Starting in 2nd gear

My TH starts off in second under normal conditions. I don't notice any bogging-down. When I do shift it manually from 1st, the engine revs so fast that I'm shifting at 15 mph. So 2nd gear starts seem pretty good to me.

It's likely a gas saving feature. My Trailhawk always starts in 2nd gear in normal mode. But if you put it to the floor, it will quickly shift to first (and then upshifts as necessary).

Note that the Trailhawk has a lower rear drive gear than the Lattitude which gets it rolling more easily.

Darn, was hoping this was mixed in with the transmission software issues. This gas saving feature about got me T-boned a few times. Also noticed a few times when I am in reverse with the wheel turned, I literally have 0 power. Like I was backing up today, turned my wheel, and had the pedal to the floor and the thing was barely moving. Also went to pass a semi on the highway, floored it, and the thing bogged like I shifted into 9th gear and almost wrecked then too. It feels like the least user friendly and predictable transmission I've ever experienced. Hoping this all is actually a software thing and it's not my imagination.

Mine doesn't act like that at all. I have only floored it a couple times, but when I step on the gas, it will downshift and zip right along. How many gears it downshifts depends on how hard I step on the gas.

Are you coming to a complete stop before pulling out? If not, that might be why the trans is in 2nd gear.

Rammer said:

Are you coming to a complete stop before pulling out? If not, that might be why the trans is in 2nd gear.

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Yup, I'll be waiting at an intersection, I'll be sitting for a few minutes sometimes. I'll see a gap, hit the gas, and I do like 1 mph into traffic and everyone goes flying around me and honking, lol. Today I even floored it when it did that and it sloooowly gained speed.

"Today I even floored it when it did that and it sloooowly gained speed."

That sounds like it is starting in 5th gear (1:1) instead of 1st or 2nd. Are the RPM's really low (less than 500) when it does this?

Go directly to DEALER, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

bwbike said:

"Today I even floored it when it did that and it sloooowly gained speed."

That sounds like it is starting in 5th gear (1:1) instead of 1st or 2nd. Are the RPM's really low (less than 500) when it does this?

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I'm honestly not sure, I will try and glance down next time it happens. Going to try and get to the dealership first thing tomorrow morning.

TH starts in 2nd gear in Drive because it has a shorter final drive (which enables the 20:1 crawl ratio; i.e., that's just 1st gear). Non-TH should always start in 1st from a complete stop with the shifter in Drive and the Drive Select in Auto. Something isn't right, OP.


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Agreed, unfortunately Jeep couldn't get me in till Thursday since I will need a loaner vehicle, so will update later in the week.

Got my Renegade back last night. They updated the software and sent me on my way, but it still did it leaving the dealership. Will be going back, but I see this being something that causes me to get rid of this thing.

Something is wrong with tranny or software!!!
My Renegade Limited trans works pretty good, once in a blue moon it might be little hesitant to downshift properly