5.9 limited ZJ.. transmissikn whirs/whines in first 3 gears. But not overdrives

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Topic author
candymancan
Posts: 3652
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:32 pm

5.9 limited ZJ.. transmissikn whirs/whines in first 3 gears. But not overdrives

Post by candymancan »

So my 46re in my 98 ZJ 5.9 limited has 220k miles almost.. shifts exactly the sane as the day i bought it 11 years ago. But now its whining. Really loud too you cab hear it with the window down and people can hear far away. Its a whining whurrrrrrrrrrrrrr nkise.. gets faster as i get faster.. isnt there at a stop. Only happens in 1st 2nd 3rd.. but in overdrive or lockup. Its gone. If it down shift back to 3rd.. its back. Upshift to overdrive. Gone

What could cause all foward gesrs to whine but not in OD ?
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited 219k
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 I6 laredo 430k
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 155k
1976 Jeep J10.. 85k(repaired)

sierrablue
Posts: 1208
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2022 8:02 pm
Location: MN/CO

Re: 5.9 limited ZJ.. transmissikn whirs/whines in first 3 gears. But not overdrives

Post by sierrablue »

Sounds like a torque converter to me. It probably wouldn't be super loud at idle, and in overdrive things might just be moving slowly enough and putting little enough power through it to cause issues.

Could also be a bad clutch or something. Whatever it is, it's probably not good. You might be able to change the fluid and the filter, and that may fix things, but otherwise it's probably time for a tranny rebuild.
'71 Wagoneer (DD)
-B350 (HEI, iron 4-barrel, Edelbrock 1406), TH400, D20
-'74 D44 front (nonpower discs)
-custom headliner
-Front shoulder belts (rears eventually)

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There are 2 major differences between new Wranglers and FSJs. FSJs are meant to be both utilitarian and capable, not just capable. FSJs are also rarely initially recognized as Jeeps by the average American.
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tgreese
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Re: 5.9 limited ZJ.. transmissikn whirs/whines in first 3 gears. But not overdrives

Post by tgreese »

Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
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Topic author
candymancan
Posts: 3652
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:32 pm

Re: 5.9 limited ZJ.. transmissikn whirs/whines in first 3 gears. But not overdrives

Post by candymancan »

Whats weird is in neutral.. if i turn the engine off when rolling at say 30mph. Its still there.. transfercase in neutral. Still there.. so it couldnt be the torque convertor in neutral rolling because thrn it has no torque applied. Its like onky if its rolling at thise speeds it does it.. then OD it stops.. its so weird.

I guess i gatta jack all 4 wheels up and have someone get in the drivers seat when i go under to pin point the noise location
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited 219k
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 I6 laredo 430k
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 155k
1976 Jeep J10.. 85k(repaired)

sierrablue
Posts: 1208
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2022 8:02 pm
Location: MN/CO

Re: 5.9 limited ZJ.. transmissikn whirs/whines in first 3 gears. But not overdrives

Post by sierrablue »

Oh so it's one of those screams. Mine (the SJ, not my mom's ZJ) does something very similar, exclusively when the hubs are locked. 2wd vs. 4wd doesn't matter, if they're unlocked it doesn't make the noise and if they're locked it does. I've checked all of the u-joints on it, and they're fine. Best I can figure, the front output seal on the case (it's definitely up top) is dry, and thus squeals. The volume, and even whether or not it makes noise, appears to depend on speed and temperature/humidity. It sounds like a squealing belt, but it's not.
'71 Wagoneer (DD)
-B350 (HEI, iron 4-barrel, Edelbrock 1406), TH400, D20
-'74 D44 front (nonpower discs)
-custom headliner
-Front shoulder belts (rears eventually)

viewtopic.php?t=23070

There are 2 major differences between new Wranglers and FSJs. FSJs are meant to be both utilitarian and capable, not just capable. FSJs are also rarely initially recognized as Jeeps by the average American.

Topic author
candymancan
Posts: 3652
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:32 pm

Re: 5.9 limited ZJ.. transmissikn whirs/whines in first 3 gears. But not overdrives

Post by candymancan »

it sounds like this jeep, was gonna say it sounds like a manual transmission that whines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcAVvsXZeKE
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited 219k
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 I6 laredo 430k
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 155k
1976 Jeep J10.. 85k(repaired)
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