trip. Maybe it is broken in. I live in a flat area, so it won't get a chance to 'learn' until I go back to the mountains with a trailer again.

 

[CerOf]

Mojave is only 6,000lbs tow rating.

Even then, something definitely sounds wrong.

 

[CerOf]

I just read the manual, first 500miles towing you should not exceed 50mph.

 

[MrZappo]

I just read the manual, first 500miles towing you should not exceed 50mph.

That's break in advice.

That has nothing to do with shifting at the wrong time or check engine lights.

Mojave is definitely 6000 pounds but is tied to gvwr as well. So check that is think.

The trans should not shift wrong, it should not overheat if you are within the weight rating and are not driving like a nut.

I agree that there is something that needs evaluation. There should be some codes for the dealer to go on.

 

[Gren71]

I just read the manual, first 500miles towing you should not exceed 50mph.

Unless I missed it I couldn’t fins that in my 2020 JTMT manual. Interesting it was in yours.

 

[CerOf]

That's break in advice.

That has nothing to do with shifting at the wrong time or check engine lights.

Mojave is definitely 6000 pounds but is tied to gvwr as well. So check that is think.

The trans should not shift wrong, it should not overheat if you are within the weight rating and are not driving like a nut.

I agree that there is something that needs evaluation. There should be some codes for the dealer to go on.

First 500 miles is break in only. The manual says to DO NOT tow.

This is different than towing. Towing, per the manual, puts added stress. I read this as the first 500 miles you tow something, don’t go over 50mph. Doesn’t matter if you already have 1,000 miles or 10,000 miles.

If you have 2,500 miles on your vehicle and tow for the first time. Let’s say a trip from Texas to Montana. You should not exceed 50mph until your odometer hits 3,000 miles. Somewhere in NM/CO border you can pick up the pace.

 

[CerOf]

Unless I missed it I couldn’t fins that in my 2020 JTMT manual. Interesting it was in yours.

I used the electronic manual in my Mopar connection app.

 

[Gren71]

I used the electronic manual in my Mopar connection app.

Same for me. Maybe yours is updated since i purchased in 2019

 

[CerOf]

Most definitely. Mine still has the temp tags on it.

 

[MrZappo]

First 500 miles is break in only. The manual says to DO NOT tow.

This is different than towing. Towing, per the manual, puts added stress. I read this as the first 500 miles you tow something, don’t go over 50mph. Doesn’t matter if you already have 1,000 miles or 10,000 miles.

If you have 2,500 miles on your vehicle and tow for the first time. Let’s say a trip from Texas to Montana. You should not exceed 50mph until your odometer hits 3,000 miles. Somewhere in NM/CO border you can pick up the pace.

I read it the same way.

Still does not mean that it should throw codes or shift incorrectly.

That's best case break in language.

It's reasonable to point it out and I'd personally follow it.

Again, should not matter one bit. The truck should drive perfectly fine and not fail miserably by towing a few hundred miles too soon.

 

[CerOf]

I read it the same way.

Still does not mean that it should throw codes or shift incorrectly.

That's best case break in language.

It's reasonable to point it out and I'd personally follow it.

Again, should not matter one bit. The truck should drive perfectly fine and not fail miserably by towing a few hundred miles too soon.

Totally agree. Something went/is wrong with his rig.

Even if he towed 7k, still shouldn’t have happened. There is a generous margin of error. Tow/safety ratings are usually set for the lowest common denominator.

 

[JeepJunky]

Thanks for all the great replies. My trailer/load weight was: 2,979 lbs. Vehicle had about 2,500 miles on it when I started. One way trip was 370 miles. Definitely not driving like an idiot. I was the guy people were passing., specifically to not over stress the vehicle.

 

[JeepJunky]

UPDATE: Was leaving work Friday, and transmission disengaged while in 'D.' luckily i was at a red light not in the middle of an intersection. I put it in park, back to D. and it went straight to '3.' I slid to Manual shift mode which displayed either a '1', 'L', or 'I', but couldn't manually change gears. I put it back in Auto shift, and it again showed 3rd gear. I drove to the dealer a few miles away. he said it was in 'Limp' mode. He 'thinks' it may be something that he fixes with software, but won't know until they dig into it.
I also asked for the 'wandering steering' TSB to be performed. I'll try to remember to update this thread when I get it back as to what he says the problem ultimately is/was.

 

[JeepJunky]

I just spoke with the service department. My 3,300 mile Gladiator needs a new valve body. They said this is a fairly common problem with the Chrysler (FCA?) and they are on back order. Yikes!
I'll update once it is all done. In the meantime, I am driving a Dodge Journey loaner which i think is a minivan. I will say, if you need a vehicle to put a lot of bodies in, (Living, hopefully) The Journey has lots of seating.

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