Growling transmission

JEFF023

MEMBER
JEEP CHEROKEE

Hi All--

I have a 1996 Jeep Cherokee sport with a 4.0 litre engine. 80K miles. I very rarely drive it in 4-wheel mode, but I occasionally do so on a dirt road near my house, never over 25 mph. Recently, I hear a growl or low whine from the transmission--sounds like it's from the front of the car. It stops when the car stops, then goes up and down in pitch as the car shifts. Also, the dash light that used to come on and say "part time" no longer comes on when I shift into 4-wheel high. I've never had it in 4-wheel low.

Any idea what this might be? And how serious? The tranmission doesn't slip and the car runs fine. There's just this new noise. The car had new fluid around 65K miles.

Thanks for any advice and info. Jeff023

6 Replies

MATHIASO

MECHANIC
1,209 POSTS

Have the transfer case check at a shop. I doubt this is a transmission issue.
May be some moderators will jump in to help you too, but you definitely have to take your car to a shop. Have them put it on the lift, start it and shift in gears. With a stethoscope, a second person can locate the growling noise.
Transmission is a serious business, have to be 100% sure before condemning it

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Friday, January 19th, 2007 AT 7:05 PM

SERVICE WRITER

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9,123 POSTS

Hey Jeff,

Are all the fluid levels good? Including differentials, power steering and transfer case?

Is the truck actually shifting into 4-wheel high or part-time when do ask it to?

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Friday, January 19th, 2007 AT 9:38 PM

JEFF023

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Mathsio, thanks for the info!

Paul, I will check the fluids as much as I can (not familiar with checking other than the main transmission fluid level). I go to a lube place which is supposed to check all levels during an oil change. There's aren't any leaks, at least when it is parked.

Usually, if I have it in 4-wheel high, it jumps, hesitates, and bounces a bit when turning with the steering wheel over all the way to left or right. It then stops doing so when in 2-wheel. Yesterday I tried shifting into 4-wheel and the bouncing and jumping did occur, then stopped when I shifted back to 2-wheel. Could it maybe not be shifting all the way iinto 2-wheel?

Thanks,

Jeff

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Saturday, January 20th, 2007 AT 7:07 AM

SERVICE WRITER

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Sounds like it's engaging and disengaging fine, amybe a bulb went out on the dash?

Don't assume the other fuids are checked. Take a look in the owner's manual on checking the other fluids. If you can't find anything, let me know.

You should become familiar with checking the fluids regardless and what kind of fluids they take. The power steering fluid you can find in the area of the belts, It has a small black cap with an indictor stick on it when you remove it. It sounds like it may be a power steering moan you have going and that would be the starting place.

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Saturday, January 20th, 2007 AT 8:33 AM

JEFF023