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Transmission and/or Throttle Issues

SWDGladiator

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I've had my 2020 Gladiator Sport Max Tow (still stock) for a month now. I love the truck, but I bought it knowing they could possibly have some issues. It has a warranty, right? So, I'm hoping someone on this forum has some insight into my particular problem; however, a search yielded no results specific to my issues.

Issue: I've put around 1200 miles on the truck but I'm still experiencing some hard and clunky shifting in and out of 3rd especially. Additionally, in all gears but most noticeably in 3rd, it seems to "slip". It almost feels like I'm just pulling my foot off the pedal then putting it right back on in the same position - this is what leads me to believe its a throttle issue and not some transmissions slip.

I took it in to the local dealer here to express my concern and after waiting an hour and a half for them to drive it the mechanic gave me the best (worst?) dealer excuse I've ever heard. He told me that Diesel engines just have more torque and they shift differently. As politely as I possibly could ask, I wanted him to explain what that had to do with my 3.6. After opening the hood and pointing to the engine, he then gave me the "You need to run premium" excuse. At that, I smiled and said good day never to return again.

Has anyone else experienced throttle body issues? No codes are being thrown but it just feels terrible to drive sometimes...others its buttery smooth. I love this truck but so far I'm very displeased with the drive quality and service received. I'm planning on going to another dealer a couple towns over, but I wanted to get some community feedback in the meantime.
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DAVECS1

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The transmission and throttle body are both running an adaptive, closed loop control. In simple speak. They try to give you the same power everytime based on your driving habits. It does this by monitoring torque and selecting a driving style that has an operational table assigned to it. So my guess is your throttle table and transmission tables are not in very compatible spots right now. Couple ways to solve it as FCA I think is still struggling. Your dealer can reset the adaptive learning for for the transmission and throttle. They also can reclaibrate the throttle pedal and brake pedal. This will start the adaptive process from the beginning and hopefully you do not end up in this spot. Option 2 is to drive using more throttle, this will escalate the maps being used. You need to do this for about 100 miles. The nuclear option is to have your jeep tuned by an aftermarket company.
 
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SWDGladiator

SWDGladiator

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The transmission and throttle body are both running an adaptive, closed loop control. In simple speak. They try to give you the same power everytime based on your driving habits. It does this by monitoring torque and selecting a driving style that has an operational table assigned to it. So my guess is your throttle table and transmission tables are not in very compatible spots right now. Couple ways to solve it as FCA I think is still struggling. Your dealer can reset the adaptive learning for for the transmission and throttle. They also can reclaibrate the throttle pedal and brake pedal. This will start the adaptive process from the beginning and hopefully you do not end up in this spot. Option 2 is to drive using more throttle, this will escalate the maps being used. You need to do this for about 100 miles. The nuclear option is to have your jeep tuned by an aftermarket company.
I just tried the 100+ miles of hard throttle and it does seem to drive differently, but it still shifts weird and it wants to feather the throttle in 3rd unless I drive like a bat out of hell. I love this truck but the transmission soils the experience. I guess my next step is taking it to another dealer and getting them to reset the system. Hopefully donā€™t have to get Jeep Cares involved.
 

DAVECS1

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I would find a dealer who will do the resets.
 
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SWDGladiator

SWDGladiator

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Iā€™ve got an appointment tomorrow at another dealer. Weā€™ll see how this one goes. Iā€™ve been thinking about the diesel comment...Iā€™ve noticed ā€œtickingā€ since I got the truck. I assumed it was just due to the vvt but if it caused a lazy mechanic to assume it was a diesel I may get it looked at while Iā€™m there for the reset.
 

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DAVECS1

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I would have to hear the ticking. There are several non- maintenance related ticks. The valve train os a bit noisy. And the injectors can make noise. If it is noticeably loud. There have been reported cam and cam phazer related issues. Not sure if they come from the factory like that or it happens after the control phazes the cam to "bad" spot to long. A competent dealer should be able to diagnose this.
 
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SWDGladiator

SWDGladiator

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Dealer reset my system and updated a few things and already feels better. They also said the ticking is normal. Iā€™ve got another few months until I hit my oil change so weā€™ll see how things go until then, but based on my drive home things seems normal.
 

DAVECS1

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Good to hear. These are complex systems that really bring alot to the table, but they can go off the rails in very hard to diagnose ways.
 

Drew_ATL

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My ā€˜13 Auto JK had a habit of doing this around the 60k mark -sometimes it felt like I was getting hit from the rear - and that was before 35s and a 2.5ā€ lift.
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