[benellie]

I purchased a 2014 JGC Summit Diesel on 3/10/14. On 3/16/14 with only 360 miles, it developed a leak of either PS fluid (the shop said PS fluid but I have my doubts) or Trans fluid from a line going into the top passenger side of the radiator. Had it towed to the nearest Jeep dealer and the following day they diagnosed the problem as "Power steering line into cooler was not fully connected". They reconnected the line and topped off the fluid and tried to clean the engine compartment as best they could and returned the vehicle to me. I tried to drive it home but got less than 2 miles from the shop when the trans started to slip and buck and proceeded to get stuck in 2nd gear (limp mode) at which time I had to limp back to the shop. They took it in and cleared some code and sent me on my way again. That night the same problem occurred several times. The following morning I took the vehicle back to the shop (at 20 mhp in second gear, limp mode).

The shop called me on 3/20/14 and told me they had found the problem was the transmission was 2.5 qt. low on fluid. I asked the service manager how that could happen and he told me that it probably came out of the factory that way as this is a sealed system that doesn't even have a dip stick.

Can someone tell me if a brand new vehicle is driven about 400 miles with 2.5 qts low on trans fluid would that compromise the longevity of the transmission?

At this point I refuse to accept this vehicle now and want Jeep to replace it but they are giving me a hard time.

I would appreciate any advise I can get here.

 

[MDBones]

My guess would be that the line leak at the radiator was transmission fluid. It's just too coincidental that your trans would be 2.5 qts low at the same time this leak occurred.

I'd suggest that you take it back to the dealer you purchased it from (or a dealer with a competent service dept) and have them check everything out. The dealer is responsible for the pre-delivery vehicle inspection, which includes checking all fluid levels before delivery to the customer.

I'm going to say that your trans is probably still okay as limp mode is designed to minimize or prevent damage to the engine/trans when a problem is detected. However, I would make damn sure to voice my displeasure with the dealer who failed to do proper vehicle prep and I'd also make damn sure that all of this is properly noted in your service file so that it's on record in case there is a problem down the road.


Note: I deleted this same post in another thread as well as a second identical thread to this.

 

[MDBones]

On my V6 gas, the lines coming in to the top passenger side of the radiator appear to be coming from the transmission as they're coming out from underneath that side of the engine and do not appear connected in any way to the power steering system. Power steering lines go to the drivers side from what I can see.

 

[benellie]

That's what I thought. I have never seen the PS lines go thru the cooling system and to be short 2.5 qts of trans fluid after that line in the radiator came loose and leaked, just solidifies to me that the leak was trans fluid.

 

[NAD]

Could be you are owed a new transmission. It could be compromised by that short period of low fluid. Then again it has the power train warranty so not much risk on you. Just keep those records.