1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo from North America - Comments

Since the day I bought it, I noticed a whining noise from the rear. My mechanic looked at it and replaced all of the bearings and such and told me there was nothing wrong. The whining is quieter now, but still exists. From other reviews I have noticed that it's "just a Jeep thing".

I also have a shifting problem. The tranny won't shift from 2nd to 3rd unless I significantly let up off the gas. If you just keep pushing the RPMs, it will eventually start reving the engine and lurching. I still haven't found a remedy. Does anyone have a suggestion on what could be the problem?

My Jeep is very comfortable. It came with many options including Infinity Sound, power seats, windows, and locks, the temp/mileage gage up top, wood trim and CD/cassette player. I can pretty much go anywhere, which is nice living in the mountains. However, I feel I may grow out of it soon. My boyfriend is 6'5". Plus, children hopefully will someday be in the picture. I will then be needing something bigger.

If I could go back to the buying process of this vehicle, I would definately go for the V8 engine. Currently I am getting an average of 18 MPG which is OK, but since the V8 doesn't get too much less, I would go for that better power. With my tranny problem, my Jeep doesn't take long passes too well and I usually have to slow down substantially.

This may sound overly simple, but make sure that your transmission fluid is not over filled. Also, there are two band adjustments on the transmission that are not regularly scheduled items. I would suggest taking the vehicle into a transmission shop and having them make the band adjustments and change the fluid and filter at the same time since they have to drop the pan anyways to get at the reverse-low band adjustment. Please do not ignore this problem, I have a 1996 and had the same problem. I ignored it and it cost me $2,000 for a rebuilt transmission. You can repair anything else on this car yourself, but do not mess with the transmission.

You might want to check the fluids as previously suggested, however I would suggest they are possibly low. Ours was doing the same thing and the fluid level looked full. However, we did not know that you are supposed to check levels while vehicle in in neutral and not park. You will get two different readings. When we checked the level in neutral, it said we were low and we filled it back up and have not had that problem since. Hope that helps.

I also have a 96 Jeep grand Cherokee Limited with the traditional 4.0 in it. The motor has that security system on it that seems to lock itself down for some reason. I can't get it to start now. What's going on. I also have the same tranny problem that one other person was speaking of.

I had a transmission shifting problem that turned out to be a couple pressure sensors in the transmission. These were replaced for 300.00 and I've had no problems since.

Hi all I just moved to ST. Thomas US.VI, and got a 96 jeep G.C.Laredo with over 100k miles. it started doing the same tranny thing. It goes in to drive and reverse and will move now that I filled the fluid, but still won't switch out of first even in drive. ill try the neutral instead of park for the fluid lives. Dose some one have some ideas for me. finding a good and trustworthy mechanics on the island is not easy.

Advice needed!!! I own a 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee v6 Automatic... my problem is I am having transmission problems that completely puzzle me! Here's the issue... I drove this jeep a considerable amount one evening (everything worked completely normal) parked it in the garage, got back in about 5 hours later and it was acting funny. I could put it into drive and it would go, but it was like it had no power and took an extra effort to get moving. We checked the tran. fluid, it was low because it had a slow leak, we filled it, then the problem still existed, next we changed the filter, drained the fluid and put it new. Now what it is doing is when I first drive it and its still cold it still take an effort to get moving, but shifts fine, however... once you drive it for a while it won't shift! The only way to drive it is in first gear and I have noticed that when in reverse it goes perfect, no power loss! This makes no sense! Any help would be greatly appreciated, it is at a Jeep shop now, but has not been looked at yet. Also, I just replaced the tran. about 2-3 years ago, not new, but refurbished. Thanks in advance!!!

I had the same problem with my 1996 Grand Cherokee. It would not shift into 3rd unless I let off the gas suddenly or manually shifted into second and back up into third while letting of the gas. I followed all these forum looking for a solution. I finally got under to check the detent cable linkage and there was a broken return spring. The kickdown lever was not returning to the lowest position. That would explain why the problem was intermittent and didn't always present the same. I fixed the spring and reattached it. After a full warm up drive, it shifts great. We'll see if it solves the problem after a good hour or two ride.

I have a 1997 jeep grand cherokee. The check engine light is on. This morning, it stopped shifting. I had to have it towed home. After I got it off the tow truck, I was able to park it by going into reverse first and then it shifted into drive just fine. When I was driving it first didn't want to shift from second to third then it wouldn't even shift into first. I barely got it off the road. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I love my jeep. It has 177,000 miles.

I have a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4L six in line, with 102,000 miles on it. A few days ago it started to run start very slow, almost like the transmission didn't want to engage. Then after a little while when reaching cruising speed all seemed normal. It really starts slow. The trans oil level and color looked OK. While in idle at a stop the car seems to jump or jolt forward once several times. Before, when you take the foot out of the brake pedal, the truck will go forward 4-5 mph with no acceleration, now it doesn't go at all. Is this a transmission brake/failure, is there a cable or linkage damage I should be aware of?

My 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee will not take off in drive, I have to manually put it in first and then second, and then drive to even get up to speed. I don't know what is wrong, but can't afford to take it to a transmission place. Can anyone give me any advice?

Regarding the shifting issue (it sounds like a common problem), I had the same story. I had always suspected it was a pressure issue, and I noticed my dipstick would not firmly seat onto the fill tube. I temporarily sealed it with duct tape, then found a new dipstick on ebay. COMPLETELY fixed the problem (for about $8)! Check your dipstick & make sure it's tight!

I am having the same problem. I have a 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It does not start in first and won't go into over drive. I have changed the tranny and the tranny computer. Nothing changed. Well I posted it on craigslist and I got an email saying on the top of the motor is an electronic part that controls the shifting on those trucks, but the guy doesn't know the name. Anyone that can help, please do. Thanks.

The part you are asking about is the throttle position sensor, but the problem sounds like it could be the kickdown cable may be stretched, and needs to be replaced. It costs around $20 and is an easy fix.

I have a 1996 Jeep G.C. Laredo which has 185,000 miles on it.

I was having a problem with the truck leaking transmission fluid, which I was told was because of a leak in some line. I had that replaced and the truck was doing fine, even though it still slipped when you pressed the gas. A piece fell off the line and we had it put back on.. we did lose a lot of transmission fluid though.

I was riding down the road and got ready to turn, and the truck started going slow. I couldn't do over 20 miles an hour and after going about 1/2 mile it, just stopped moving. I kept pressing the gas and nothing happened. I went back the next day and was able to go like 30-40mph and then the same thing happened. We changed the filter and the truck was back to running fine, but then two days later it was doing the same thing... PLEASE HELP ME!!!

"I have a 1996 Jeep G.C. Laredo which has 185,000 miles on it.

I was having a problem with the truck leaking transmission fluid, which I was told was because of a leak in some line. I had that replaced and the truck was doing fine, even though it still slipped when you pressed the gas. A piece fell off the line and we had it put back on.. we did lose a lot of transmission fluid though.

I was riding down the road and got ready to turn, and the truck started going slow. I couldn't do over 20 miles an hour and after going about 1/2 mile it, just stopped moving. I kept pressing the gas and nothing happened. I went back the next day and was able to go like 30-40mph and then the same thing happened. We changed the filter and the truck was back to running fine, but then two days later it was doing the same thing... PLEASE HELP ME!!!"

Doesn't sound good. I'm not a professional when it comes to transmissions, but it sounds like it may be time for a transmission replacement. However, try getting it checked out by a trusted garage, you may just need a shift solenoid. Don't assume that I'm right though, because like I said, transmissions are not my specialty.