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Two completely different transmissions are provided for the 2005-2010 Grand Cherokee fashions. An all-new W5A580 five-speed computerized transmission affords clean shifts and optimum gas financial system with the three.7-liter V-6. The 545RFE five-speed computerized has been refined for higher-quality shifts whereas rising the Grand Cherokee’s most towing capability. The all-new five-speed has an Electronically Modulated Converter Clutch (EMCC). The torque converter clutch is electronically modulated and supplies for partial engagement in third, fourth or fifth gears. This leads to improved shift really feel, gas financial system, driveability and transmission cooling. It can be utilized at decrease speeds to supply advantages over a broad pace vary. The system unlocks the torque converter when optimum efficiency is required.
The 545RFE five-speed transmission has been refined to supply smoother operation and higher financial system whereas enhancing the efficiency and towing functionality of the car.
Both transmissions function Electronic Range Select (ERS) driver interactive shift management for the primary time on a Grand Cherokee. The shifter supplies fully-automated shifting when within the “drive” place, or the motive force can manually choose every gear by merely shifting the shifter left and proper from the “drive” place. This offers the motive force management to exactly match any on-road or off-road driving requirement
(Standard on Laredo, N/A on Limited or Overland, Standard on SRT8)
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The W5A580 debuted in 1995 Mercedes-Benz passenger autos and is understood to be one of many smoothest, most fuel-efficient and cost-effective transmissions within the trade. Its distinctive three-channel torque converter helps present an exceptionally clean experience and shifting, whereas decreasing gas consumption. A $455 million improve mission on the Indiana Transmission Plant was began in 2001 and accomplished in 2003. The 600,000 SF plant was designed to supply round 400,000 of the W5A580 transmissions per 12 months for the North American market. The transmission mission was the primary joint effort between the corporate’s American and German wings after the Chrysler Corp. and Daimler-Benz merge in 1998.
A broad ratio unfold from First to the Fifth was chosen to attenuate gas consumption and scale back powertrain noise throughout cruising. An aggressive First-gear ratio supplies wonderful launch efficiency, and evenly spaced gear ratios present clean acceleration via the gears.
World-class effectivity is achieved via bodily and digital means. This transmission makes use of bearings to cut back friction in lots of places the place different transmissions could make the most of bushings. The transmission additionally makes use of a singular scavenging system that removes oil spun off of the rotating components by centrifugal power via strategically positioned slots within the outdoors of the case. This saves vitality that may be consumed by inner components rotating in oil. Lubricating holes within the clutches are additionally positioned to advertise fast passage of the transmission fluid via the discs, minimizing viscous losses attributable to trapped oil.
The shift schedule adapts to particular person driving fashion, driving scenario and street situations, altering shift factors based mostly on an accelerator pedal utilization, brake utilization, lateral acceleration, altitude and cargo on the automotive because of grades. Electronically managed engine torque administration supplies fast wide-open-throttle up shifts and fast two-step (4-2 or 3-1) kick-down shifts which can be exceptionally clean.
Transmission ratios:
| Gear | W5A580 | 545RFE |
| 1st | 3.59 | 3.00 |
| 2nd | 2.19 | 1.67 upshift / 1.50 kickdown |
| third | 1.41 | 1.0 |
| 4th | 1.00 | 0.75 |
| fifth | 0.83 | 0.67 |
| Reverse | 3.16 | 3.0 |
Fully adaptive digital management of all shifting makes shifts very clean. The system screens the transmission as shifts happen and adjusts hydraulic strain as wanted. In so doing, the controls make the powertrain really feel responsive with out harshness.
Driver recognition software program alters shift factors based mostly on accelerator pedal utilization, brake utilization and lateral acceleration. This doesn’t require a compromise between sporty and economical operation, neither is it a query of selecting one or the opposite.
A torque administration system makes use of engine torque modeling to facilitate clean transmission shifting. Because of digital throttle management, torque administration is extra subtle and covers a broad torque vary.
Torque converter clutch slippage is electronically modulated and supplies for partial engagement in Third, Fourth or Fifth gears. This leads to improved shift really feel, gas financial system, driveability and cooling. It can be utilized at decrease speeds to supply advantages over a broad pace vary. The system disengages as required to supply optimum efficiency.
(Standard on Limited and Overland, N/A on Laredo or SRT8)
The 545RFE five-speed transmission has been refined to supply smoother operation and higher financial system whereas enhancing the efficiency and towing functionality of the car. To accomplish all this, a number of options have been added, together with a redesigned solenoid to supply quieter operation when shifting from “park” into “drive.” A turbine damper additionally improves NVH, associated to torque converter software.
The 545RFE continues to supply twin second-gear ratios to supply a stability of efficiency and gas financial system. Depending on driving situations, the transmission will choose the extra applicable second gear. A secondary overdrive ratio will increase freeway gas financial system and reduces engine noise at excessive speeds.
Transmission ratios:
| Gear | W5A580 | 545RFE |
| 1st | 3.59 | 3.00 |
| 2nd | 2.19 | 1.67 upshift / 1.50 kickdown |
| third | 1.41 | 1.0 |
| 4th | 1.00 | 0.75 |
| fifth | 0.83 | 0.67 |
| Reverse | 3.16 | 3.0 |
Gear Ranges
NOTE: After deciding on any gear vary, wait a second to permit the chosen gear to have interaction earlier than accelerating. This is particularly necessary when the engine is chilly. If there’s a must restart the engine be sure you cycle the important thing to the LOCK place earlier than restarting. Transmission gear engagement could also be delayed after restarting the engine if the secret is not cycled to the LOCK place first.
P (Park)
Supplements the parking brake by locking the transmission. The engine will be began on this vary. Never use P (Park) whereas the car is in movement. Apply the parking brake when leaving the car on this vary.
R (Reverse)
Shift into this vary solely after the car has come to a whole cease.
N (Neutral)
No energy is transmitted from the engine to the drive axle. When the brakes are launched, the car can roll freely. Do not have interaction in N (Neutral) place whereas driving besides to coast when the car is in peril of skidding (e.g., on icy roads).
NOTE: Towing the car, coasting, or driving for every other purpose with selector lever in N (Neutral) can lead to extreme transmission injury. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in Section 5 and “Towing a Disabled Vehicle” in Section 6 of your proprietor’s handbook.
D (Drive)
The transmission robotically upshifts via fifth gear. The D (Drive) place supplies optimum driving traits below all regular working situations.
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift management lets you transfer the shifter left (-) or proper (+) when the shifter is within the D (Drive) place, permitting the choice of the specified high gear. For instance, if the motive force shifts the transmission into 3 (third gear), the transmission won’t ever shift above third gear, however can shift all the way down to 2 (second) or 1 (first), when wanted.
NOTE: To choose the correct gear place for max deceleration (engine braking), transfer the shift lever to the left “D(-)” and maintain it there. The transmission will shift to the vary from which the car can greatest be slowed down.
| Screen show | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | D |
| Actual gear(s) allowed | 1 | 1-2 | 1-3 | 1-4 | 1-5 |
Gear Ranges
NOTE: After deciding on any gear vary, wait a second to permit the chosen gear to have interaction earlier than accelerating. This is particularly necessary when the engine is chilly. If there’s a must restart the engine be sure you cycle the important thing to the LOCK place earlier than restarting. Transmission gear engagement could also be delayed after restarting the engine if the secret is not cycled to the LOCK place first.
P (Park)
Supplements the parking brake by locking the transmission. The engine will be began on this vary. Never use P (Park) whereas the car is in movement. Apply the parking brake when leaving the car on this vary.
R (Reverse)
Shift into this vary solely after the car has come to a whole cease.
N (Neutral)
No energy is transmitted from the engine to the drive axle. When the brakes are launched, the car can roll freely. Do not have interaction in N (Neutral) place whereas driving besides to coast when the car is in peril of skidding (e.g., on icy roads).
NOTE: Towing the car, coasting, or driving for every other purpose with selector lever in N (Neutral) can lead to extreme transmission injury. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in Section 5 and “Towing a Disabled Vehicle” in Section 6 of your proprietor’s handbook.
D (Drive)
The transmission robotically upshifts via fifth gear. The D (Drive) place supplies optimum driving traits below all regular working situations.
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift management lets you transfer the shifter left (-) or proper (+) when the shifter is within the D (Drive) place, permitting the choice of the specified high gear. For instance, if the motive force shifts the transmission into 3 (third gear), the transmission won’t ever shift above third gear, however can shift all the way down to 2 (second) or 1 (first), when wanted.
NOTE: To choose the correct gear place for max deceleration (engine braking), transfer the shift lever to the left “D(-)” and maintain it there. The transmission will shift to the vary from which the car can greatest be slowed down.
| Screen show | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | D |
| Actual gear(s) allowed | 1 | 1-2 | 1-3 | 1-4 | 1-5 |
Overdrive
The overdrive computerized transmission comprises an electronically managed fourth and fifth pace (Overdrive). On prior technology fashions, the Overdrive “On/Off” button was mounted to the entrance facet of the shifter. For 2005, the button is on the middle instrument panel change array and is labeled as “Tow/Haul”. The transmission will robotically shift from third gear to Overdrive if the next situations are current:
The transmission selector is in D (Drive)
The engine coolant has reached regular working temperature
Vehicle pace is above roughly 30 mph (48 km/h)
The “Tow / Haul” button has not been activated
Transmission has reached regular working temperature
NOTE: If the car is began in extraordinarily chilly temperatures, the transmission could not shift into Overdrive and can robotically choose probably the most fascinating gear for operation at this temperature. Normal operation will resume when the transmission fluid temperature has risen to an acceptable degree.
If the transmission temperature will get extraordinarily sizzling, the transmission will robotically choose probably the most fascinating gear for operation at this temperature. If the transmission temperature turns into sizzling sufficient, the “TRANSMISSION OVERTEMP” message could show and the transmission could downshift out of Overdrive till the transmission cools down. After cooldown, the transmission will resume regular operation.
In excessive ambient temperatures with sustained excessive engine pace and cargo, an upshift adopted shortly thereafter by a downshift could happen. This is a standard a part of the overheat safety technique when working within the “Tow / Haul” mode. The transmission will downshift from Overdrive to probably the most desireable gear if the accelerator pedal is absolutely depressed at car speeds above roughly 35 mph (56 km/h).
When To Use Tow/Haul Mode (all fashions besides SRT8)
When driving in hilly areas, towing a trailer, carrying a heavy load, and so forth., and frequent transmission shifting happens, press the “Tow / Haul” button. This will enhance efficiency and scale back the potential for transmission overheating or failure attributable to extreme shifting. When working in “Tow / Haul” mode, the transmission will shift to third gear and 4th can be enabled below regular cruise situations.
The “Tow / Haul” mild will illuminate within the instrument cluster to point when the change has been activated. Pressing the change a second time restores regular operation. If the “Tow / Haul” mode is desired, the change should be pressed every time the engine is began.
Torque Converter Clutch
A function designed to enhance gas financial system is included in all computerized transmissions. A clutch inside the torque converter engages robotically at a calibrated pace at mild throttle. It engages at greater speeds below heavier acceleration. This could end in a barely completely different feeling or response throughout regular operation in excessive gear. When the car pace drops under a calibrated pace, or throughout acceleration, the clutch robotically and easily disengages. The function is operational in Overdrive and in Drive.
NOTE: The torque converter clutch won’t have interaction till the transmission fluid and engine coolant are heat [usually after 1-3 miles (1.6 – 4.8 km) of driving]. Because the engine pace is greater when the torque converter clutch just isn’t engaged, it could appear as if the transmission just isn’t shifting into Overdrive when chilly. This is regular. Pressing the”Tow / Haul” button, when the transmission is sufficiently heat, will exhibit that the transmission is ready to shift into and out of Overdrive.
NOTE: If the car has not been pushed in a number of days, the primary few seconds of operation after shifting the transmission into gear could seem sluggish. This is because of the fluid partially draining from the torque converter into the transmission. This situation is regular and won’t trigger injury to the transmission. The torque converter will refill inside 5 seconds of shifting from Park into every other gear place.
Rocking the Vehicle
If the car turns into caught in snow, sand, or mud, it may typically be moved by a rocking movement. Move the gear selector rhythmically between D (Drive) and R (Reverse), whereas making use of slight strain to the accelerator.
NOTE: The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Traction Control (if geared up) needs to be turned OFF earlier than trying to rock the car. The least quantity of accelerator pedal strain to take care of the rocking movement with out spinning the wheels or racing the engine is simplest. Racing the engine or spinning the wheels, because of the frustration of not releasing the car, could result in transmission overheating and failure. Allow the engine to idle with the transmission selector in N (Neutral) for a minimum of one minute after each 5 rocking-motion cycles. This will reduce overheating and scale back the chance of transmission failure throughout extended efforts to free a caught car.
CAUTION! When “rocking” a caught car by shifting between “First” and R (Reverse), don’t spin the wheels quicker than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drivetrain injury could end result.
Autostick
Autostick is a driver-interactive transmission that provides handbook gear shifting functionality to supply the motive force with extra management. Autostick permits the motive force to extend engine braking capacity, management upshift and downshift factors, and improve the driving expertise. This system can even present the motive force with extra management throughout passing, metropolis driving, mountain driving, trailer towing, and plenty of different conditions.
Autostick Operation
By putting the shift lever within the D (Drive) place the lever will be moved back and forth. This permits the motive force to have interaction the AutoStick mode. Moving the shift lever to the suitable (+) or the left (-) will have interaction the Autostick mode. In regular driving mode (Boxed “D” displayed within the PRNDL), shifting the shift lever to the suitable (+) will have interaction the Autostick mode placing the transmission within the at present engaged gear. Moving the shift lever to the Left (-) will have interaction the Autostick mode and downshift the transmission 1 gear. For instance, the transmission is in Normal Mode and is at present working in third gear, a boxed D is displayed within the PRNDL, a push to the suitable will have interaction the Autostick mode in third and a Boxed 3 can be displayed within the PRNDL. A push to the left (-) will have interaction Autostick mode and downshift to 2nd gear and a Boxed 2 can be displayed within the PRNDL. Once Autostick mode is engaged a transfer to the Right (+) or left (-) will set off a upshift (+) or set off a downshift (-).
NOTE: In the Autostick mode, the transmission will solely shift up and down when Left or Right (D-/D+) is manually chosen by the motive force.
The transmission won’t honor a downshift command if the downshift would end in a engine overspeed situation. The transmission will all the time honor a upshift command from 1st to 2nd gear, nonetheless 2nd – third, third – 4th, and 4th – fifth upshift instructions won’t be honored if the car pace is to low to take care of operation within the commanded gear. The transmission will robotically downshift because the car slows to a cease.
When within the Autostick mode, because the engine RPM nears the engine most pace, an “UPSHIFT” message will seem within the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) portion of your instrument cluster. This message seems in an effort to alert the motive force that the engine pace is approaching it’s most worth and a upshift to the subsequent gear is required. In the occasion that the motive force does notupshift, the engine management system will restrict the engine pace to guard the engine.
Shifting into or out of the Autostick mode will be finished at any time with out taking your foot off the accelerator pedal. When the motive force needs to have interaction Autostick, merely transfer the shift lever to the Left or Right (D-/D+) place whereas in D (Drive).
Hold the shift lever to the suitable for a minimum of one second to disengage Autostick. The transmission will now function robotically; shifting between the 5 accessible gears.
Autostick General Information
- You can begin out in first or second gear. The system will ignore makes an attempt to upshift at too low of a car pace. The transmission will robotically downshift to first gear when coming to a cease.
- Starting out in second gear is useful in snowy or icy situations.
- Avoid utilizing pace management when Autostick is engaged.
- The transmission won’t robotically shift up when most engine pace is reached whereas Autostick is engaged.
- Transmission shifting can be extra noticeable when Autostick is engaged.