2004JCL46

I am having a transmission shifting problem with my 2004 Jeep Cherokee Laredo (4-WD, Inline 6 cyl)

My Check Engine Light (for the O2 sensor) is currently on – (P-0131) – No other codes are present.
Had it replaced several times in the past, and it comes back on within a day or two.

Recently my engine was slow turning over.
The camshaft position sensor code was on (P-0340)

I called my local Mechanic – who had worked on my car satisfactorily several times in the past -
They were running a free electrical inspection that week.

I have had minor electrical issues with this vehicle in the past. I have had to replace the tail-light bulb several times, and it seems to go out or function strangely from time to time. Also years ago had a cracked wiring harness in one of the front doors.

I told them about the code and took it in, and they ended up replacing the camshaft sensor.
Then the camshaft sensor code came back on again, they turned it off.
Picked up my car and paid them $286.57.

The next day, my car was sluggish starting again.
I went to Autozone to have the battery and electrical system checked.

The employee at AutoZone could not even check the electrical system because all of the cables were so corroded, and on positive terminal post of the battery was broken, with a indentation in the plastic battery casing next to it, that looked the same shape as a screwdriver blade ...... as if someone had tried to get the cable – which was heavily corroded and stuck – off by prying underneath with a screwdriver blade, rather than loosening the clamp.

AutoZone cleaned my battery cables and replaced my battery, which was only at 40% at the time.
Paid them $167.55.

There is no way that the mechanic who worked on my vehicle checked the electrical system!
Surely, if they had, they would have found the situation that AutoZone found approximately 24 hours later!

(Unless ... perhaps their guy broke the battery post and did not want to say anything, so just skipped the electrical inspection and replaced the camshaft sensor.....)

Unfortunately, because of the electrical issues present, I may have not needed that sensor replaced after all ... as an electrical issue can cause it to code .... but at this point I will never know.

I called and spoke with the assistant manager, who was going to investigate further, speak with the mechanic, and have the manager call me back.
I plan to follow up with them again this week.

Today, while driving in the afternoon heat, my car started having major trouble shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear. I had to take it up to almost 4,000 RPM’s to get it to shift.

In all other areas, it seems to run fine. Downshifting is fine, and shifting from any other gears is fine, too.

I saw a couple of YouTube videos, and Jeep Cherokee Forum articles that mentioned the O2 sensor issue possibly being an electrical wiring problem, or perhaps being related to shifting problems with the transmission.Is it possible that an electrical issue could be at the root of the O2 sensor problem, and that either the O2 sensor, or faulty fuses or wiring could be at the root of the transmission problem?

Someone suggested replacing the Throttle Position Sensor, and another suggested replacing the TPS Fuse.

I’m not certain what to do next, and I don’t want to take it to someone who will just chalk it up to the most likely surface issue, especially when these Jeeps seem to have so many underlying issues ....

I could end up replacing the transmission only to have the same problem and later discover it was some obscure fuse or wire or sensor, etc.

Does anyone else her have any helpful suggestions stemming from direct knowledge of – or recent experience with – this issue?

Thanks very much for any help you can offer!

GanderThePanda

Thanks to @Roler too!

Roler

No worries
But I think you're thanking me in the wrong thread

4.3L XJ

First of all, PO131 is that your O2 sensor is shorted to ground. So yes, that may be an electrical problem with a wire shorted or the sensor itself, which has a heater in it. I would get that issue fixed first, clear the codes by removing the battery cables, touching them together and then go from there

GanderThePanda

Don't know how this happened lol.

grant dennis

such a head ache. get under there and make sure the cables are not damaged. Easy, just make sure you can see all cable around transmission, prepare / insulate bare wires. For trans shift problem, my zj would not shift properly or go into higher gears. It was the output speed senor (the white plastic bastard) near the rear of trans. Really cheap and easy to change.