8spd Whine? Low Trans Fluid?

[rohdawg]

Glad it turned out better then expected.

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[Logan-Kn]

Sorry to revive an old thread guys, looks like the whine is back and better than ever. I took it to my dealer and they said they couldn’t reproduce it…. If anyone has any input on what it could be, I’m all ears. I attached a video of the sound.

 

[mwilk012]

Sorry to revive an old thread guys, looks like the whine is back and better than ever. I took it to my dealer and they said they couldn’t reproduce it…. If anyone has any input on what it could be, I’m all ears. I attached a video of the sound.

When you play back that video, do you hear the noise?
That faint warbling noise?

 

[Logan-Kn]

When you play back that video, do you hear the noise?
That faint warbling noise?

Yeah it’s the high pitched sort of wine in the background.

 

[J.Ferreira]

Definitely will pay attention if it’s in start up. it’s rpm dependent for sure, starts around 3-4k. Would definitely rather an alternator than a transmission.

An alternator would make a coil whine when it's on it's last legs.

 

[Surfarch]

...looks like the whine is back and better than ever. I took it to my dealer and they said they couldn’t reproduce it…. If anyone has any input on what it could be, I’m all ears. I attached a video of the sound.

Ever find out what was causing this? I might have the same thing. Starts to whine at +3500 RPMs

 

[Logan-Kn]

Ever find out what was causing this? I might have the same thing. Starts to whine at +3500 RPMs

Hey man, sorry for not replying to you sooner; I needed to make sure it got rid of the sound. Yes, it did cure the sound. Do the service yourself with 6q of Mopar 8spd trans fluid and a new filter, and make sure to do the final fill with the car running. My hypothesis is that these transmissions are often underfilled from the factory, which causes cavitation in the pumps on the highway on an incline. Furthermore, despite what Jeep claims, they must be serviced every 50k-60k, just like every other transmission ever made. A long-time tech also told me this from my local Jeep dealer, who has been doing trans rebuilds and services for his entire career and has trained every tech on transmissions in the facility.

 

[Heimkehr]

...make sure to do the final fill with the car running.

The final fluid level check should occur with the engine running.

The new transmission fluid and filter should be added before the engine is ever started. Figure ~5.x quarts. The final check will serve to top off the level as needed.

I've done this job twice. The DIYer should use this excellent reference thread to guide his labors. Pay attention to the required temperature ranges.

 

[Surfarch]

...6q of Mopar 8spd trans fluid and a new filter...every 50k-60k...

So just a transmission service solved it?

Since I am at ~36K miles, would the dealer cover this under warranty? I might take it to them to see what they say since I have a an extended warranty. If I can get them to do it for free, that would be a bonus.

I know what everyone thinks about dealer service but my service tech at my dealer has been great. If I ever get someone else, they try to stick it to me. For example, when I wanted a 5 tire rotation, they said that was extra. My tech said no way, it is included in my service and made sure they did it, and in the pattern I wanted. Battery died in the first few months. He swapped it out with no questions asked. Same when my CV boot got a hole a started to leak. They replaced the axel, no questions asked. I plan on doing most maintenance myself, as long as I can't get my dealer to do it. If it is something I need to pay to have someone do, I am taking it to someone else.

The Mopar website says to change the "manual" transmission fluid if using the vehicle for off road at 30,000 mile intervals. I don't see anything about automatic transmission fluid on that site . I assume that is because Jeep considers it good for the "life" (150K miles) of the vehicle. I have read elsewhere that ZF, the company who designed the 850RE and makes the 8HP75, says it should be changed at 60K miles. I would assume with off road or other heavy use, that might be be less. It sounds like if I am pushing 40K, it should be changed.

 

[Heimkehr]

I plan on doing most maintenance myself, as long as I can't get my dealer to do it. If it is something I need to pay to have someone do, I am taking it to someone else.

Let us know if your dealer, or tech as the case may be, is willing to R&R the transmission fluid and filter. Mine flatly refused to do so, leaning hard on the "lifetime fill" language printed in the Owner's Manual. To my way of thinking, they define lifetime as 60K miles, the limit of the powertrain warranty, after which they needn't care.

As ZF themselves recommends a fluid and filter change at ~60K miles, I decided that the only person who was willing to do it, and do it right, was me. And so I got to work.

Those few forum members who received a dealer quote for this particular service reported +/-$1K.

N.B. -- The system capacity of the 850RE is approx. 9.5 quarts, of which 5.5 qts. will drain out when the procedure is performed properly. It's therefore advised to perform the fluid and filter change at least twice, so that the percentage of remaining original fluid is diluted (i.e., reduced) each time. With three fluid drains and refills, no more than 5% of the factory fill should remain. For planning purposes, figure driving 500 - 1K miles between each service.

 

[Surfarch]

I won't have the dealer do it if they want to charge me. IMO, this should not be happening and covered under warranty. We shall see.

 

[Heimkehr]

I won't have the dealer do it if they want to charge me. IMO, this should not be happening and covered under warranty. We shall see.

Keep us posted here, Todd.

Viewed objectively and in isolation, replacing the transmission fluid and filter is a recurring maintenance item, and not explicitly a repair that would qualify for warranty coverage.

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