2012 2.0 5 Speed Transmission Issues

FailingPatriot · Dec 9, 2016

Hello, I've recently run into some issues with my Patriot transmission.

2012 2.0 5 speed FWD no 4x4, 76k miles.

When I start it up and let the clutch out, the transmission makes a very loud grinding noise.

When I push the clutch in it is completely silent.

When I'm in gear and accelerate, it makes a whirling noise and a metal on metal grinding noise.

Has anyone else noticed these issues with the 5 speed?

It has gotten progressively worse over the last month.

I just dropped it off at a transmission shop to have it diagnosed.

I've done my research and the likely culprit is the input shaft/input shaft bearings.

I'm hoping the syncros aren't shot and the gears aren't worn too terribly

When they drop the tranny and look at everything I'll just have them put in a new clutch, throw-out bearing, pilot bearing, input shaft/bearings.

If I didn't have payments left on it I'd just scrap the damn thing.

croat · Dec 9, 2016

Could be, but remember a manual transmission, just like brakes, wear and are wear items.
You wouldn't scrap your vehicle when its time to replace all of the rotors/drums/pads/shoes due to normal wear would you

05-173 LuK - RepSet Clutch Kit | eBay

CariD is selling it above for $200 and its $170 at rockauto (remember 5% code) and comes with all of the bearings as well.
For me its something that can be done in a few hours so the cost is about the same as a full brake job - just takes a bit more time.

FailingPatriot · Dec 9, 2016

croat said:
Could be, but remember a manual transmission, just like brakes, wear and are wear items.
You wouldn't scrap your vehicle when its time to replace all of the rotors/drums/pads/shoes due to normal wear would you

CariD is selling it above for $200 and its $170 at rockauto (remember 5% code) and comes with all of the bearings as well.
For me its something that can be done in a few hours so the cost is about the same as a full brake job - just takes a bit more time.

Right on, thanks for the reply.. Just a bit frustrating. I would do the work myself, but have never done any transmission work before. I've done tie rods, brakes, ball joints, but am afraid to tear into the transmission. If I had a lift I might give it a go, but I'm looking for the work to be done correctly and quickly.

I'll post once I hear back from the shop to update the situation.

croat · Dec 9, 2016

Find a smaller shop and should be done reasonably.

JayDeeJeep · Dec 9, 2016

croat said:
Could be, but remember a manual transmission, just like brakes, wear and are wear items.
You wouldn't scrap your vehicle when its time to replace all of the rotors/drums/pads/shoes due to normal wear would you

05-173 LuK - RepSet Clutch Kit | eBay

CariD is selling it above for $200 and its $170 at rockauto (remember 5% code) and comes with all of the bearings as well.
For me its something that can be done in a few hours so the cost is about the same as a full brake job - just takes a bit more time.

Come on man.... A clutch in anything over a 1980 vehicle should not have to be replaced for 200,000+ miles.

FailingPatriot · Dec 9, 2016

JayDeeJeep said:
Come on man.... A clutch in anything over a 1980 vehicle should not have to be replaced for 200,000+ miles.

I would have to agree. This wasn't my first manual (I've had 4, and have been driving manuals only for the last 5 years) and I didn't drive the ball bag off of it either. Just the kind of driving to maximize fuel economy.

Welp just shelled out $500.00 to have the shop tear into it. The 500.00 will go towards the repair costs. They also gave me a free rental vehicle to drive around with while they are working on it. They confirmed what I already knew, the noise is coming from inside the transmission, and not necessarily the clutch itself.

When the clutch is depressed it takes the load off the tranny. When it is let out the load bares on the tranny which causes the noise.

Also, they took a fluid sample and found metal shavings in it..

They noticed a leak in the drive line which they said may or may not attribute to the issue.

pahiker · Dec 10, 2016

Hope they get the root cause and you're on your way with a permanent fix. I'd be curious as to the percentage of transmission/clutch failures and the mileage on the occurrences. Could be spotty quality control - some get good ones, others aren't so lucky. Like 3rd gear blow ups on Suzuki DR650s. Seems like about 1 in 10,000 had 3rd gear go for no reason while most have no problems. I've never owned an automatic and have never worn out a clutch or had a tranny problem to date, knock wood!

croat · Dec 10, 2016

200,000k on a clutch ......... lolololol

FailingPatriot · Dec 10, 2016

croat said:
200,000k on a clutch ......... lolololol

Not the clutch, but definitely the transmission

FailingPatriot · Dec 10, 2016

Well I just figured out I have 6 months and 25k miles left on my powertrain warranty from the dealership. Thank goodness for that. I talked to the shop owner today and he was happy for me. He wasn't sure how far the mechanics tore into it, but hopefully they didn't drop the trans yet and I can get most of my money back. He told me to leave a message at the shop so they know to not work on it on Monday. They are closed today so I know they couldn't have gotten very far on it yesterday.

What a relief, I was worried how they hell I was going to pay for a transmission job or possibly a complete replacement.

Pacerized · Dec 11, 2016

FailingPatriot said:
Not the clutch, but definitely the transmission

Not the Patriot transmission. I'm at just over 200,000 miles and transmission #3 however I will say that I've gone over 100,000 on clutches that were still going strong.
I don't have any experience with the 2.0 but the Patriot 2.4 is an excellent, durable engine that should go 300,000 miles with minimal issues. The manual transmission leaves much to be desired.
My gut feeling is that the OP is looking at a transmission replacement.

JeepCares · Dec 12, 2016

FailingPatriot said:
Well I just figured out I have 6 months and 25k miles left on my powertrain warranty from the dealership. Thank goodness for that. I talked to the shop owner today and he was happy for me. He wasn't sure how far the mechanics tore into it, but hopefully they didn't drop the trans yet and I can get most of my money back. He told me to leave a message at the shop so they know to not work on it on Monday. They are closed today so I know they couldn't have gotten very far on it yesterday.

What a relief, I was worried how they hell I was going to pay for a transmission job or possibly a complete replacement.

Hi FailingPatriot,
If you need any assistance in following up with the dealer for this repair please feel free to reach out, I am happy to help.

Anna
JeepCares Social Media Specialist

JayDeeJeep · Dec 13, 2016

croat said:
200,000k on a clutch ......... lolololol

1970 Datsun 4 Speed replaced 1st clutch 289,000 miles
1976 Datsun 4 speed replaced clutch 198,000miles
1982 Nissan 4wd replaced clutch 215,000
1985 Honda Accord 5 speed replaced clutch 236,000 miles. Still in family.
1986 Mitsubishi Mighty Max 4wd 156,000 still original clutch. Still in the family.
1998 Nissan Frontier, still own (driving now while Patriot is in the Shop because the transmission sounds like it is going to explode at 24.5K miles) 165,000 still going strong.
1987 Subaru legacy family owned replaced clutch 318,000 miles.

These are just the ones I know the full history of. I owned them all at one time expect the Subaru. Just real life experience. Depends on your driving habits to I imagine. I knew a guy that kept burning clutches about every 30K because he kept his foot on the clutch while driving.

FailingPatriot · Dec 22, 2016

Well today is the day I pick-up the Patriot from the dealer. They ended up replacing the input shaft bearing and some other things. I had them put in a new clutch ($525.00) since the labor was covered under warranty I just had to pay for the parts for the new clutch. I'll give a complete break down once I go and pick it up. I

Pacerized · Dec 24, 2016

FailingPatriot said:
Well today is the day I pick-up the Patriot from the dealer. They ended up replacing the input shaft bearing and some other things. I had them put in a new clutch ($525.00) since the labor was covered under warranty I just had to pay for the parts for the new clutch. I'll give a complete break down once I go and pick it up. I

Smart move replacing the clutch. I did the same think when my transmission were replaced. It's a lot for a clutch but the labor to replace it is as much as the clutch when it goes later. Now you're hopefully set for another 100k plus.

bcolony · Nov 23, 2017

My 2012 Patriot has the same problem. Have not dropped the tranny yet as the shop I had look at says that parts aren't really available. They said best option is to buy a new one from Chrysler or maybe a used one from a wreck; which sounds like will just mean another failure later as this seems to be a constant theme. Has anyone been able find a reasonable fix?

2012 2.0 5 Speed Transmission Issues

FailingPatriot

croat

FailingPatriot

croat

JayDeeJeep

FailingPatriot

pahiker

croat

FailingPatriot

FailingPatriot

Pacerized

JeepCares

JayDeeJeep

FailingPatriot

Pacerized

bcolony

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