Steering and Transmission issues

[JS52]

Have a 2020 JT Overland with 45K miles with a Zone 3" lift and 35's. I wanted to see if anyone is experiencing similar issues.

Steering issue - Mine has the aluminum steering box and definitely wanders like crazy but when backing out of my driveway if I hold my wheel turned in 1 position at a stop the steering wheel will twitch back and forth like it's losing pressure. It also feels hard to turn at a complete stop at times.

Transmission issue - 2 noises when reversing, I know in the past I mentioned a clunk but now it's more of knock first then clunk into reverse. It also occasionally has a long delay between going from reverse to drive (like it needs to roll a little before it goes into gear). additionally, it is having shifting issues. When it is hot it will want to hold 2nd and not shift until you high rev it and when it's cold it doesn't want to go into 4th from 3rd and will high rev then lunge into 4th.

Bringing it in to Joshua Tree CDJR to have it checked out next week but wanted to see if anyone else has similar issues.

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[Lunentucker]

Aluminum box with that many miles and lifted? Yeah. It needs a thorough checkup on all of the steering and suspension. Why didn't you get the free steel box?

 

[JS52]

Aluminum box with that many miles and lifted? Yeah. It needs a thorough checkup on all of the steering and suspension. Why didn't you get the free steel box?

Lift was installed after 32K, in stock form the slop was still there just didn't surge like it does now.

Wild guess based on wild guess experience.

1. Sounds like it jumped a tooth since you can replicate problem every time at 1 o clock.

2. Could be worn fluid or worn transmission mount.

Thanks for the feedback, The truck is being dropped off at Joshua Tree CDJR tomorrow, they said they'll need it for a few days so we will see what the outcome is.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Wild guess based on wild guess experience.

1. Sounds like it jumped a tooth since you can replicate problem every time at 1 o clock.

2. Could be worn fluid or worn transmission mount.

Jumped a tooth? What jumped a tooth? Not the steering sector - impossible without a housing busting.
It's likely that, and knowing how most power steering gears operate, than he's holding that torque shaft inside just to the point of sending a demand for pressure - and the pump isn't responding.
There's a shaft inside that senses the torque or pressure you are putting on the sector column shaft - and when you get so much "twist" it allows pressure in to boost the steering.

Mine is starting to act a bit like that at a stand-still - parallel parking would not be much fun with it in recent months. luckily, there's almost none of that around, but still, backing out of a tight parking spot where I might have to back out a bit, turn go forward, then back a bit more to clear vehicles behind me - my steering doesn't always respond.
Even with pressure higher in my tires than I normally run, it can "hesitate" at times when at a stop and trying to turn. Not as bad as when tires are at normal inflation (testing theories on mine now) but it still acts like it looses boost. My next step is to hook up JSCAN and see if I can monitor EHPS pump responses, or even just trigger it on, to see if it helps.

Worn mount? Worn fluid? No, not unless he burned the fluid, and no to mount.
A mount issue is not going to trigger delayed or harsh shifts.

 

[Rocksalt]

Aluminum box with that many miles and lifted? Yeah. It needs a thorough checkup on all of the steering and suspension. Why didn't you get the free steel box?

mine has oversize tires, not lifted and over 45k on original aluminum steering box. Tracks straight. One finger on steering at 75 mph freeway... not all aluminum steering boxes are bad

 

[JS52]

update - dealer is saying it’s the drag link and drive shaft play.

Waiting for confirmation response because they sent me a bill for just over $1600 but I have the Mopar warranty.

also not too positive those are gonna fix my trans issues.

 

[JS52]

Here’s a sound of the reverse and the lunging from 3rd to 4th. You can see the RPM jump up from 2000 to 2500 when it shifts. I also have videos of the knock noise it makes when it shifts from 3rd to 4th when it lunges and how it will hang up 3rd before shifting at times.

 

[22EcoDs]

Here’s a sound of the reverse and the lunging from 3rd to 4th. You can see the RPM jump up from 2000 to 2500 when it shifts. I also have videos of the knock noise it makes when it shifts from 3rd to 4th when it lunges and how it will hang up 3rd before shifting at times.

That shift issue is not a driveshaft issue. The clunk may be the play in the shaft tho. Is the transmission issue occuring at full temp and cold ?

 

[JS52]

That shift issue is not a driveshaft issue. The clunk may be the play in the shaft tho. Is the transmission issue occuring at full temp and cold ?

As for the shifting, It does it intermittently when cold (outside temp and trans temp). Once the trans sits around 190 for a while it doesn’t do it any more.

 

[JS52]

Little update:

- Drag Link has been replaced

- Dealer forgot to order the drive shaft so it won’t be here till Friday

- Dealer forgot to diag. the trans so it was not done until yesterday and stated they were not able to replicate the slipping, though videos were provided.

Overall process has been easy on the Mopar approval side (though they just started all of the services without calling or waiting for our approval on their online portal) but the communication has been horrendous.

without getting into it, we have not had a single follow up call from them besides them getting us a rental 2 days later than originally planned and not providing shuttle (21 minutes away).

 

[JS52]

Update: The truck is back but nothing was resolved.

1. The 2 clunking sounds were not fixed with the driveline and they left a ziptie on the drive line (not a big deal, already cut off).

2. 4th gear slipping is still present, video attached.

3. Steering slop was not fixed. They said to request a steel steering box (though previously denied) they said to reach out to @JeepCares and they will approve it.

Waiting for the dealer to follow up to see what to do next.

 

[JS52]

Quick Update: we got a Stellantis case worker but the truck broke down at an intersection, lost all electrical power.

Towed back to Joshua Tree CDJR last Thursday.

Got a call back today saying the Fuse Array blew and the aux battery is dead. Roy from the dealership flat out said “I’m not your service advisor so you either agree to pay or were done here” He also agreed that they will be strong arming me into paying for a new AUX battery and fuse array. I started with agreeing to the battery since they go bad but not the fuse array stating that we had brought up ESS issues since we got the truck back from them on March 10th. Documented with their service advisor as well.

After about 10 minutes, with no options, I agreed to their $550+ battery and aux fuse.

Transmission and Steering issues also are TBD at a later date. I’m sure there are more details I’m missing but I just want the Truck back at this point..

 

[ShadowsPapa]

2020 - the basic warranty is up unless you have "extended warranty" and of course, fuses are "wear" items.
Transmission is drivetrain.
Not sure I like the way that dealership is sounding, though -
no other choices????

 

[JS52]

2020 - the basic warranty is up unless you have "extended warranty" and of course, fuses are "wear" items.
Transmission is drivetrain.
Not sure I like the way that dealership is sounding, though -
no other choices????

We did buy the Maxcare extended warranty for 100K/8Years. Our case manager advised we had to take it back to JTCDJR since they were the ones who were supposed to fix the trans and steering issues originally.

I 100% agree, to admit that you are gonna strongarm me into paying or we're done is not how to handle business. Lesson learned.

 

[JS52]

Update @JeepCares :

- Stellantis has confirmed I will be responsible for the fuse/aux battery. I agreed since they are consumables, they state the ESS was "our fault" though it was brought up when we picked up the truck and the battery pre-inspection test was green/good when we dropped it off.

- They state our 3-4 gear slipping and park to reverse noise are due to not having the transmission programmed for 35's. I am calling BS on this and we are in disagreement on this right now and they mentioned they will address it once the truck is back up and running.

- Steering - They approved the TSB for the steel steering box and will align it as well.

I also have documentation from 26K (when the truck was stock) until now that to the trans and steering issues were a concern.

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