Gravy's 2005 Liberty Renegade

[Gravy]

2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade.

3.7L V6 automatic, air-conditioning, power windows.

Got this Jeep from my sister-in-law,
I tried to sell it for her and nobody seemed to want it with a blown transmission so bought it aaaaaand I'm going to fix it: maybe keep it --- maybe sell it who knows but I'll record it here.

Has 181k miles and has excellent service records over the past decade all at the same shop.

SIL is a 4th grade teacher with no children and has a very mild temperament so it has never been off-road beyond a dirt road or two.



This would make a great first car or grocery getter.



It's very very clean inside and out and has a clean title with no rust or body damage.

Motor runs sweetly.

Good tires and because it's a Renegade it's got the nice 16" wheels with taller riding suspension, pocket fender flairs, fog lights, factory rock rails+ tubular steps, tow hooks, tail light guards, roof rack, and skid plates.



The bad: reverse just went out Monday and drive isn't far behind. The clear on the hood is starting to fade. Crack low on the windshield.



Should be an cheap and easy transmission swap away from an excellent vehicle (and because Jeep/ Dodge put the 42RLE in everything it'll be easy to find a good used/ reman).

 

[Gravy]

So I pushed this thing off the trailer and into my garage a few weeks ago and it's been in my way ever since.

Because I haven't had much interest with the toasted transmission. I figured I'd drop the pan and confirm it was toast and not just needing the Transmission Control Solenoid (which apparently is a very very common issue and it sticks the trans in limp mode in 2nd gear).

Well the transmission fluid was fairly good bright colored red for the first 3 quarts.

But then at the bottom I went panning for gold....

Glitter and some chunks....

So I figured I'd see how far I could get pulling the transmission in a couple hours before this storm hit. Started at 2:30 quit by 5
Pretty standard Jeep stuff. Underneath it's like a TJ/ XJ which I've had PLENTY of experience on and the rear suspension is very very similar to a WJ. Since my SIL never took this off-road it started to come apart very quickly.


Got the side steps pulled off so could get under it easier, then cross member and skid plates pulled, drivelines out, and pulled the transfer case.

Started unbolting sensors and got the exhaust halfway unbolted


Then the snow hit hard. (These last two pics are within 30 minutes of each other.)

I'll probably regret doing this outside, but I've got too many bikes in the shop right now that need attention before the race at the Knolls this weekend.

 

[Gravy]

So the nebulous idea here is to fix the transmission, paint the hood and roof. Maybe a budget boost and perhaps it can be my daily driver and I'll sell my Prerunner Ranger since my three boys don't really fit in it and it'll let me keep miles off my truck.

 

[johngottfredson]

Don’t back down. This champion has the right idea.

 

[Kevin B.]

I'll probably regret doing this outside, but I've got too many bikes in the shop right now that need attention before the race at the Knolls this weekend.
View attachment 157658

I almost wanted to snag this from you for my boy, but I didn't want a project in the middle of winter. Thanks for reinforcing that feeling for me.

 

[Gravy]

I almost wanted to snag this from you for my boy, but I didn't want a project in the middle of winter. Thanks for reinforcing that feeling for me.

Well when I'm done fixing it I'll give you another shot at buying it.

@johngottfredson
Full hydro on a Dana 30 front. That guy made a bold choice.

 

[Hickey]

@johngottfredson
Full hydro on a Dana 30 front. That guy made a bold choice.

Still more dependable than OEM ball joints on that Liberty.

 

[Gravy]

Still more dependable than OEM ball joints on that Liberty.

I think I remember something about that.

 

[Coco]

Could be worse, could be Toyota axles on 40" stickies that would never hold up...

 

[Gravy]

Could be worse, could be Toyota axles on 40" stickies that would never hold up...

Axles are infinitely strong as horsepower approaches 0.

Evaluate the Limit as h approaches 0 of (f(x+h)-f(x))/h
(If you remember derivates from school 🤓)

 

[Coco]

Math was never my strong suit, I just preferred real world experience and knew they held up fine lol.

Anyway, sorry to hijack the thread, carry on.

 

[Kevin B.]

Axles are infinitely strong as horsepower approaches 0.

This is a good wisdom.

 

[Gravy]

After an unnecessary stop for an O² sensor socket (I figured out the Chrysler clips).
I pulled the exhaust rather quickly. Zero seized bolts.


Front cv driveshaft next is a bit of a faf because it's a million 8mm bolts at the diff side.


Then out comes the starter. And other than farting around with removing the dipstick tube for entirely too long... the whole thing came out in less than 2 hours. (With me being careful not too drip ATF on my driveway... Had I been in a shop... Figure at least an hour less of cautionary drip catchings).



So I think I've located a good 42rle transmission from an 05 LJ with like 72,000 miles.
I just have to confirm whether the trans spline output and Tcase's clocking is the same and torque converter stall speed etc...

If anyone knows, speak up!

 

[Gravy]

My high school wrestling coach said, "You either win or you learn."

So here's my tech for today....

My 42RLE has 3 sensors on the driver side and 1 on the passenger (like the 05 TJ /LJ)
I'm told 05 is a change over year and late 05+ 42RLE's in all kinds of Chrysler products have an additional sensor on the passenger side.

Today I learned that a TJ / LJ Wrangler 42RLE bell housing looks like this

And has a casting number 108AA

And has different bosses on the tailcone for the transmission cross member.

While the KJ Liberty 42 RLE bell housing looks like this.

With the starter spot on the opposite side.
Casting number 992 AA

And the tail housing has different bosses for a transmission cross member and bosses for a tcase cable shifter mount.




So long story short- it won't work...
I think rather than hope on a wishing star that some eBay used one will be ok ---that I'll just pay to have it rebuilt.
But I'm not opposed to finding a good used one. I just am impatient and don't want to wait a week or two to find one.

 

[Gravy]

Ben "The Transmission Guy" came by and picked up the transmission for a rebuild, I guess he was in the area and had a trailer so we tossed it on.
He recommended I clean out the trans coolers and lines really well so I sprayed them out with a suspension clean (it's like the world's best degreaser for ATF since it's an emoliant). Then blasting them out with the air compressor and more suspension clean... then modified an old pressure washer tip to fit inside the fitting and blasting them super clean. Alternating that a few times both directions until no water or oil came out.


Started pressure washing the oxidation off the plastics. It turned out really well when I was done.

 

[Gravy]

All three boys helped me scrub and polish the wheels. Compare to the photo above.


Big guy (8) helped apply the trim restore.


The middle guy (6) shop vac'd the whole inside.

Wheels look nice now!


"Transmission Guy" Ben says he should be able to get through it tonight provided no major hard parts damage.

Color code is PVG
"Deep Beryl Green"

I guess I need to see if I think I'll need a couple pints or a quart to reshoot the hood.

If anyone has a cheap gun I can borrow or rent that would be amazing.

 

[mbryson]

I have a cheap paint gun you can borrow. (Other guns I will NEVER buy a cheap one)

 

[Gravy]

Well. Transmission Guy said it would be done Friday. Then he ghosted me until yesterday, when he said it would be done. And he's not answering today... I don't have high hopes.

 

[J-mobzz]

I have a DeVilbiss GFG-670 Plus you can use. It’s not a cheap gun but it paints really well.

 

[rholbrook]

Maaco would be a really good option for just the hood. Its worth a call. I know I know, but he is selling it.