I currently drive a 2015 Jeep Renegade 4x4 Latitude. I bought it brand new in 2016 and it currently has 152k miles on it. I’ve not had any serious mechanical issues, just basic maintenance. My boyfriend is concerned because it has a 9 speed automatic transmission that is a sealed unit so he can’t check the fluid level or add any or change any fluid out. It shifts really hard when it’s cold and we live in MI so it’s cold a lot. It gets better after it’s warmed up. He’s worried that the tranny is gonna go out on me and we’ve been talking about selling it and buying a Camry.
I found a 2009 Camry XLE with 64k miles on FB for $9600.
My question is what would you do? Keep the Jeep that hasn’t given me any real issues but may be having transmission issues or buy the Camry that’s 7 yrs older but 90k less miles?
I drive about 45 minutes to and from work 3 days a week and my boyfriend and I take lots of small road trips, so I average 25k miles a year, mostly highway.
I would sell the Jeep (Fiat 500 in reality) in this market. About the Camry, if it is a 4-cylinder, I would pass. The 2AZ-FE engine is infamous for being an oil burner. If it is a V6, it might be worth checking out but as @Dan said, the price is very high and the mileage should be checked.
Posted by: @rebexleeann
but there is no drain plug or dipstick on this transmission
There are holes and plugs.
You just have got to know where they are, they all look like this -
100% standard for transmissions with lots of gear ratios.
https://www.pacificaforums.com/attachments/img_6540-jpg.38149/
There's not a dipstick,
but there's a hole in which you can insert a special MOPAR part that'll act like a dipstick.
dealership and was told
The dealer is the place where absolute fools who know nothing about cars act like they know something.
Especially with it shifting so hard
Yeah it's die-ing because it was not serviced.
It's a very troublesome unit that requires very frequent service.
Camry, if it is a 4-cylinder, I would pass. The 2AZ-FE
YEP, in 2009 Toyota offered two different 4 cylinder engines on the Camry for the US market.
AVOID the 2.4L 4 cylinder (AZ)
GET the 2.5L 4 cylinder (AR)
If it is a V6, it might be worth checking out
Yep! the V6 lasts for ever with good maintenance.
The issue with the V6 is that water pumps and other equipment is a bit weak and hard to get to making regular old boring repairs and maintenance that are typical for these a bit pricey - but except that they're absolute beasts otherwise and are still DEFINITELY recommended! although the 2.5L is just a more fuel efficient and simpler car.
that is a sealed unit so he can’t check the fluid level or add any or change any fluid out
THAT IS UNTRUE!
Like any other transmission made in the last decade, it can be serviced by any competent mechanic.
It's a bit harder than how it's done on Aisin or Mobis transmissions - but it's still not a big deal at all.
Like on any modern gearbox,
You pull out the fill plug, you pull out the drain plug, let it drain, put the drain plug back, fill gearbox with a bit more than the amount that has drained out, shift through gears while stationary, wait unit gearbox temp reaches 35-50 Celsius, pull out the level plug, and perform a final level adjustment - and then check the level a special dipstick!
(The MOPAR OEM part is horrid, make one yourself: https://gearsmagazine.com/magazine/948te-checking-fluid-levels/)
At this point, it's a very good idea to connect a professional level scan tool and perform "adaptive learning values reset" and "QuickLearn" functions to prolong the life of the gearbox.
But at this point, at over 150k miles on the original fluid I doubt wether it has much life left in it.
The filter on this gearbox is NOT easily accessible and it would require 3-6 hours of work to get to it, and with how poorly this car was serviced I would bet it's clogged. (should have been serviced at most every 30k! the Fiat-Chrysler-Acura 9 speed is horrible)
Contact your local dealer and verify wether your car is applicable for a PCM/TCM software upgrade.
These software upgrades did mitigate a lot of jerks/hard shifting on the ZF 9HP.
buy the Camry that’s 7 yrs older but 90k less miles?
It sounds like a decent idea, it's one of Toyotas best cars to date - although the price seems a bit high.
(Assuming it's a good old 4 cylinder petrol - NON hybrid)
Unlike the pre-facelift XV50 with torque convertor issues, the XV40 Camry is a fine example of Japanese reliability.
BUT make sure a mechanic checks it out! and make sure that they have proof it's the actual millage!!
Also, use the transmission dipstick (I remember that these still had them) to verify that the ATF was serviced.
And that the car shifts smooth, has no engine sounds on a cold startup, and doesn't overheat.
to be really sure, a head gasket test and a wet/dry compression test are definitely worth it.
Thanks for your input, but there is no drain plug or dipstick on this transmission. We’ve looked and had mechanics look at it. There just isn’t one. I even asked the dealership and was told it’s a sealed unit, no need to check or add transmission fluid…ever, which is why it wasn’t ever serviced (but I did have the dealership check it out around 110k miles and was told it was fine but offered me a new tranny if I wanted one). That’s the concerning part. Especially with it shifting so hard. Thank you for the comment and I’ll definitely pass it along to my boyfriend 😊
There just isn’t one.
no need to check or add transmission fluid…ever,
Do you change your engine oil, or do you just throw away the engine when it seizes up?
dealership check it out around 110k miles and was told it was fine but offered me a new tranny if I wanted one
1+1=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POUy4_EFS24
I’m not sure why you are being so snarky and kinda nasty to me when all I asked was a simple question. I really didn’t want an answer from anyone but Scotty. I stand by the facts I’ve listed above and please, if you can’t be, at the very least, kind, please remain silent. Thank you God Bless.
This is a PUBLIC forum for open discussion. If Scotty wants to , he will answer here or read your question on his show.
I'm not being snarky. I'm presenting the facts to you, because you seem to think you know better than what we are trying to explain to you. I'm trying to help you look after your cars. I have no reason to be nasty to you.
.
There's no such thing as lifetime fluid. There's no such thing as sealed transmission. They NEED to be maintained. If you don't believe us then go to our FAQ section for maintaining transmission. You can watch Scotty's videos where he will tell you the exact same thing.
.
The "facts" that you've listed, are that you didn't maintain the transmission, and now its shifting poorly. The same crooks who told you not maintain your transmission, are now trying to sell you one. Do you still not see the connection?
.
Hopefully you'll listen to Scotty and all of us with your next vehicle.
Well, I dont know how much you can even get for a 2015 Renegade with 150k miles, to add to it one with shifting issues when cold. It may not even be worth it to sell. Maybe just keep it as a knock around car until it really breaks
