3.6L light throttle engine surge

[Djzjeep22]

For those of you having this issue, are you disabling ESS? I did a test driving with and without ESS. When ESS is on, it never surges. When it is off, it does it almost every time. I think the fix for most is to simply use the ESS system as it was designed. I was going to disable it with my Tazer but my results have changed my mind. Now I'm just getting used to driving with it on

Still have surging with ESS off

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[IndustrialAction]

Still have surging with ESS off

Right. What I'm saying is that you need to try it with ESS ON. In mine, the surging goes away when I leave ESS on

 

[Djzjeep22]

Right. What I'm saying is that you need to try it with ESS ON. In mine, the surging goes away when I leave ESS on

Sorry misunderstood your post. Will try it with ESS on when this terrible weather in the northeast clears!

 

[Djzjeep22]

Right. What I'm saying is that you need to try it with ESS ON. In mine, the surging goes away when I leave ESS on

Just ran it through some hard accelerations with ESS on and off, and for me there was no difference in surging experienced.

 

[AwCrimety]

Having the same issues, plus a bit more as described in the clutch gang thread.

But to add to what you all are talking about, trying to drive in 1st gear, or reverse, at JUST above idle is nearly impossible. It'll either surge forward, or hesitate and possibly stall. Literally it can idle along no problem in either of those gears, but trying to give and hold a small amount of throttle causes bucking/surging/hesitation.

 

[wrangster]

If you are driving an automatic and getting the surge when coming to stop just shift into manual mode right before stopping. This works for me and I enjoy driving using the manual mode! you may even get better gas mileage.

 

[WranglerMangler]

I have only found 1 thread on this. They have manual trans, I have 8spd auto. Mine is a 19 JLUR

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...t-low-rpm-1st-gear-uphill-manual-trans.10615/

The symptoms are the same. Light throttle or steady state cruise, getting a bucking / surge / bogging / pumping brake feeling. It could also be described as a straight strong head wind pushing on the front of the Jeep. The easiest way to tell for me is, 1-2* incline ( used off road pages for that info ) try and stay around 25 mph steady. It can't do it. Feels like someone is pumping the gas, or brake pedal. I have tried manual mode, no change. It does the same at rpms from 1300-4000 rpm.Any gear,did not try any higher rpm. Once you know what your feeling, its at any speed ( mph ) or gear. The only thing that seems to be consistent is the rpm 1300-4000 rpm, with light or steady speed.
I have an appointment soon. Hope they have live data stream to find out what's going on.

Anyone else feeling this?

I just drove home from the dealer after taking delivery with my brand new JLU with 3.6 and 8 speed and I’m experiencing the exact same thing. It feels to me like the engine is hesitating and causing the transmission to react to it, moving in and out of high gear while cruising at 60 on flat road. The sensation is like driving into a gusty headwind.

 

[Kevin Mojito]

and it never gets better.............

 

[Keeper]

I went out with a tech to reproduce the issue. After we got back, the service manager said the problem couldn't be reproduced. Then he waffled a bit and said come back when the issue is more pronounced . . . there's not service bulletin or engine light, so there's nothing we can do.

Anyone make an aftermarket supercharger and custom tune for the JL yet? Maybe that will fix it.

 

[signals34]

not an issue on my 2019 rubicon , 6 sp manual....with ess off....do not have that problem....no surges, no hesitation, no bucking, etc.......just got to try out the active cruse control, that really works great....

 

[Litfuse]

I’m currently on a trip with a portion of my staff with a 2018 Dodge caravan with the 3.6 motor and automatic transmission. It is absolutely horrendous. This things surges, coughs, hesitates, you name it. I would suggest that FCA can’t program a car, but my 2016 ram truck with the 5.7 hemi and eight speed automatic rips.

 

[wrangster]

I have a 3.6 pentastar engine and it feels like someone bumps me in the back while coming to a stop. Does not happen all the time but almost always once while ESS is off. With ESS off and stick in manual mode it never happens! so my conclusion is the ESS system has a slight bug! Been this way since purchase, now have just over 6K miles on it.

 

[JeepCares]

I have a 3.6 pentastar engine and it feels like someone bumps me in the back while coming to a stop. Does not happen all the time but almost always once while ESS is off. With ESS off and stick in manual mode it never happens! so my conclusion is the ESS system has a slight bug! Been this way since purchase, now have just over 6K miles on it.

Hi wrangster,
If you decide to visit your local dealership for further diagnosis I’d be happy to offer assistance if needed. Just send us a PM with your VIN and let me know!
Lydia
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

[wrangster]

I doubt they can help if you the social care specialist has no clue of issue. If there are more reports of this and you the specialist know the fix that would be great. Please report back Lydia if you find anything out.
Thanks,
Ray

 

[Jimbo344]

I have almost 9,000 miles on my jlur 2019 Rubicon automatic. Mine does the exact same thing! most of the time it's when I'm driving slowly and on off the on or off the brake. driving through parking lots or slow speed, but it absolutely 100% surges! almost like I hit the gas pedal on and off. not a good thing to feel! It's fine at higher speeds. Obviously needs attending to, it's too intermittent to take to dealer, waste of time, but dangerous! Can anyone say FCA lawsuit!

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