Hard Shift 1st to 2nd

shugy · Jul 13, 2022

Getting a very noticeable hard shift in between 1st / 2nd. Feels like I hit a pothole, or even was very lightly rear ended. Passengers often ask what that was.

On a 20 minute drive, I'll have 2-3 episodes. Not too concerned, however not something I expect with a new vehicle.

Took it to my dealer, and they said its natural for a heavy duty transmission. Not quite sold on that response.

Are all us 392 owners blessed with this?

Guest862 · Jul 13, 2022

No, unfortunately this does not sound normal.

7.62x392 · Jul 13, 2022

I don’t feel any hard shifting. Transmission as a whole feels very smooth, much more so than my JLU sport I traded in for the 392. Id take it to another dealer for a second opinion.

Electrified · Jul 13, 2022

I only have 900 miles on mine but it is as smooth as butter. I agree that you should take it to another dealer.

justinB · Jul 14, 2022

shugy said:
Getting a very noticeable hard shift in between 1st / 2nd. Feels like I hit a pothole, or even was very lightly rear ended. Passengers often ask what that was.

On a 20 minute drive, I'll have 2-3 episodes. Not too concerned, however not something I expect with a new vehicle.

Took it to my dealer, and they said its natural for a heavy duty transmission. Not quite sold on that response.

Are all us 392 owners blessed with this?

You def have something going on in there. Shifting has been very smooth for me, even when mashing the pedal.

Colorado392 · Jul 14, 2022

justinB said:
You def have something going on in there. Shifting has been very smooth for me, even when mashing the pedal.

Agreed.

HearHear · Jul 14, 2022

Not normal. I have odd chirps, squeaks and knocks come and go all over this beast. But at 2,300 miles, my transmission has been very smooth. If the dealer won't cooperate, spend a few bucks to have it diagnosed at a reputable local repair shop. Then bring findings to the dealer for the warranty fix.

Dral97 · Jul 14, 2022

Could also give a call to Jeep cares just to have it on record with them.

deanfromoregon · Jul 14, 2022

16k miles here, no hard shifting. Not normal, final answer!

-Dean

scarab · Jul 14, 2022

Definitely not normal, sounds like they put a BMW transmission in your Jeep. They both use ZF, but only BMWs have that kind of issues

Dral97 · Jul 14, 2022

scarab said:
Definitely not normal, sounds like they put a BMW transmission in your Jeep. They both use ZF, but only BMWs have that kind of issues

Luckily that's one thing that hasn't gone wrong on my bimmer yet. I gotta go find some wood to knock on...

Cat4 · Jul 14, 2022

I often notice a hard shift from 1-2 before the transmission gets to temp.

redrubi · Aug 4, 2022

This is from the Jeep manual:

The electronically controlled transmission adapts its shift schedule based on driver inputs, along with environmental and road conditions. The transmission electronics are self-calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts on a new vehicle may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal condition, and precision shifts will develop within a few hundred miles

Cat4 · Aug 4, 2022

Ya I’ve read that, I’m well over a few hundred miles now…

shugy · Aug 5, 2022

Yep. I just hit 3000. Still same issues. I will take it in for a 2nd opinion at a different dealer.

mini2nut · Aug 5, 2022

Good call and keep us posted.

HearHear · Aug 5, 2022

Actually, the only somewhat "hard shifting" I've noticed is in two scenarios:

1) When my battery died recently and AAA jump started me, my battery was still very weak and almost completely dead but the engine was running. Even with the jump start the battery was almost dead, and I guess the transmission still didn't have enough electrical power to do what it needed to do and the shifting was very hard and clunky. But it was due to the dead battery and from what I read somewhere I think it might just shift into 3rd gear automatically if there's not enough electrical power in the system going to the transmission. Like dead or weak battery scenario. Can someone confirm this? It would make the hard clunk when shifting with a dead or low powered battery make sense if it's just going to 3rd gear.

2) Once is a while when coming to an abrupt stop it might get a little hard "clunk" when downshifting from 2nd to first. But only when the stop is rather abrupt and foot is not pressing the brake all the way. Weird scenario I know but it's the only time my transmission has ever felt like hard shifting, besides the dead battery as mentioned of course.

Since the battery was replaced, my transmission works fine. I was afraid of any damage since it was shifted into gear when it went onto the AAA flatbed truck to the dealer, but the dealer checked everything out and now since battery replacement it shifts great. I really suspect my battery was weak since I picked it up new. After being built in November, my Jeep was just sitting outside several weeks in the extreme cold of winter up north. Can't be good for a battery. So I think my battery was pretty shot when I first picked up my Jeep in December. When I got my first oil change a few weeks ago, they said the battery was getting low. But me being the king of procrastinators, I waited until the damn thing died before I replaced it. Lesson learned.

Uncommon Sense · Aug 5, 2022

Only hard shifting I experience is if doing a California stop at a stop sign. Basically, if I am coming up to a stop sign and stop for a half second or so and then proceed, it is like the transmission doesn't down shift fast enough to 1st and gets confused whether it should be in first or second. If I stop and sit there for maybe 2 seconds, it doesn't do it. My Grand Cherokee did the same thing so I assume it is just a characteristic of the ZF transmission.

I had some weird transmission clunk maybe 30% of the time on my Grand Cherokee when it would down shift from fifth to fourth if I recall correctly. Took it to dealer several times and they could never resolve it (or duplicate it).

BigBlue392 · Aug 5, 2022

Uncommon Sense said:
Only hard shifting I experience is if doing a California stop at a stop sign. Basically, if I am coming up to a stop sign and stop for a half second or so and then proceed, it is like the transmission doesn't down shift fast enough to 1st and gets confused whether it should be in first or second. If I stop and sit there for maybe 2 seconds, it doesn't do it. My Grand Cherokee did the same thing so I assume it is just a characteristic of the ZF transmission.

I had some weird transmission clunk maybe 30% of the time on my Grand Cherokee when it would down shift from fifth to fourth if I recall correctly. Took it to dealer several times and they could never resolve it (or duplicate it).

Mine does same thing with an abbreviated stop at a stop sign on a slight hill. If I sit there for couple of seconds no hard shift.