Repeatable Stutter/Judder During Light Acceleration

[rahtx]

I have a '24 Sport S with the 3.6L/8AT, and have around 9K miles now. Yesterday I had a weird issue come up where early into my stop-and-go commute (10 miles or so), I was lightly accelerating away from the last stop and after it shifted into 3rd or 4th (I'm not sure which), immediately after the shift I felt a noticeable stutter/judder, not really sure what to call it. Just a single "kick in the pants" kind of feeling. I thought that was weird, but wasn't too alarmed.

However, every acceleration from a stop for the rest of the commute did the exact same thing after the same shift. I only have the basic gauge cluster so can't see the gear, but I was counting them, and I think it was after 3rd gear, but it could have been 4th.

Anyways, I get to work and I leave the vehicle running and immediately plug in my OBD-II reader and connect JScan. No codes. Then after work I drive the same way home and try to recreate it, and it never once did it. However, I was running JScan with live data on the way home and the only thing notable I saw was that pretty much every cylinder had 1-4 misfires counted in less than 10 miles.

Is that cause for alarm? I had never watched or logged data before, so I honestly don't know what's normal. A google search brings up that any misfires are bad, but I didn't feel anything, so I don't know...

I was ready to drive straight to the dealership after work if the issue continued, but it didn't, so I didn't want to waste my time or theirs just for them to tell me they couldn't duplicate the concern. It also didn't happen on the way to work this morning, for what it's worth. One-time weird TCM glitch or something, maybe??

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[blownbayou]

My 2025 Rubicon did this exact same thing constantly since the day I bought it..... Search for some of my posts. Thought it was fuel at first and tried every different octane I could to no avail. I ended up trading it on a 2025 Mojave and have not had the issue since

 

[rahtx]

My 2025 Rubicon did this exact same thing constantly since the day I bought it..... Search for some of my posts. Thought it was fuel at first and tried every different octane I could to no avail. I ended up trading it on a 2025 Mojave and have not had the issue since

Thanks, I'll take a look!

This was never going to be my "forever" car, but I'm definitely not ready to trade it in so soon. I guess if it continues, I'll take it to the dealership to at least get the concern documented.

*Edit - found your thread. Going through it now, but you know what, my brother borrowed my Gladiator recently and was the last to fill it up. His car takes 93 octane, so maybe he filled it up with that? Can't see how higher octane would cause this, but I'm not an expert by any means...

 

[bgott]

Drive it until does it full time. That’s what they will tell you if you take it in. It could be the octane change, that can screw up your timing among other things.

 

[rahtx]

Drive it until does it full time. That’s what they will tell you if you take it in. It could be the octane change, that can screw up your timing among other things.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye on it. I think I felt it once yesterday, but it may just have been me being overly sensitive. I've had 3 drive cycles where I didn't feel it at all, so this is not as repeatable as I thought, after all.

It might not be related at all, but does anyone know if having a few misfires detected on OBD-II, but not felt, on most/all cylinders is normal? Obviously it hasn't been enough to set a code or trigger a MIL, but I've never watched live data before, so I don't know what's considered normal.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I have a '24 Sport S with the 3.6L/8AT, and have around 9K miles now. Yesterday I had a weird issue come up where early into my stop-and-go commute (10 miles or so), I was lightly accelerating away from the last stop and after it shifted into 3rd or 4th (I'm not sure which), immediately after the shift I felt a noticeable stutter/judder, not really sure what to call it. Just a single "kick in the pants" kind of feeling. I thought that was weird, but wasn't too alarmed.

However, every acceleration from a stop for the rest of the commute did the exact same thing after the same shift. I only have the basic gauge cluster so can't see the gear, but I was counting them, and I think it was after 3rd gear, but it could have been 4th.

Anyways, I get to work and I leave the vehicle running and immediately plug in my OBD-II reader and connect JScan. No codes. Then after work I drive the same way home and try to recreate it, and it never once did it. However, I was running JScan with live data on the way home and the only thing notable I saw was that pretty much every cylinder had 1-4 misfires counted in less than 10 miles.

Is that cause for alarm? I had never watched or logged data before, so I honestly don't know what's normal. A google search brings up that any misfires are bad, but I didn't feel anything, so I don't know...

I was ready to drive straight to the dealership after work if the issue continued, but it didn't, so I didn't want to waste my time or theirs just for them to tell me they couldn't duplicate the concern. It also didn't happen on the way to work this morning, for what it's worth. One-time weird TCM glitch or something, maybe??

The misfires are of no concern.

Every engine is gonna catch a few 'misfires'. The concern is if you see a cylinder with a substantially higher count. It takes a REALLY high count for you to even notice it from the driver seat.

This is probably of no help, but I noticed my 8 speed sometimes gets a wonky shift if I'm driving lightly enough.

Honestly my SS Camaro with a 6 speed auto is like that sometimes too. It will 'flare' a shift if I am being too gentle on occasion.

If I drive slightly more aggressive (not ass hauling, but not egg on the pedal), the trans just seems to like that more in both vehicles.

 

[rahtx]

The misfires are of no concern.

Every engine is gonna catch a few 'misfires'. The concern is if you see a cylinder with a substantially higher count. It takes a REALLY high count for you to even notice it from the driver seat.

No cylinder had a lot or more than 1-2 more than the others. Thanks, that eases my mind about that.

This is probably of no help, but I noticed my 8 speed sometimes gets a wonky shift if I'm driving lightly enough.

Honestly my SS Camaro with a 6 speed auto is like that sometimes too. It will 'flare' a shift if I am being too gentle on occasion.

If I drive slightly more aggressive (not ass hauling, but not egg on the pedal), the trans just seems to like that more in both vehicles.

That does help, actually. The only times I noticed it was under acceleration that was very light - probably lighter than the TCM has "learned" from my usual habits.

 

[ChrisNLA]

No cylinder had a lot or more than 1-2 more than the others. Thanks, that eases my mind about that.


That does help, actually. The only times I noticed it was under acceleration that was very light - probably lighter than the TCM has "learned" from my usual habits.

This is entirely anecdotal, but I feel like these newer transmissions with lots of gears get more 'confused' in really light load / low speed conditions about what gear they want to be in, if they want to lock the converter, and how hard the shift needs to be.

Then as a result - you get a wonky shift.

With a little more pep in my step they seem to be more like 'Oh yea I know what to do with this' in shifting.

 

[Gladiatorguy]

On all our Gladiators and JL Wranglers, including my current 2024 JT, I have been able to program the display to show the current gear in "auto" mode. Just cycle through the display menu until you find it.

 

[ChrisNLA]

On all our Gladiators and JL Wranglers, including my current 2024 JT, I have been able to program the display to show the current gear in "auto" mode. Just cycle through the display menu until you find it.

For the OP, here is a video that shows where the 'current gear' display may be, even on the basic cluster.

See about 4:24

 

[rahtx]

On all our Gladiators and JL Wranglers, including my current 2024 JT, I have been able to program the display to show the current gear in "auto" mode. Just cycle through the display menu until you find it.

For the OP, here is a video that shows where the 'current gear' display may be, even on the basic cluster.

See about 4:24

Oh nice, didn't realize that was a thing. Thanks y'all!

 

[Vincent]

Typical truck stuff IMHO. Nothing to be concerned with, mine has always been a little clunky at certain times. Other trucks I’ve noticed similar.

 

[hayduke-TX]

It's a known issue with no fix.

Search for posts by alphawolff in this thread:

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/2024-jlur-with-slight-hesitation.125134/page-42

 

[gonemad]

My new ‘24 Sport S had an occasional hiccup like this, and my ‘25 Rubicon does it occasionally.

 

[Chasm]

A lot of people on here seem to believe higher octane messes up their firing. I won't start that fight again, but it's not hard to find the correct info on that. (hint: not on forums).

I noticed my 8 speed sometimes gets a wonky shift if I'm driving lightly enough.

On the rare occasion I'm driving lightly, mine sometimes feels like it tripped over it's own gears and I have to give it more gas to get it back in line!

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