To rebuild or replace the transmission on your Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission is known to be the Achilles heel of this fantastic icon of American motoring. Enjoyed by millions of proud owners, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a very loyal owner base who continue to buy the new models when they come out, and have for perhaps the last 20 years. And many owners have 2 or more of them in their family fleet because of the dependable joy they have received from them. Each engine size came out with a variety of transmission options, but all of them have been the least reliable part of the vehicles. And so, as the owner of a Jeep Grand Cherokee, sooner or later you are likely to have to deal with a transmission problem.
Assuming the problem is more serious than the symptoms of low transmission fluid levels or dirty oil, oil filter changes, and that level of routine maintenance, and that the problem you are experiencing is seriously affecting the vehicle’s drivability , the decision will be one to rebuild the existing transmission or replace it. Replacing it with a completely new transmission is not financially feasible since in most cases it would cost more than the vehicle is worth. And so the real options become a replacement used unit or a rebuild of the existing one.
The short answer is that getting and installing a used transmission with relatively low mileage will be faster, cheaper, and will probably perform just as well as a rebuilt one. Rebuilding one takes time, possibly several days off the road while the specialist mechanic waits for the new parts to arrive, depending on where they are. The mechanic performing the work will be a specialist and as such will charge a higher hourly rate than general mechanics. Finding one that specializes in your model Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission may not be that easy, and when it does, you may have a waiting list before he can start work on yours. Add to this the fact that there is no way of knowing which parts will be needed until well into the repair process.
While the alternative option of buying a second hand one with low mileage can make a lot of sense. An hour online researching providers near you will result in a variety of highly competitive options. The mechanic adjusting your used transmission doesn’t need special experience with Jeep Grand Cherokee transmissions, because he’s just adjusting it, not taking it apart for repairs. Because any mechanic can do the job, you’ll find the hourly rate is lower and the qualified staff available is more readily available.
It will always come down to personal choice. But at first glance, there’s a lot to gain and not a lot to lose by buying a used replacement transmission for your Jeep Grand Cherokee. It will likely be hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars less, and the job will be completed in much less time.
