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Former Manual Transmission owner, now a Green Automatic transmission owner

GoHack

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Gordon
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Hi,

To start out, I've always owned Jeeps w/manual transmissions.

With that said, and long story short here, I bought a new 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon w/a six speed manual this past summer, which after just 1500 miles, the transmission failed w/grinding noise when down shifting from 4th to 3rd.
It was replaced under warranty, and a week later error lights popped up, which was diagnosed as a sensor on the clutch petal, which required tearing the dash apart to replace.
While it was fixed, I decided to get rid of it and went w/a new Gladiator Rubicon, but w/an automatic, my first one.

With that said, I'm totally green when it comes to automatics.

Yesterday I went off-roading up to Cerra Gordo, CA, an old mine up near Dead Valley, and on the way down, it was just a rough dirt road, I put the transmission in Neutral and put the transfer case into 4Lo, and started going downhill, hitting the brakes to control my speed. When I got down the hill, the road started climbing, and when I hit the throttle to apply power, I didn't have any. Wondering what's wrong, I soon realized that my transmission was in Neutral all the way down the hill. 🙄

Other than perhaps putting too much pressure on the brakes to control my speed down the road, and it was steep at some points along the way, w/nice views looking straight down along the way, could I possibly have done any damage to the transmission by keeping it in Neutral? The brakes look OK, when I checked them, though I'm sure they got hot.
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Free2roam

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Hi,

To start out, I've always owned Jeeps w/manual transmissions.

With that said, and long story short here, I bought a new 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon w/a six speed manual this past summer, which after just 1500 miles, the transmission failed w/grinding noise when down shifting from 4th to 3rd.
It was replaced under warranty, and a week later error lights popped up, which was diagnosed as a sensor on the clutch petal, which required tearing the dash apart to replace.
While it was fixed, I decided to get rid of it and went w/a new Gladiator Rubicon, but w/an automatic, my first one.

With that said, I'm totally green when it comes to automatics.

Yesterday I went off-roading up to Cerra Gordo, CA, an old mine up near Dead Valley, and on the way down, it was just a rough dirt road, I put the transmission in Neutral and put the transfer case into 4Lo, and started going downhill, hitting the brakes to control my speed. When I got down the hill, the road started climbing, and when I hit the throttle to apply power, I didn't have any. Wondering what's wrong, I soon realized that my transmission was in Neutral all the way down the hill. 🙄

Other than perhaps putting too much pressure on the brakes to control my speed down the road, and it was steep at some points along the way, w/nice views looking straight down along the way, could I possibly have done any damage to the transmission by keeping it in Neutral? The brakes look OK, when I checked them, though I'm sure they got hot.
No expert on transmissions, but I doubt you did anything detrimental to it. I'd keep an eye on the brakes if anything.

On another note, how was the snow if any up Cerro Gordo road? I was thinking about going that way into Death valley.
 
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GoHack

GoHack

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No expert on transmissions, but I doubt you did anything detrimental to it. I'd keep an eye on the brakes if anything.

On another note, how was the snow if any up Cerro Gordo road? I was thinking about going that way into Death valley.
There wasn't any.

Even the Sierra's have very little.



Jeep Gladiator Former Manual Transmission owner, now a Green Automatic transmission owner IMG_1002[1]
Jeep Gladiator Former Manual Transmission owner, now a Green Automatic transmission owner IMG_0995[1]
Jeep Gladiator Former Manual Transmission owner, now a Green Automatic transmission owner IMG_0992[1]
 

LouisvEarlleJT

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With that said, I'm totally green when it comes to automatics.
Hey something cool on these that doesn't get alot of press (that I've seen) is the "off road cruise control" - that's not it's technical term, but it's basically what it is.

If you look on your dash to the right of the button for your hazard lights you'll see a button with a jeep outline and then what looks like a little dial/clock on it. To use it you shift to 4-lo then put the trans shifter into manual mode and push the button.

The truck will crawl forward at a glacial pace (slower than 4-lo alone) and alternate the abs system on various corners to just chug forward. By "shifting" up/down you can adjust your speed.

Haven't had a need for it, but it does seem like something that has it's place if you found yourself hella-stuck.
 

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GoHack

GoHack

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Gordon
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Hey something cool on these that doesn't get alot of press (that I've seen) is the "off road cruise control" - that's not it's technical term, but it's basically what it is.

If you look on your dash to the right of the button for your hazard lights you'll see a button with a jeep outline and then what looks like a little dial/clock on it. To use it you shift to 4-lo then put the trans shifter into manual mode and push the button.

The truck will crawl forward at a glacial pace (slower than 4-lo alone) and alternate the abs system on various corners to just chug forward. By "shifting" up/down you can adjust your speed.

Haven't had a need for it, but it does seem like something that has it's place if you found yourself hella-stuck.
Thanks!
 

Stan H

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Hi,

To start out, I've always owned Jeeps w/manual transmissions.

With that said, and long story short here, I bought a new 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon w/a six speed manual this past summer, which after just 1500 miles, the transmission failed w/grinding noise when down shifting from 4th to 3rd.
It was replaced under warranty, and a week later error lights popped up, which was diagnosed as a sensor on the clutch petal, which required tearing the dash apart to replace.
While it was fixed, I decided to get rid of it and went w/a new Gladiator Rubicon, but w/an automatic, my first one.

With that said, I'm totally green when it comes to automatics.

Yesterday I went off-roading up to Cerra Gordo, CA, an old mine up near Dead Valley, and on the way down, it was just a rough dirt road, I put the transmission in Neutral and put the transfer case into 4Lo, and started going downhill, hitting the brakes to control my speed. When I got down the hill, the road started climbing, and when I hit the throttle to apply power, I didn't have any. Wondering what's wrong, I soon realized that my transmission was in Neutral all the way down the hill. 🙄

Other than perhaps putting too much pressure on the brakes to control my speed down the road, and it was steep at some points along the way, w/nice views looking straight down along the way, could I possibly have done any damage to the transmission by keeping it in Neutral? The brakes look OK, when I checked them, though I'm sure they got hot.
No the pump runs at all times.
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