Just an update -

I managed to find a good and trustworthy local transmission shop nearby. After an initial assessment the owner believes the transmission is likely still okay but won't know for sure pending further inspection. It's a busy shop so it'll be another week or more). Of course adding a new and quality cooler. More to come as it occurs. Thanks again to all for your advice and wisdom.

 

No matter what you do you should add a trans cooler if you havnt already, to my knowledge no jeep before the nag1 has a stock transcooler... why jeep decided not to add one? Greed.

 

For sure, as noted above the cooler is a must have.

 

Just an update -

My Jeep has been to the local transmission shop. They dropped the pan and closely examined the fluid. The fluid has obviously been burnt but there was no metal in it at all. Obviously the fluid was changed and a cooler was added. The mechanic concluded there was no mechanical damage to the transmission and after a test drive believes everything is working as it should, except it keep blowing codes P0740 and P0868. So they are going to troubleshoot the codes.

 

That’s great news! If it was mine, I’d change the fluid every 1,000 miles five or six times and see how it looks coming out each time. Hopefully you dodged an expensive Bullitt!

 

Thanks. Changing the fluid regularly is definitely part of the plan. Sadly I'm not out of the woods yet. In California any check engine light is an immediate fail on a smog check. Since the light keeps coming on after clearing the codes (P0740 and P0868) I may be doomed anyway.

 

Buy a TopSider and you can suck out about 2-3 quarts of transmission fluid where the dip stick goes every 10k. I did that and kept my transmission fluid bright red for about 200k miles before I sold it. I did need the torque convertor rebuilt at 170k and I suspect this may be what's going on with yours right now. It works, but it's throwing the code because it might be on the way out or slipping slightly.

 

Thanks for the info, that TopSider looks like a must buy for sure. Also, I just watched a video where a mechanic describes his experience with the P0740 code and after watching the entire nine minutes he has me convinced that the torque converter and "front pump" need replacement or rebuild to make the code go away, just as you suggest. Seems around here few if any shops want to do this kind of work and always recommend a reman trans instead. I've got until May of next year before my smog check comes up again, so at least I have some time.

Very much appreciate your comments.

 

No need to put in a reman trans. They only want to do that to charge you more money, and because they don't have a mechanic capable of doing the torque converter. Find a different shop. I know the parts for a fact are under $500 which would leave just labor at that point.

 

Thanks again, I figured as much.