If you can move the lever fully into all 6 positions and let out the clutch, there is something wrong that can only be correct by taking the transmission apart.

The clutch is unlikely to fail in the open position. All clutch problems I have ever had caused the clutch to stay engaged rather than disengaged.

This is very difficult to diagnose without seeing the vehicle.

Do you hear any grinding or anything when you shift/try to shift?

 

+1 start it up and and see if it will go into gear without the clutch being depressed.

EDIT: Does it stall in gear? cause it should. I do not know what type of clutch is in the Patriot, though I should :doh: if there is a fluid reservoir make sure it filled to the appropriate level, if there is one.

 

Patriot has a hydraulic clutch. From the symptoms listed, either something is either holding the clutch disengaged, or some gear in the transmission is not where it should be. A missing snap ring could alow a gear to float to the wrong place on a shaft and not engage the mating gear to deliver power.

Put the car in gear and try pushing it around. Have someone inside listen, and shift gears and things. Don't run the engine, just try different combinations to try to get some different results.

This is really odd.....

 

I can move the gear shifter into all six positions without any problems. When I disengage the clutch it just revs when you give it gas and doesnt go anywhere. Never heard any strange noises, goes into all gears freely. Just sits there. No engine lights are on. Does not stall at all. Added fluid to the reservoir. Tried pumping the clutch with the cap off.

 

Could it be your shift linkage disengaged?

 

I am going to check the shift linkage here in a few minutes. I have seen that as a potential problem on other sites as well. Its parked at the local warmart for now. I am hoping thats what it is. My wife was turning into walmart and all of a sudden it wouldnt go into any gears. She had somebody push her into a parking spot and she went in and asked the service guys. They came out and told her it needed brake fluid. He was able to get it into gear and she pulled it around back to add brake fluid. They added brake fluid but when she pulled off to go park again it did it again and she had to have somebody push her again. So I am hoping its just a loose linkage or something. Very odd indeed.

 

Shift linkage looked just fine. Took off the air filter container and watched the linkage shift the transmission into and out of every gear. Still nothing. Towed to the dealership and will update with the diagnosis.

 

From what I understand, the mechanic guys are right. Unlike older cars, the patriot hydraulic clutch shares a reservoir with the brake system. If it was low, I would suspect hydraulic clutch problems rather than expensive transmission problems. Like I said earlier though, I've never heard of a clutch failing in the disengaged position.

Yes! Keep us posted.

 

From what I understand, the mechanic guys are right. Unlike older cars, the patriot hydraulic clutch shares a reservoir with the brake system.

Sounds like the arrangement on my '93 Cherokee. Clutch and brakes shared the reservoir and it wasn't a happy marriage, though my problem was quite different from 9nick0.

My clutch had an internal leak that dripped fluid onto the clutch plate so when I first started up after a long stop (overnight) the clutch would slip a little. The first few times I felt it the sensation was like starting up on a spot of ice. Then I noticed it happening when there wasn't any ice around. As the reservoir went lower the clutch would fail to disengage (as you said, clutches usually fail engaged, not disengaged). Long story short it made several trips to dealership and they always had a different diagnosis (to avoid the lemon law) but the problem was never fixed. It was only 6 months old when it got rearended. I was out of town and had it towed to the local dealership who farmed it out to a shyster body shop (a whole nother story). Finally I wisely traded it for an Oldsmobile.

 

4X4?

Does the FDI system have a neutral? I am not sure if it really even has a "transfer case" as I know it.

Just a thought....

 

Just heard back from the dealer. It is an internal transmission problem. $500 to authorize tear down and $1200 if its the clutch. Here's hoping its a powertrain problem and is covered by warranty.

 

Im right there with you! My engine is being tore down right as we speak. Waiting for the call today from the dealership to see if it is going to be covered by the warranty. Major anxiety in my stomach. Hope you get good news.

 

And here's to tax season if its the clutch.

 

As we've discussed, it is almost impossible for the clutch to fail instantly in the open position. The spring mechanism would have to give out and I can't see that happening without making a heck of a noise.

 

Oops, getting off subject here. Indeed 9nick0 I hope your warranty covers it. I should think the clutch (sans normal wear & tear) should be covered, at least the mechanicals. Like I don't expect the wiper blades to be covered, but the wiper motor should be. They may not cover the clutch surface itself, but the rest of it should be.

They have a way of blaming clutch problems on the driver, unfortunately. When I was suffering with the above mentioned Cherokee, they asked me if I'd ever driven a standard before. Indeed, my first 2 cars were standards. Besides civilized vehicles, I also learned to drive on a Ford Falcon w/ 3-on-the-tree. Anyone who's driven an early Falcon clutch probably knows what I'm talking about.

 

They have indeed said the clutch was burnt out. I never took it off roading, we have no snow here in south carolina, only had 41,000 miles. I don't get it. $1200 repair bill. Baffled.

 

And sick to my stomach.

 

Nick where are u in SC? You should quote other dealerships

 

I have seen this before in the older patriots. The synchro gears come loose on the shafts because they are pressed on and they also use some kind of adheasive. I thought Chrysler would have adressed this issue by now since patriots have been having this problem since 2008.

 

Do you (or all Pats) have the hill-holder? Those are real clutch burners/stall inducers. Perfect example of engineering a solution that exacerbates the problem. :doh:

 

I think that was an 09 addition. My 08 does not have a "hill-holder" LOL.... People should just learn to drive!:icon_rolleyes:

 

My news was not good, it ofcourse wasn't covered by warranty. Just odd that it went without warning and that it went in the open position. I had them save the old clutch for me so I am going to have somebody take a look at it. On even worse news, I get my jeep back from the dealership and it roars like a grizzly bear while driving. They say the rear hubs are shot. Wasn't like that when I brought it in and the clutch work they did is nowhere near the rear hubs. Had my tires rotated too while it was there but that wouldn't of done it. Just wonder if they hit or ran something over during the test drive or if the tow truck driver just dropped it off the back of the truck when he towed it there on a sunday. Either way looks like I am screwed........again.

 

Already shopping for a new car for next year. I liked the patriot alot, but this is ridiculous (have also had to have plastic seat parts replaced from breaking off as well in the past and I am not a big guy).

 

my clutch burned out at 9,000 miles for no reason. It happened when i was shifting from 4th to 5th on a long stretch. the situation left me stranded for 3hrs until the tow truck came. At the end, the dealership said the clutch was gone and replaced it under warranty. Ive always been driving standard trans all my life and I never had that happen to me...oh well. Im at 22,000 miles with no problems, but the shift from 1 to 2 is sometimes rough.