Wrangler Transmission Service Question

[Kewrock]

Hi Forum.
I bought a 98 Wrangler with a 32rh 3 speed automatic. I seemed ok on the test drive around the block. The next day I realized the transmission slipped a few times when cold, then just sloppy once it warmed up. It's only got 70k on it. But when I dropped the pan I found it has already been serviced at some point in it's life by the WIX gasket I found in it. The pan was loaded with sludge and the filter was so clogged it was actually holding fluid up in the trans body. About another 3/4 of a quart poured out when I took the filter down. I changed 3 out of the 6 quarts it holds(2.5 transmission fluid and a bottle of Lucas). The transmission shifts like new again. So What gives? How did this transmission get so dirty in such a short amount of miles?

 

[cmorr]

Any chance that water seeped into the trans. If so the sludge may have been the friction material from the clutches

 

[Kuato]

Definitely some kind of contamination, and cmorr might be right about water.

Those transmissions, like most Jeeps, like fresh fluid.; so you may want to drop the pan/replace filter and refill every 30k. That's what I've always done and never had an issue with two of mine over 150 and 130(so far) k.

Since it was so bad though, maybe drop and refill in another 10k or so to make sure the contamination is out.

 

[hounddog]

Now hook it to a fliud exchange machine and swap out 95% of the fliud. Those machines assure lines and cooler get old out new fluid run through. Not a FLUSH machine but a exchange7 machine(bladder)

 

[meep]

yeah--- get the rest of that stuff OUT!

I've never seen a trans gummed up.

 

[cbear]

It's a Jeep. Maybe someone forded some creeks with it and got water in the transmission.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: cbear
It's a Jeep. Maybe someone forded some creeks with it and got water in the transmission.


+1

 

[cbear]

Originally Posted By: cbear
It's a Jeep. Maybe someone forded some creeks with it and got water in the transmission.


Continuing with this line of thought, I'd change the fluid in the diffs and transfer case as well.

 

[Zaedock]

The vent for that transmission is in the bellhousing and isn't very high (obviously). I'd bet you had some H2O in there.

Glad it shifts better.

 

[hounddog]

If it had water in it it looks like a tapioca milkshake and die pretty rapidly. I've seen many with water in them. Even did a fliud exchange on a few. They died withen days or sooner.

 

[Bgallagher]

Originally Posted By: cbear
Originally Posted By: cbear
It's a Jeep. Maybe someone forded some creeks with it and got water in the transmission.


Continuing with this line of thought, I'd change the fluid in the diffs and transfer case as well.


+1

 

[hounddog]

The vent tubes are way up high on the firewall.

 

[Zaedock]

Originally Posted By: hounddog
The vent tubes are way up high on the firewall.


Not for the 32RH. It is in the bellhousing. A popular mod is to either plug and drill a new vent, or add a small 90* and vent higher through a hole drilled in the bellhousing.

The vent is in the red circle.

 

[hounddog]

I handled 'latte' model Jeep/Wrangles until 10 years back. ALL had transmission vent tubes on the firewall. Never knew iof a 'stand alone vent' being bell housing only. Least not with automatic Wranglers which were the ones most widly used off road.

 

[Zaedock]

Originally Posted By: hounddog
I handled 'latte' model Jeep/Wrangles until 10 years back. ALL had transmission vent tubes on the firewall. Never knew iof a 'stand alone vent' being bell housing only. Least not with automatic Wranglers which were the ones most widly used off road.


The vent on the firewall was for the transfercase.

ALL 32RH 3 speed automatics used in Wranglers had the vent in the bellhousing until the intro of the 4 speed automatic in 2003.

 

[hounddog]

There was more then ONE vent up high. Trans and transfer. Differential also. They would not put A vent up high and not for the OTHER units that needed high vents. They(manufacture) knew/know very well these Jeeps were going to be crossing creeks and such.

 

[Zaedock]

Originally Posted By: hounddog
There was more then ONE vent up high. Trans and transfer. Differential also. They would not put A vent up high and not for the OTHER units that needed high vents. They(manufacture) knew/know very well these Jeeps were going to be crossing creeks and such.


You are wrong and they did. TJ's equipped with the 32RH automatic ('97-'02) had the vent IN THE BELLHOUSING. Period. The transfercase vented at the firewall (and possibly the later AX5's, AX15's, NV3550's, and 42RE auto's) and the front diff vents near the radiator support.

Here's another picture of the 32RH vent hole IN THE BELLHOUSING.

Thanks.

 

[Zaedock]

A simple 32RH google search:

32RH Google Search


Pics:

Google pics 32RH vent

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: hounddog
I handled 'latte' model Jeep/Wrangles


What's a "latte" model Jeep? One that's only driven to Starbucks?

 

[Zaedock]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: hounddog
I handled 'latte' model Jeep/Wrangles


What's a "latte" model Jeep? One that's only driven to Starbucks?


On board air, on board welder, on board latte machine.