The transmission dumped all fluid and started a small fire on I-75. Lots of blinding smoke for passing vehicles to drive through. Put the fire out w/ onboard fire extinguisher. Had the vehicle towed to Jeep Dealer in Gainesville (great dealership; arranged for a rental, got into the transmission right away while I was doing the paperwork, and gave me a rear spare wheel cover as a courtesy).
Came back the next day; transmission in pieces on the work bench. Was SHOCKED TO FIND THAT NEOPRENE GEARS WERE USED IN THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, AND THESE HAS FAILED! The seals were blown-out, and it took a week to get the parts and re-assemble.
Cost $1200.00 for the rebuild, and even after that, the ignition cut-out switch in the transmission shifter (it's an automatic) became intermittent; had to jiggle (got jiggy with it!!!) the shifter to engage the contacts. I had asked about replacing the automatic tranny with a 5-speed manual, but that would entail a computer change, and it was a 4-cylinder power planr which, as I was told by the 'Certified Jeep Mechanic', an Isuzu engine.
Also had a '97 Wrangler that I gave to my daughter as a graduation present in 1999, and she reported grinding noises in the transmission and transfer case of her Jeep as well.
Here's hoping that Jeep will go back to basics, and return to a proper lineage in design engineering with commercial grade axles, hubs, transmissions, transfer cases and large bore 4-cylinder engines with 6 cylinders as an option.
ALL Jeeps should have towing packages, a transmission cooler (I was not towing anything) and extra capacity engine cooling, with skid plates and larger wheels!
I liked the extra shock dampeners that join the body to the frame, but the cargo space could be extended by 8 inches, or the body stretched out by that amount at the rear.
I am impressed by the Indian-built Mahindra; it's still an exact replica / duplicate of the Willys CJ-3, but is illegal in the US. Mahindra also builds a smaller version which is just a little bit smaller than a CJ-2, but again is not legal in the US.
Waiting to see if Jeep will build with quality internal parts, as opposed to plastic in high heat / high torque areas.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The transmission dumped all fluid and started a small fire on I-75. Lots of blinding smoke for passing vehicles to drive through. Put the fire out w/ onboard fire extinguisher. Had the vehicle towed to Jeep Dealer in Gainesville (great dealership; arranged for a rental, got into the transmission right away while I was doing the paperwork, and gave me a rear spare wheel cover as a courtesy).
Came back the next day; transmission in pieces on the work bench. Was SHOCKED TO FIND THAT NEOPRENE GEARS WERE USED IN THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, AND THESE HAS FAILED! The seals were blown-out, and it took a week to get the parts and re-assemble. Cost $1200.00 for the rebuild, and even after that, the ignition cut-out switch in the transmission shifter (it's an automatic) became intermittent; had to jiggle (got jiggy with it!!!) the shifter to engage the contacts. I had asked about replacing the automatic tranny with a 5-speed manual, but that would entail a computer change, and it was a 4-cylinder power planr which, as I was told by the 'Certified Jeep Mechanic', an Isuzu engine.
Also had a '97 Wrangler that I gave to my daughter as a graduation present in 1999, and she reported grinding noises in the transmission and transfer case of her Jeep as well.
Here's hoping that Jeep will go back to basics, and return to a proper lineage in design engineering with commercial grade axles, hubs, transmissions, transfer cases and large bore 4-cylinder engines with 6 cylinders as an option. ALL Jeeps should have towing packages, a transmission cooler (I was not towing anything) and extra capacity engine cooling, with skid plates and larger wheels!
I liked the extra shock dampeners that join the body to the frame, but the cargo space could be extended by 8 inches, or the body stretched out by that amount at the rear.
I am impressed by the Indian-built Mahindra; it's still an exact replica / duplicate of the Willys CJ-3, but is illegal in the US. Mahindra also builds a smaller version which is just a little bit smaller than a CJ-2, but again is not legal in the US.
Waiting to see if Jeep will build with quality internal parts, as opposed to plastic in high heat / high torque areas.
- rex.reptilius, Gainesville, US