Do you think I may have some possible looming transmission issues or something else going on here? Here's a synopsis of the past few days. I left our farm in Cairo, GA hauling an empty enclosed trailer (probably 14'x8' double axle) back to Raleigh, NC with me, approximately 600 miles to go.
This was on Sunday.
First 150 miles is mostly US Hwy at 65 MPH speed limit. I'm running 60-65 and it won't hold 5th gear. I can induce a shift from 4th to 5th, but any of the absolute slightest tap on the gas shifts it back to 4th. So it's mostly running in 4th at 60-65 (25-2800 ish RPMs) and the torque converter is constantly locking and unlocking.
The middle 300 miles is 2 lane highway at 55-60 MPH and interstate at about 65. Now the Jeep decides it can run in and hold 5th gear, even up mild hills. Steeper or longer hills required shifts down to 4th. The torque converter seemed to lock in 5th and didn't cycle like it was before.
Last 150 miles is 2 and 4 lane highway at 55-65. It's running the same as the first 150 miles. Constant unlocking and locking of the torque converter and won't hold 5th at all. I decided to take a video of the torque converter action this time, see below.
Fast forward through Monday to this morning (Tuesday). I'm on my short 3 mile drive to work, slowing down as I'm approaching traffic that's getting rolling. I ease back onto the accelerator while around 30-ish MPH and it SLAMS into gear (I think it went into 4th as the RPMs stayed down around 11-1200. I've had it shift pretty hard before when going into the higher gears at low speeds, but never that hard. Next turn I'm sitting waiting for a clear spot to make a left turn. As I accelerate and turn, I get a grinding-like sound, and a little hesitation that felt like a slip. The grinding-like sound I have no idea.
What says you experts? Have it serviced and see what happens? Fluid was changed (just flushed as far as I know) about 20k ago. That would've been around 75k and I'm at 97k now. It may be a little low. I checked at my last oil change last week and it was at the bottom of the stick. It's been over 1000 miles since that oil change already, nearly half of it towing.
Need to sort this out by Thursday because I'll be starting the move hauling this loaded trailer back and forth between Raleigh and North Augusta.
Here's the torque converter video
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