If your Jeep Liberty KJ does not reverse, that’s a very common problem for the 545RFE transmission. Another common transmission problem is when your Jeep Liberty stalls when you put it in gear, and you may experience unusually hard shifting when the torque converter engages. The unfortunate thing is, all of these issues may occur even after you’ve had the transmission rebuilt. So let’s find out why.
What Transmission Do I Have?
Jeep Liberty KJ no reverse
If your Jeep Liberty KJ stalls in reverse, the problem is most likely caused by a failed TCC converter limit valve spring. The 545RFE TCC converter limit valve spring limits the torque converter clutch release pressure. If the valve gets stuck, the torque converter will not decouple the engine from the transmission, which causes the engine to stall. This is a very inexpensive part, but it will cost a lot of money to replace because you have to remove and partially disassemble the transmission to get to it. The TCC converter limit valve spring can also cause your Jeep Liberty KJ to stall when you put it in drive as well.
Jeep Liberty KJ hard shifting
If your Jeep Liberty KJ shifts hard whenever the torque converter has to engage, the problem likely stems from a bad TCC accumulator valve spring. The 545RFE TCC accumulator valve spring is designed to act like a shock absorber so that the torque converter can engage smoothly. If this spring has an issue, you’re going to have harsh shifts every time the torque converter engages. These springs are often overlooked by inexperienced transmission rebuilders, which is why this frustrating problem can occur even after a transmission rebuild.
How much is it going to cost to fix my Jeep Liberty transmission?
Unfortunately, the problem described here will require the removal and disassembly/partial disassembly of your transmission. Given the labor time involved to remove the transmission from the vehicle (this is not a simple task), most repair shops will recommend that you go ahead and rebuild the entire transmission while it’s out. Since they already have to tear it down to replace the TCC converter limit valve spring and TCC accumulator valve spring, it sort of makes sense to spend the extra money to do that. After all, you should get a lot more mileage out of your transmission once it’s rebuilt. And since they’ve already got the transmission apart, might as well, right?
Why a remanufactured transmission might be a good option
While you can’t buy a brand-new transmission, a remanufactured transmission is a terrific alternative. These are completely reengineered and put together on a factory assembly line. They often contain a lots of upgrades over their stock form, which means many of the design flaws that result in premature failure of components can be eliminated. This can give a reman transmission a much longer service life than it originally had.
Remanufactured transmission companies like Street Smart Transmission put each of their reman transmissions through a rigorous build process that ensures a quality product every time. It begins with nearly 100 trained technicians that specialize in different aspects of the build process.
This remanufacturing process starts with the inspection team that test all of the critical components from the donor transmission to ensure that they meet the original equipment (OE) tolerances and specifications. The case, pumps, gears, shafts, valve body and torque converter are checked for hairline cracks, metal tensile strength, warping and other parameters. If any component fails to meet the required specifications, it’s discarded and replaced.
All the parts are then cleaned and sent to the appropriate stations on the assembly line for reassembly. Throughout the process, quality control managers inspect the build to ensure that it meets the desired specification. Any necessary modifications or upgrades that are needed to correct factory design flaws are also performed or added. The valve body is rebuilt and tested on a special dyno machine to ensure that it performs according to the specifications. All of the solenoids are also tested prior to installation.
Once the build is complete and passes its final quality control inspection, the newly remanufactured transmission is sent to the dyno room, where it’s tested on a special dyno machine using a proprietary software program called C.A.R.S. (Computer Aided Real-world Simulation). This cycles the transmission through a number of real-world driving situations, to ensure that it performs according to the factory specs. It also helps to break in all of the friction components, that way it’s completely tuned and ready to go once it’s installed.
Warranty – One of the benefits of buying a remanufactured transmission vs. a rebuilt transmission is the warranty. Street Smart Transmission for example, covers all of their reman transmissions with a 3 Year/Unlimited Mileage Nationwide Warranty (there is a mileage restriction for commercial vehicles). This covers parts and labor for transmission repairs performed by any licensed repair shop in the country. It’s also completely transferable if you ever decide to sell the vehicle. Compared to a mechanics warranty on a transmission rebuild, a remanufactured transmission warranty offers superior financial protection.
What Transmission Do I Have?
Is a remanufactured transmission worth it?
If you plan to keep your vehicle for as long as possible, then getting a transmission rebuild is certainly a viable option. However, a remanufactured transmission is a much better alternative. You’re getting as close to a brand-new transmission as it is possible. Companies like Street Smart Transmission also modify the transmission to correct all of the factory design flaws, allowing you to get a much longer service life from the transmission. So in terms of value for the money, a reman transmission might be the better way to go.
