biTToe
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2018
- Threads
- 0
- Messages
- 49
- Reaction score
- 46
- Location
- Central NY
- Vehicle(s)
- JL Rubi: Ordered 1/30/18 - Delivered 06/12/18- '06 TJ Rubi ( gone ), '75 CJ5 304-V8 (long gone)
First I read this, and thought OMG, I could have written that, just add that my 2018 JL Rubi is also geared too high, that the gearings are too far apart, and my 1975 CJ shifted smoother.
I have been unhappy about my six-speed choice since day-one, and I've been driving a stick almost exclusively since the 80's
I have been unhappy about my six-speed choice since day-one, and I've been driving a stick almost exclusively since the 80's
Then I read this, tried it, and it's like I have a whole new vehicle. Granted, the gearing still in't ideal given it's "designed for the trail", but I can now go up my driveway in first gear from a stop easily and even in second gear as long as I am already rolling.my theory - and it's just a theory and based on the fact that i have driven standards for some 45 years (and never lost a clutch - even racing) AND after 18 months with this particular jeep I still feel like it's my first time driving a standard:
The engine is quirky at low revs. Has a weird torque thing happening that feels something like the early days of turbochargers. This is fine in an automatic vehicle, as it gives that head-snapping feeling when you give it a bunch of gas off the stop line. Makes it "feel" like the car has a ton of power, and follows up rather disappointingly (but, hey- it's a jeep). Anyhow - in a standard, combined with a new, 'touchy' clutch it's a beast to roll away from a stop light elegantly. I am thinking, that Jeep has discovered that perhaps there have been failures from too much feathering by those who don't understand that you can overheat a clutch. If you do it wrong, you can find yourself feathering the clutch all the way through 3rd gear... not a good way to drive a standard.
And perhaps is that the reason said "software" is so delayed, is that "software" probably won't fix the problem (unless it is to sort out that engine torquey feeling).
Anyhow - just a theory. After 18 months with this vehicle, I am starting to get comfy with the clutch/engine matchup. Then I jump in my '04 TJ, or my son's '17 JK and drive it around a bit and i am back to square one for a few weeks.
The PR behind all this is a bit strange - I get the recall notice that says we don't have the parts, do a bit of research and find out that parts = software fix as well as 'exploding bits' and can imagine how people feel uneasy driving a deathtrap . All the same, I don't care - just wanna drive my jeep. (and maybe get the dealer to fix the stereo USB thing - WAY more annoying than a recall notice).
It's fly by wire. The accelerator pedal has an electronic sensor that feeds the ECM or somesuch. When the system is flashed the ECM doesn't seem to know the actual range of the sensor (possible voltage/resistance output values), so it's basically either On or Off (less throttle or more throttle), and I have reason to believe it never "learns". The Y01 wiped out mine; it was the first thing I checked when I started it. It's not part of their procedures, nor did my dealer do it as part of the arrival inspection.
Get in vehicle, put on seat belt, press button twice to put it into Run (no ignition / engine off). Wait for the engine light then slowly go the full range on the accelerator pedal, five seconds down, five seconds up, repeat. (Arguably one is enough). Thirty seconds seems to be too long, two seconds means it'll likely miss some of the blank spots in the sensor output (so you could get dead zones). Foot off accelerator, neutral, clutch in, hold for ignition.
Feather your accelerator pedal now and see what RPM it holds.
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