You may want to go at it a different way and ask transmission shops how much to replace bearings and synchros on the Magna T355 Manual. This way you get prices to R&R the transmission and replace parts rather than $800 just to "figure it out".

One thing you might want to try first is to replace the ATF+4 fluid with one of the racing manual gear box ATF+4 fluids. See if it helps. I know folks say the royal purple synchromax manual fluid seems to work pretty well. Same for the Redline ATF replacement fluid for manual gear boxes.

 

Thanks for the advice I'll try that out. That's Ideally what i'm looking for, I've had great success with this forum to help me with the control arms, rear wheel bearings and clogged AC drainage hose. This has been the biggest problem by far.

I have to wonder if the control arms started this whole thing. Initially I had front end vibrations at 50k. I thought my tire balancing was off since I just got a fairly new set so I balanced my tires 3 separate times, mildly fixed the problem. It got worse so i went to jeep, they told me it was my brake rotors so I did those myself...nope still vibrating. So after toying with all this for 15,000 miles I finally found out the arms were bad and it had wore down my new tire treads irregularly.

Do you suppose that the front end vibration could have over time messed of the transmission? I can't help but think that if people did not get their control arms fixed in time like me they were inevitably going to get the transmission whine.

 

Not likely. It would have to be a pretty severe vibration to effect the bearings or gears in the transmission. Likely so severe it would feel like it was shaking apart while driving it.

 

I have a whine. Since new on my 2013. Dealers say normal. So if it does not worsen I am not worried. I jumped up and down and got no where. Test drove a new one and itnjad same whine.

 

Yeah it was nothing that crazy but moderate front end vibration at highway speeds. I could hear the whine slightly as this was happening. It could just be a coincidence.

Anyone else like to share their solutions with the whinny tranny?

 

I have a 2010 Jeep Patriot with Manual transmission. Since I bought it December 2009, it was popping out of gear, I brought it in to the dealership several times, and was told several things, including that it might be the fact I'm new at driving standard (I'm not). Just crossed 140,000 last month, and the transmission started leaking, they said it was the axle seal, replaced that, then the transmission started leaking again; brought it back to the the autoshop, they replaced the axle seal that was replaced, but... then I had to put in a new transmission AND a new axle. In a 4 year old vehicle.

 

I have a 2010 Jeep Patriot CVT transmission FWD, looks like I will be replacing my transmission also, just awaiting how much it will cost.

This is frustrating after putting $25,000 into this car and as soon as I fully pay it off needs a new transmission. Garbage vehicle if it needs a new transmission this quickly.

How much did they quote you?

 

Aren't you still under the powertrain warranty? Unless it's different in Canada.

 

It's up to 100,000km and I'm at 106,000km right now

 

ask them to pay for 100/106 = 94% of it !?

or you supply the parts and they pay the labour?

 

i think the whine has alot to do with the fluid. i can drive it cold and it does not whine. once it warms up, it whines away.

this has happened multiple times.

I do have a couple of things going on though as far as a whine from the trans:

1) whines at the lower speeds in 1-3rd gears. more pronounce say when in 1st or 2nd and instead of shifting to 3rd, just let of the gas. So that's one noise......
2) whine at 65-75 mph- only does the noise while hitting gas. let of gas and it goes away.

for #2, i had an old bronco do the very same thing and the issue turned out to be the rear diff. my noise is comign fromt he front through.

so maybe it's the front diff which is in the transaxle......and is lubed by the atf4 for the tranny- i am correct on this as there is no mention of changing front diff fluid on the patriot.

the ptu is the transfer case like thing that uses gear lube. perhaps the noise is coming from there?

my local dealership and chrysler in general says it's normal yet there are tsbs from 2008 that mention the high speed t355 whine and fix is a mount or a transmissions swap. i complained to bbb and got no where. i figure if it blows i can tell them i told them so as long as it's within the warranty period.


id the put is not the issue,

i am thinking the atf4 fluid is on the thin side and when it warms it gets thinner causing a whine due to gaps between gears and thinner fluid. just guessing here though.

i think if it makes it to 100k with no issues, i may try a better fluid but what better is, is still to be determined. is thicker better? i know someone somewhere said that the t355 makers recommended a different fluid, like gear lube, over what chrysler recommends. so maybe that is the route i will take at 100,001 miles..... once warranty is up.

 

i think the whine has alot to do with the fluid. i can drive it cold and it does not whine. once it warms up, it whines away./QUOTE]

I too am not a fan of the ATF+4. The book says that the fluid is good for the life of the vehicle. Well, any long chain molecule that is smashed between gear teeth will break down. I noticed stiff shifting after the first six months of driving. I replaced the fluid and all was better. I have done that every third or so oil change since. I also notice slight gear clash when going to 3rd when cold. This is only when cold. I am nearing the end of my DT warranty and will likely go for a better fluid.

I have not had the whine problem.

 

I'm currently in the process of replacing the PTU to see if it fixes the whine under acceleration. I found a unit from an 09 Patriot with 40k for $315. Also have hard shifting in 1st and reverse which I think is due to a faulty brake master cylinder. We'll see ...

 

I have a 2009 patriot with 49,000 miles, MANUAL trans. It shifts just fine. It has a whirring noise. I took it to my mechanic and was told I need a new transmission! NOT even 50,000 miles yet.
HELP! this cant be right. what should I do?????

 

Hi cattoy,

Have you had your vehicle diagnosed at a certified Jeep dealership? They may able to give you further information as to what may be going on with your transmission.

Kori
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

I have an appointment in 7 days. I was told (his educated guess) when I explained the whine- it could be bad unevenly worn tires or wheel bearings. I KNOW I have bad tires, it was on my list to do before winter. He suggested I get new tires in these 7 days before my appt, to see if that stops the whine, BUT I dont want to get new tires IF it is the transmission. I can lease a car for 2 yrs for less than the cost of a new transmission and new tires!

I would never NEVER get a new jeep if this happens at under 49,000 miles!
thanks for your reply. cattoy

 

Please feel free to let me know how your appointment goes!

Kori
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

All of you with manual transmissions take note on when and WHERE the noise comes from. I had a certified jeep dealer tell me my throw out bearing in my clutch was bad and had to be replaced. quoted $1500+ for parts and labor. did it all through a friend at transmission shop only to not fix the noise. Mine would come when the jeep was in neutral with the clutch released, the noise would go away when the clutch was depressed. Noise would be constant and get louder with louder RPMs while driving. Ended up being the Input shaft bearing, and also once in there, the counter shaft bearing. I have a 2011 patriot sport with 81k miles. These bearings are located on driver side right behind the tire. You can get a much better bearing on where the sound comes from with the cover off the bottom.

 

I'm at a little over 200,000 and transmission #3 now. My first one went at 105,000 I had a noise that I thought was a throw out bearing because it became much quieter when I pushed in the clutch. When the dealer got it apart it turned out to be the main shaft bearings so they tried a rebuild which didn't hold and then replaced the transmission. I wouldn't be comfortable with any whine but you can't tell what it is without taking it it apart. We have great engines on these Patriots but the 5 speed is not very durable from my experience.

 

2012 Limited 4X4 with 5-speed manual.

117,000 km (73,000 miles)
7 years, 3 months
Transmission Rebuild

• Main bearings w/ seals & gaskets.
• Slave cylinder.
• Slave cylinder line w/ adapter.

Total: $2900 CAD

120,000 km (75,000 miles)
7 years, 5 months

• Transmission had been making mechanical whining noise after rebuild.
• Shop changed transmission gear oil to full synthetic (previously Chrysler spec gear oil.)
• Whining noise remained with no difference after changing fluid.

Total: No Charge

127,000 km (79,000 miles)
7 years, 11 months

• Transmission started making rattling noise in neutral that would go away when clutch pedal was depressed.
• Main bearing from first rebuild replaced under warranty.
• Front differential rebuild (bearings & cones).
• Slave cylinder adapter replaced.

Total: $1000 CAD

Transmission fluid had never been changed prior to the first rebuild at 117,000 km but transmission shop does not believe this was the cause of the issues.

Without any obvious mechanical failures or indicators of what originally caused the problems, the transmission shop’s diagnosis was low quality parts from Chrysler.