Are you having the Jeep Commander Transmission Over Temp issues? If that’s correct, you are in the right place because, in this article, there will be a lot to cover on this issue.
But what could be causing a problem like this? Well, a problem like this can be caused by many factors. Namely, overloading the transmission, low transmission fluid, leaks, kinks in the fluid lines, ATF sensor, as well as internal transmission problems. But you shouldn’t worry because we are going to cover it all.
This is why research is key if you want to learn more about a particular problem that appears in your Jeep. You just don’t want to rely on greedy mechanics that will rip you off and not fix the problem.
Anything in your Jeep happens for a reason and having the right input is important. That’s why we are here to help you out with your trouble and teach you how to solve the problem.
So, what are we going to cover today?
First, we will start with the basics and learn more about what an automatic transmission is and how it works.
Then, we are going to learn how a transmission overheats and elaborate more on the transmission over temp jeep commander. Once we clear that out of our way, we will learn more about the causes of this issue and how to solve it.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the article.
What Is An Automatic Transmission And How Does It Work?
Now before we dive into complex topics like the issue with the transmission over temp issue. Let’s first learn more about the automatic transmission and how it works.
Automatic transmissions are not something new to the car world, they have been in production for more than a half century. In the US, this type of transmission is the transmission of choice.
Mainly because of its ease of operation. The automatic is extremely easy to use but extremely complex to fix. You just cannot get only the positive aspects.
This type of transmission is a hydraulic torque conversion device. It converts the rotational force of the crankshaft into something useful known as torque. Then the torque energy is transferred to the wheels with the help of the driveshaft and differential.
And we say that it is a hydraulic device because it uses hydraulic fluid to operate. This fluid is known as ATF. The ATF is constantly flowing through the transmission.
And the ATF is regulated by the valve body and the solenoids. These solenoids are something like electronic switches. They activate and fluid pressure is sent. Then the transmission goes up or down a gear.
Overall, the automatic transmission might sound like something very complex. But once you figure things out it is rather simple to understand. Now once we have cleared that, we can move to the next topic.
What Is Jeep Transmission Temperature?
Now let’s see what the Jeep transmission temperature is and how high these temperatures should be in your Jeep Commander.
First and foremost, it is worth noting that this temperature is not deemed by the heat of the transmission but by the heat of the ATF fluid that is in your transmission.
The recommended operating temperature for your Jeep is about 160 to 180 Fahrenheit. But temperatures up to 200 are tolerable.
This temperature is really important because if you drive it for too long, it could damage the internals of the transmission.
Heat will simply kill your transmission if you are unaware of the Jeep Transmission Over Temp problem.
But more on that problem, we are going to elaborate a bit. Let’s first learn more about how the transmission will react when it is overheated. In other words, what symptoms it will trigger when it overheats?
How Does The Transmission React When Overheated?
Now let’s take a look at how the transmission reacts when overheated. Or better said, what are the different symptoms that will be present whenever the automatic transmission overheats in your Jeep Commander?
Let’s find out.
1. You Get A Warning Light
The first symptom that you will notice whenever you have a problem is the transmission of overheating light.
This light will say “Transmission Over Temperature“. In other words, the transmission fluid temperature is above 200°F and this needs to be handled with attention.
Mainly because the warning light is telling you that you have a serious problem. If you stop the Jeep, you could also get a problem when the transmission over temp Jeep won’t start.
This is because the car knows that the temps are too high and you will not be able to drive the vehicle.
So, whenever you get one of these symptoms, it is important to stop the Jeep and let the transmission cool off unless you want to permanently damage it.
2. Shakes When Shifting Gears
Another very common symptom that you will notice whenever you have high transmission temperature is the case when you get vibrations.
These vibrations are also known as transmission shudder. So, if the gear lever is shaking whenever it goes up and down through the gears, this means that the transmission is probably overheated.
It is important not to ignore these symptoms and react immediately because if the transmission overheats for too long, this could result in the need for a new transmission.
3. Difficulty Shifting Gears
Another very common symptom when you have problems such as this with the transmission over temp Jeep Grand Cherokee is the case when the car has difficulty shifting.
For example, the transmission will find it difficult to go into a higher or lower gear. This difficulty in shifting will result in a very uncomfortable ride.
A good transmission should never experience problems such as this. This could mean that the fluid is low and the transmission is overheating because of it.
4. Transmission Is Slipping Gears
Also, a very common situation that is associated with overheating transmission is when the transmission starts to slip gears.
So, what does this mean? Well, this means that the transmission is not able to stay in a certain gear. It drops a gear without any notification.
For example, you drive on the highway and suddenly the transmission drops from fourth to third, even when you maintain speed. This is known as slipping gears.
5. Delayed Shifting
Another very common symptom that will be present when you have a situation like the transmission over temp Jeep Commander is delayed shifting.
So, what is delayed shifting?
Well, this means that the transmission does not shift whenever it has to but after a while.
In other words, it delays the shifts. This delay in shifting will result in strange feedback from your Jeep and a very uncomfortable ride.
This can also be dangerous because you need the shift when there is a need based on the speed. If you get the shift delayed, this could result in unwanted acceleration in some cases.
6. Burning Odor
And last but not least in our list of symptoms is the case when you experience a burning odor from the transmission.
This burning odor appears whenever there is a fluid leak. These leaks start to evaporate from the high temperatures and cause a burning smell to appear in the cabin.
This is why it is important that if you notice something is causing a burning smell in the cabin, you need to check the level of your fluids.
In this case, you probably leak somewhere and if this leak is too large, it frequently leads to overheating issues.
What Does Transmission Over Temp Mean?
Now let’s discuss the Jeep transmission over temp warning, in other words, what does transmission over temp mean?
“Transmission Over Temperature” is a message that appears in Jeep vehicles. This warning is trying to tell you that your transmission is working at a temperature that it should not be working at.
Better said, this message wants to tell you that your transmission is overheating or it is overheated.
It is important to react immediately whenever you drive the car and stop the vehicle. Leave the car like that for a couple of minutes and check the fluid level.
This is crucial because if you keep on driving like this, the transmission will completely overheat and simply destroy itself.
This will result in a very expensive repair that will drain your wallet.
But what could be causing this problem?
Well, let’s find out more about the causes of the Jeep Commander transmission overheating in detail in the following chapters.
8 Reasons Your Jeep’s Transmission is Overheating
Now let’s take a look at the causes of this warning message. In other words, what could trigger this type of message in your Jeep?
Knowing the causes is really important because you will be able to tell what could be the trigger for this message and will help you a lot when it comes to troubleshooting the matter.
So, let’s go through these causes one by one.
1. Extremely Hot Weather
The number one cause for a rise in temperatures in your transmission is extremely hot weather. Hot weather and cars do not go well together.
These temperatures can easily overheat your engine or transmission. Especially if you live in an area with an arid climate.
This is why you should have a bigger transmission cooler to cool off the fluid if you live in a hot climate. Cars with small coolers often overheat a lot quicker.
2. Towing Heavy Loads
Towing heavy loads is another common cause of a rise in fluid temperatures in your vehicle. Even if your vehicle is rated to tow that amount of load, it sometimes, especially in hot summers, can overheat.
Some transmissions are more susceptible to overheating from towing as well. Especially those with tiny oil coolers that do not do their job well.
In these vehicles, it is a good idea to update these oil coolers with aftermarket ones that deliver much better cooling.
3. Kink In The Transmission Line
A kink in the transmission line can also cause this problem and can cause the transmission to overheat.
The transmission has oil lines that go to the radiator and back and one kink can prevent fluid flow. Resulting in overheating.
So, make sure that you check the lines and see if they are in good condition.
4. Going Uphill
Another common cause for overheating is the case when you go uphill. Cars do not particularly like driving on uphill roads.
The cooling system both for the engine and transmission works a lot harder and sometimes it cannot keep up with the demand.
So, it is often advisable that you avoid these roads, especially if you have heavy cargo in the rear. Find a route that is less demanding for your Jeep.
5. Transmission Cooler Failure
Another common cause for overheating is the failure of the transmission cooler. This cooler is mounted on the front of your Jeep.
Over time this cooler can clog up with debris or can even suffer from damage by foreign objects. So, checking the condition of the cooler is also important.
Because in some cases, this cooler will require replacement.
6. Low Transmission Fluid
And last but not least is the low transmission fluid. Will low transmission fluid cause overheating?
Definitely yes, low transmission fluid can greatly affect how the transmission behaves and also its internal temperature.
If there is not enough fluid, the temperatures will start to rise and the transmission will start to overheat.
So, you must check the fluid regularly to make sure that everything is fine with the fluid levels.
7. Bad ATF Fluid Temperature Sensor
Bad ATF fluid temperature sensors can also be the cause. There is a sensor that measures the temperatures and if you have a false reading, this will trigger the Jeep transmission over temperature issue.
Replacing this sensor will hopefully fix the issue and you will not experience this problem in your Jeep.
And this is the best-case scenario because the problem is not in the transmission itself.
8. Internal Transmission Problem
An internal transmission problem can also cause this message to appear on your cluster.
As you probably know, inside the transmission, there are a lot of solenoids around the valve body and many things can go wrong.
Inside the transmission, there is a lot of gearing and a clutch pack. So, if nothing solves the problem, the problem might be the transmission itself.
How To Fix Transmission Over Temp Jeep Commander?
So, how to fix this Transmission Over Temp Jeep message, what should you do in this case when you get a message like this?
Well, the first thing you want to do is to find a spot where you can park your vehicle. Because having high temperatures is not something good for your transmission.
You need to stop the Jeep and turn off the engine. Then, you want to check the fluid level. Make sure that the fluid is at the recommended level and that is nice and clean.
If the fluid is low, this is your problem, the transmission is low on fluid. If it’s dirty, it means that this fluid has to be changed or else, the transmission will overheat completely.
Also, if you drive over hills, carry heavy loads, or drive in extremely hot weather, this is pretty normal.
But we advise that you do a close-up inspection on the radiator and oil lines to make sure that everything is good.
If the problem persists, it could be the ATF fluid temperature sensor, or something wrong internally with the transmission in your Jeep Commander.
Jeep Transmission Over Temp Reset
You can reset this light by removing the positive terminal from the battery and leaving it like that for 30 seconds.
Then plug everything back in and the warning should be gone. If the warning persists, it means that you have a problem to solve with your transmission.
Cost to Fix Jeep Transmission Overheat
The cost to solve this problem varies depending on what is causing it. But it should be in the range of $100 to $500.
It is most likely either the road conditions as we noted, the fluid level and its condition, or the ATF temperature sensor. The important thing is to solve the problem if it persists and make sure that the transmission does not overheat.
Conclusion
In this article, we covered quite a lot when it comes to the Jeep Commander transmission over temp.
Is this a serious issue?
Well, definitely yes, you don’t want your transmission to overheat. This is why whenever you have this issue you must stop your Jeep and check the fluid levels. Then, leave the car to cool off for half an hour.
Usually, the problem is the road conditions and the load of the vehicle. In some cases, the ATF temperature sensor can fail and cause issues.
But if the transmission is not overheated, this shouldn’t be a problem.
