jeep_guy3

I picked up a 1989 Jeep Cherokee at an auction the other day for $200. had no idea what i was getting but seeing as i had to sell my other jeep to pay for school it was time to get back into the xjs... what can i say once a cherokee owner always a cherokee owner, am i right? haha

alittle about the jeep. jeep has 218k miles on it 4.0L, auto, 4wd, rust free, started right up runs like a champ no ticks knocks or any funny business, one small oil leak from the valve cover gasket but what do you expect for a 89? straight body, needed a couple windows, brakes bled and is fithy inside but all in all the best $200 i have ever spent.

i drove it home from the auction and it shifted smooth and ran great, however once i got in my neighborhood and was in low gears it started to slip and not want to shift into second. i parked it let it cool down and drove it some more. when its cold it shifts great and after about 5 minutes or so when its nice and warm it starts to do that again. i checked the fluid level and it was filled over the full line so today i changed the filter and fluid and didnt find any metal shavings in the pan. i drove it around and it did the same thing. when i checked the level when i got home the level went down and it was a little low and i was out of ATF so i parked it till tommorrow till i can pick up another quart. having heard stories of trannys acting up with out the proper fluid level i am hoping this solves my issue but if not i was hoping some of you with some automatic tranny knowledge (i have always owned 5spd manuals) could help me with some possible problems that may be happening.

a friend had the same issue in a ranger but his was all the time, no matter what temp it was. he had the bands adjusted and it fixed it right up. so i might do that to it. is there anything else that is cheap and easy to try? any of you suggest the LUCAS no slip stuff in the tranny? seeing as i am a college student id like to get this fixed as cheap as possible. thanks for the help

Jeep89JV

For the price you paid and the mileage it has don't be surprised if you find yourself having to pull one from a junkyard soon. Though i'd start simple and change the fluid, test drive it.

mnaemark

First make sure you are checking the fluid properly. ive seen too many people check atf fluid with the engine off and get false readings.

Just for kicks. This video is ridiculous but shows how to check it properly.
http://www.ehow.com/video_104_check-...nsmission.html

If its still running funky with the proper fluid i would goto the JY and grab a tranny cooler if yours doesn't already have one. The coolers are located directly behind the grill and they look like a lil mini radiator.

I would also check your t-case fluid level. Mine ran dry once and caused my tranny to act pretty wierd.

jeep_guy3

when i pulled the pan i noticed that there was some writing and marks on the inside of the tranny where it seems to have been rebuilt sometime in its life so im guessing it doesnt have the full 218k miles but still not knowing anything about the jeep, I already have a used tranny lined up if it does indeed need it. i am expecting the worst, and with what i paid for the jeep, even buying a rebuilt tranny would still put me at what id pay for one from a private party around here.

as far as the checking of the fluid, i have had it running like your supposed to. i planned to check all the fluids with my day off tomorrow, tcase, front axle, rear axle, and change all of them so i know that it has been done.

jeep_guy3

anybody have anything good or bad to say about the lucas no slip tranny fluid? i have heard that it works and i have heard that it makes things worse. wondering if anyone whith an xj could give me some of thier experiances.

Jeep89JV

I wouldn't

You realize you have a manual not an auto right?

jeep_guy3

you really think i dont know the difference between an automatic and manual? its an automatic....

Bustedback

Use the proper fluid it it. I had a friend that had the same problem, once the transmission got warm it would not shift and was sluggish. He changed the fluid with the correct stuff and it has been fine ever since.

Jeep89JV

Reason I asked is because your info is showing you have a 5spd. Secondly, if you're so smart then you shouldn't need to ask?

jeep_guy3

I changed it with the Dexron III and it calls for a Dexron II or superseeding type fluid. i also added some of the lucas tranny fix stuff and it seemed to help for a little longer but still acts up so i am going to take it to someplace that does free diagnostics. my guess is the bands are worn or need to be adjusted. if not then ill go pick up the used tranny i have lined up.

if you were to read the original post you will find out that it is not the jeep in my info section. i may not be the smartest but i know enough to read and find out that when there info section says an 85 with a 2.5 and the question is about an 89 with a 4.0 MAYBE just MAYBE they arent talking about the one in the info section. here maybe this will help you in the future from leaving embarrassingly stupid posts.... http://www.hookedonphonics.com/learn...FQNbbQodzXhnmw

Jeep89JV

Sorry bud, I didn't decide to read your full story consisting of like 600 characters on the reason you believe you should ask if you should run tranny additives.

P/S answer still remains no, but you seem to be the younger ignorant type so you'll probably throw it in no matter how many people tell you don't.

jeep_guy3

Well considering your the only one who recommended not to ad it, do you mind telling me why you would be against it? considering it is a $200 jeep and its probably going to need a new tranny anyways, why wouldnt i try a $10 fix unstead of a $200 JY tranny? I am indeed a college student, i wouldnt exactly call myself ignorent just tyring to get this thing going as cheap as possible. Whats your take on adjusting the bands?

Jeep89JV

I prefer not to use additives because oil is already consisted of many to begin with, mixing them usually isn't suggested.

Mainly though, no reason to attempt to keep it going on its last limb and it finally goes out and sets you back much more money, time, and problems depending on where you are when it died. Bands are shot don't even bother, If i recall reading this thread you said it didn't take long to heat up.

I would suggest just doing as I stated on my first response, make your way out to a junkyard and swap it out.