Transmission tuning of sorts

[jeep n a boat]

Bear with me but I have 24 Willys Gladiator with 285/70/17 tires. I noticed even before upgrading tires (had 255/75/17 prior) that the transmission would downshift to 7th and sometimes 6th on slight inclines on the freeway (annoying). When switching to manual shift and putting the gear back on 8 around 60+ i feel the truck drives just fine and am able to get back to 70 without needing to downshift. Also it appears have better mpg when not downshifting so much.

Does anyone know if there is a plug tuner of sorts that improves not having to downshift in slight inclines? Like would the TazerNoLimitz thing help (removing torque management)? Or will any of the pedal enhancement things do anything (or is just making the gas/throttle more sensitive and doesn’t change shifting characteristic's)? Anyone have any luck with PSI

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[Freems]

Bear with me but I have 24 Willys Gladiator with 285/70/17 tires. I noticed even before upgrading tires (had 255/75/17 prior) that the transmission would downshift to 7th and sometimes 6th on slight inclines on the freeway (annoying). When switching to manual shift and putting the gear back on 8 around 60+ i feel the truck drives just fine and am able to get back to 70 without needing to downshift. Also it appears have better mpg when not downshifting so much.

Does anyone know if there is a plug tuner of sorts that improves not having to downshift in slight inclines? Like would the TazerNoLimitz thing help (removing torque management)? Or will any of the pedal enhancement things do anything (or is just making the gas/throttle more sensitive and doesn’t change shifting characteristic's)? Anyone have any luck with PSI

Honestly I just ignore It and drive the hell out of it. I have 35” on mine on 17” rims.

 

[AmosMoses]

This one of the first things I noticed after adding 35"s. My work commute starts by getting on the highway with a slight incline that is roughly a 1/4 mile long. It seems like either 3 to 4 or 4 to 5th gears takes forever to upshift and rpms climb way up to like 5k or something. Letting off the gas a hair does not make it upshift like automatics of old but it feels like the transmission is overcompensating for engine rpm and waits until the motor is screaming before it grabs a higher gear.

It seems like my old vehicles with autos would shift like clockwork at a given rpm depending on how much gas I was giving it.

I've had a sports S jt with 3.73 gears and now a jtr with 4.11 gears and they both shift the same on that incline with 35's.

 

[Hootbro]

Have you actually reprogrammed the vehicle for the tire size change? Also, resetting the transmission adaptive learning can help rebaseline things.

I had similar issues with my 2021 Willys Gladiator until I reset both tire size and transmission adaptive learning. 33's are about the ragged edge for a stock Willys and 3.73 gears.

 

[Janster]

Have you actually reprogrammed the vehicle for the tire size change? Also, resetting the transmission adaptive learning can help rebaseline things.

I had similar issues with my 2021 Willys Gladiator until I reset both tire size and transmission adaptive learning. 33's are about the ragged edge for a stock Willys and 3.73 gears.

…..oooo the adaptive learning crap…. How do you reset that? Unplug the battery for 10 minutes…. The 2016 Canyon had that - and it was actually rather annoying and didn’t last very long. The damn thing would shift into 6th gear (highest gear it had) going 45mph then it wouldn’t know how to downshift…. chuggle chuggle chuggle……

Please tell me this JT isn’t gonna have the same fate…..

 

[Hootbro]

…..oooo the adaptive learning crap…. How do you reset that? Unplug the battery for 10 minutes…. The 2016 Canyon had that - and it was actually rather annoying and didn’t last very long. The damn thing would shift into 6th gear (highest gear it had) going 45mph then it wouldn’t know how to downshift…. chuggle chuggle chuggle……

Please tell me this JT isn’t gonna have the same fate…..

JScan or a bi-directional higher end scan tool can do it. Caveman way is to disconnect "both" batteries for like 30+ minutes.

 

[jeep n a boat]

Have you actually reprogrammed the vehicle for the tire size change? Also, resetting the transmission adaptive learning can help rebaseline things.

I had similar issues with my 2021 Willys Gladiator until I reset both tire size and transmission adaptive learning. 33's are about the ragged edge for a stock Willys and 3.73 gears.

This just may be it. I’ll give this a try

 

[Janster]

JScan or a bi-directional higher end scan tool can do it. Caveman way is to disconnect "both" batteries for like 30+ minutes.

Thanks! The JT is pretty good with shifting. Every once in a while, you gotta ‘work’ the throttle to get it to upshift or downshift, but that’s minor…. It seems happier in the higher revs.

Much much better than the 6speed Canyon that I had!!

 

[PuddleJumper]

Bear with me but I have 24 Willys Gladiator with 285/70/17 tires. I noticed even before upgrading tires (had 255/75/17 prior) that the transmission would downshift to 7th and sometimes 6th on slight inclines on the freeway (annoying). When switching to manual shift and putting the gear back on 8 around 60+ i feel the truck drives just fine and am able to get back to 70 without needing to downshift. Also it appears have better mpg when not downshifting so much.

Does anyone know if there is a plug tuner of sorts that improves not having to downshift in slight inclines? Like would the TazerNoLimitz thing help (removing torque management)? Or will any of the pedal enhancement things do anything (or is just making the gas/throttle more sensitive and doesn’t change shifting characteristic's)? Anyone have any luck with PSI

Yes and no. I can’t really say what it’ll do for you cus I’m on 37s and 4.88s with a lot of gear. But I did noticed it help with not wandering gears on the slightest incline. Like it’s actually comfortable cruising at sub 1800 rpm’s whereas before it just wouldn’t. Any rpm below 2100 and it would downshift, awful. So much better now

 

[JerseyMark]

I actually like the transmission to hold lower gears. IMO, Better to pay a few bucks more for gas then put extra wear and tear on the engine by lugging it. The Pentastar also has a dual stage oil pump, so you don't get higher oil pressure until the RPMs get above a certain point.

 

[jeep n a boat]

I actually like the transmission to hold lower gears. IMO, Better to pay a few bucks more for gas then put extra wear and tear on the engine by lugging it. The Pentastar also has a dual stage oil pump, so you don't get higher oil pressure until the RPMs get above a certain point.

Good point. Something to consider

 

[Stan H]

Good point. Something to consider

Mine will shift up if I let off the fuel . It always has and I have in excess of 115K .
Sometimes if I want it to shift up quicker I just give it more gas then that 3rd or 4th will rev quickly and shift up.. you Can shift manually but remember these engines like some higher RPMs and they don't develop alot of HP & Torque until they are up in the RPM . Rage about 2500 . Just mash that right foot down ..lol

 

[apinson34]

Coming from a family of mostly BMW ownership growing up, I've grown quite accustom to the ZF 8 Speed boxes. In my old 3 series, the ZF would auto downshift when I would start going up a hill from data fed to the TCM from the GPS in the car for altitude data. It was one of the main reasons I came to Jeep over competitors for this type of vehicle!

As others have mentioned, the tuning of the 8 speed is linked to quite a bit of factors, including hill incline. Straight from the Gladiator dealer media/broschure:

"The launch ratios for all eight gears have been optimized, tuning this 8-speed transmission to the exact structure, size and weight of your Jeep Gladiator. Advanced software adjusts performance on the fly, based on variables such as temperature, cornering, hill grades, 4x4 gears and towing. Smooth and virtually seamless shifts, both up and down, deliver a consistently smooth ride."

In other words, enjoy it and make sure you've got the tire size set

 

[Stan H]

I wished I could say mines working properly but it isn't and hasn't for about 30,000 . About 90,000 mine started shifting abruptly between 3rd and 4th and then I had to start just letting off the fuel after it wound out in 3rd to about 3k rpms , now about 2k ago it randomly wont go in reverse. . Strange thing is once it is in any gear it does NOT slip it's just the shifting. Tire size etc. has all been reset . I am trying to save money for a new transmission. I would rather have this one rebuilt but I am told that no one really does it. If anyone knows of any place that does let me know.
My best guess is the electronic shift solenoid is faulty in mine. Alot of times I shiftthe first 4 gears manually (still letting off the fuel between 3rd and 4th like I am using a clutch).
I got a 116,477 on the clock and drive it every single day just under 130 miles . It is in 4x4 low and high daily , yes I have changed the transmission fluid. I am glad some of you all have had great luck with yours. I do believe having to 4x4 on these muddy gas well sites everyday is the reason mine is failing. Another interesting thing it does is if I pull a hill in 4hi it will fail to go into reverse. And if I simply put it in the low side it will then shift into reverse. I know it's an electronic issue I have no codes and the idiots were I am from couldnt diagnos a boiled egg. Any and all input is welcome. Thanks Folks

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