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9th Gear on 2017 V-6's?

18K views 52 replies 31 participants last post by  Omicron 
#1 ·
I wondered if owners of V-6, 2017 Cherokees have had any more luck hitting 9th gear than those of us with earlier years. I've found it nearly impossible to see 9th gear on my '15 Limited without doing highly illegal speeds then backing off the throttle. Since my ride has the trailer tow package with a lower axle ratio, you'd think it would hit 9th when cruising at interstate speeds, but no. I see 8th all the time but not 9th. So the purpose of a 9 speed gearbox is??

How about you 2017 owners? I know the 4-bangers see 9th frequently.
 
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#3 · (Edited)
Why, you think it changes by model year? In my 2014 I see 9th, usually over 80, absolutely flat or slight downgrade, light touch on the gas. I guess for those times it provides slightly better gas mileage. A purpose, if not a great one. And very exciting, like the Holy Grail. Are you saying I won't even see that when I pick up my 2017??
 
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#16 · (Edited)
Sorry to burst your bubble, but these transmissions are built, under license of ZF (located in Germany), in Kokomo, Indiana. The transmissions are programmed for our Cherokees, for driving conditions in the US. Chrysler has a huge presence and Campus in Kokomo. All transmissions are built in Kokomo. I see the semis on the Interstate all the time full of transmissions going to Toledo or Detroit. If you remember, Chrysler delayed the sale of the new Cherokee for months. All the ones that were built sat in Toledo until they got the programming correct. Once the engineers got it right (or so they thought!), all Cherokees were re-programmed and test driven and then were unleashed to the public.

Honda builds their version of the 9-speed in South Carolina, for the Acuras and whatever other models it is found in. :nerd:
 
#8 ·
Mreg wrote: <<Why, you think it changes by model year?>>

That was the question. The car has a 9-speed transmission that only uses 8 of its gears. Then what's the point of having a 9-speed? I think that's engineering that's somewhat lackluster. My '15 with the tow package has a 3.52 to 1 axle ratio. Change that to 3.9 or 4.1 and the car would probably be seeing 9th gear in normal cruising while having more acceleration in the lower gears.

It's not a matter of wanting to see the elusive 9th gear just for the thrill. It's to see the engineers properly match the capabilities of the transmission to the car. I think this is a 'bug' that they have apparently not worked out yet.
 
#10 ·
Or drop the ratios to the 4.1 or so (raise numerically) enough to only use 2nd through 9th.
Then in low range, you get to use first and have even better low end gearing.
 
#11 ·
If I recall the difference between tow and non tow is 3mph, no more.

When ZF made this transmission, their goal was to sell one - and only one - model of it to as many car manufacturers as possible, with the promise of customizing through programming to adapt to vehicule weight, power and cater to AWD as well as FWD variations for transverse applications.
In other words, one transmission with one set of gears for everybody, then let the *client* program them to their specs. ZF had a promo campaign that attracted a lot of attention for this tranny, with its small size, light weight, 9 gears (well...) and AWD capability.

And then we have the V6 Cherokee : as it is now, it's power band doesn't allow highway cruising below 1500 RPM (give or take), so 9th gear is functionally useless considering the fixed gear ratio.
The I4 has a higher final gearing ratio and can chug along at lower RPMs, so 9th is doable below 75mph on flat ground. Same deal for export models with a diesel : more low end torque means 9th can be used more.

If we really wanted to make 9th happen in 3.2L Cherokees, we'd either need to have a shorter final drive ratio, or hope for a Pentastar improvement on low end torque. With a shorter final drive though, overall mpgs would likely hurt...
 
#13 ·
I would like to see the 4:10 in the V6, and much more low end power. The 56:1 low range and 4:10's is really what all Trailhawks should have. As far as MPG, I believe it would stay the same or go slightly up as the motor wouldn't have to work as hard (load) as it does with the higher gear ratios. The 3.2 does pretty good power wise if you're over 3500RPM but even at that the Hyundai theta2 2.0 turbo has more torque at 2000RPM than our 3.2 does at 4000RPM..... Some low rpm power would be nice.
 
#12 ·
My 2015 2.4 hits it pretty reg doing 70-75 on flat highway. But any deviation in road it drops down to 8th


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#25 ·
I like the 9th gear and figure it is just right for rpm when coming out of 8th. The next step is to get a 10th gear for doing 100.
In general I figure it's a pretty smart system if I want to gear down when slowing down I just give the gas pedal a quick punch when using auto mode works great even in lower gears going from 3<2<1. secondly if I want complete control I use manual mode which is idiot proof and works great, I quest that's why that option is their. And works even better when you can use it without looking which way to push the lever - or + all you remember is - foreword + back. When you don't have to sneak a peak you have it mastered. Remember when manuals where a given for off-roading for speed control and in the city, sure saves the break pads and rotors[emoji868][emoji41][emoji3]


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#28 ·
"I was politely corrected for recently saying the FCA tranny plant was in Indianapolis... I'm a Canuck, and I Googled the plant and it said 100 miles from Indianapolis, so... well... 100 miles for me is a short distance so I said Indianapolis. I love the 500, been watchihg it on TV since I was a kid lol." Mark------Closer this time--but Kokomo is only about 55 miles or so from Indianapolis--I was born and raised in the Kokomo,Indiana area so I used to make that run when I was a young man living there--now an old man living in SC. So it is really short for you--I think the 9 speeds are actually made in Tipton, Indiana which is still about 7 or 8 miles closer to Indy.

NOW TO THE POINT OF THIS THREAD--My 2017 TH with the tow package goes into 8th gear between 52 and 57 mph on a flat service. You would think I would see 9th, but haven't yet at speeds up to about 80 mph

The Latitude without the tow package does about the same thing---but will double check since the final ratio is different as I don't have the tow package on the Latitude--maybe it doesn't go into 8th at that low speed.
 
#29 ·
Lol. Ok-ok... I'll stop saying Indianapolis from now on... ;)

My 2015 MY with Tow group will not *normally* hit 8th gear below 57mph, so it seems they've tweaked the programming on 2017s, which is good.
About 9th on your 2017s : while the engine load increases as you pick up speed, they may have decided the 3.2 just wouldn't perform well in 9th, so they didin't encourage it with new programming. Just guessing here.

As far as your Tow vs non Tow 2017s and 8th gear goes : apples and oranges in your case because you have a TH and a non TH, with different engine loads at highway speeds (aerodynamics + weight).
 
#30 ·
"As far as your Tow vs non Tow 2017s and 8th gear goes : apples and oranges in your case because you have a TH and a non TH, with different engine loads at highway speeds (aerodynamics + weight)."


According to my SC titles the weight of the TH is 4028 and the Latitude is 3953, but that is what the state of SC says they weigh--so may not be correct.
 
#32 ·
#36 ·
The ZF 9 speed is built on planet Earth, despite the fact it's operation makes many think its from Mars.

My 2017 TH 3.2 w/tow has never felt the euphoria of 9th gear. I've yet to care enough to find a downhill grade to clearly exceed the speed limit to get a taste of 9th gear sweetness.

For what it's worth, now that weather is warm, it seems to stay in 8th longer before factors (incline, wind, acceleration) make it downshift to 7th.
 
#38 ·
.... to get a taste of 9th gear sweetness.
A little tail wind helps too. Downhill, tailwind, no cruise control, and back off the throttle a little while doing a bit over 70 mph and the powertrain control might be convinced (if you're lucky) to call for 9th gear. If it does shift into 9th gear, make sure you're not going 88 mph and hit the BACK button on the dash at the same time else you could get stuck in 1955.
:grin:
 
#39 ·
I've search all sorts of threads on this topic ever since I bought my '17 3.2 TH in May. My '15 4-banger FWD easily reaches 9th on the interstates, but usually just above 70mph and on a flat to downhill section of roadway. My TH, however, has NEVER seen 9th in the 4000+ miles on the odometer now. I wasn't too surprised after reading all the threads, but I was surprised that it wouldn't let me manually switch it into 9th either. I managed 27.6 mpg (calculated) on a recent trip from Alabama to DC, so I'm not going to complain about hitting 9th just yet. For the record, I made the same trip with the 2.4L FWD and managed 32.1 mpg (calculated). All I can figure is that the Bristol TN/VA area has several ethanol-free pumps and I got lucky - twice.
 
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#40 ·
27.6 mpg with a V6 TH is a number that can make grown men cry lol.

4.5 mpg better with a 2.4L is a little surprising to me though. But there might have been factors at play, like tailwinds, outside temp, rolling weight, drafting behind big rigs, etc... But it's a FWD, so less weight and less drag...

Good numbers all around though. About 9th with a V6 : it's not happening, unless you hit 80 mph going downhill (with a decent grade), foot off the throttle...
 
#41 ·
I've hit 9th a few times, coming back to Calgary from Banff/Canmore, right around the 120-124 km/h mark (sorry, I don't know my imperial conversion) on a slight downhill grade. I have to be careful though... I've seen RCMP hanging around one of the spots where I hit 9th fairly regularly, while travelling in the other direction on my trips up to Banff/Canmore.
 
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#42 ·
I’ve been getting 9 to 9.4L/100km these summer with the big tires on my TH. I saw it dip into 8.7 for one trip. That’s averaging 109-111kph (by the speedo).
 
#43 ·
Bad transmission

I HAVE HAD MY 2016 CHEROKEE FOR 2.5 YEARS NOW i USE TO GET BETTER FUEL ECONOMY. i HAVE HAD MY JEEP BACK IN NOW THE THIRD TIME FOR CLUNKING IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE REAR TWICE, NOW THIS IS THE THIRD TIME? NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT LOCKING OUT PROPERLY AND WILL NOT ENGAGE 9TH GEAR NO MATTER WHAT. NOT AT 70, NOT AT 80, NOT AT 90 NOT AT 100 AND NOT AT 105, THIS IS STUPID! THE REASON YOU ADVERTISE A 9 SPEED TRANSMISSION IS TO SELL US ON FUEL ECONOMY. NO ONE EXPLAINED THAT THE 9 GEARS DON'T REALLY WORK!
 
#45 ·
I HAVE HAD MY 2016 CHEROKEE FOR 2.5 YEARS NOW i USE TO GET BETTER FUEL ECONOMY. i HAVE HAD MY JEEP BACK IN NOW THE THIRD TIME FOR CLUNKING IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE REAR TWICE, NOW THIS IS THE THIRD TIME? NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT LOCKING OUT PROPERLY AND WILL NOT ENGAGE 9TH GEAR NO MATTER WHAT. NOT AT 70, NOT AT 80, NOT AT 90 NOT AT 100 AND NOT AT 105, THIS IS STUPID! THE REASON YOU ADVERTISE A 9 SPEED TRANSMISSION IS TO SELL US ON FUEL ECONOMY. NO ONE EXPLAINED THAT THE 9 GEARS DON'T REALLY WORK!
Hello BILLYDCherokee,

We're sorry to hear you're having a hard time with your Cherokee. If you end up going back to your dealer, let us know. We're available via direct message and would be happy to help.

Jasmine
Jeep Social Care Specialist
 
#44 ·
To engage 9th the KL can’t be accelerating, no headwind and preferably going downhill. Some folks never see it, some do. With your transmission you can’t shift into 9th anyway, all you can do is designate the highest gear it can shift into. Selecting 9th doesn’t guarantee it will ever shift into 9th.

Maybe reading these threads will help:

https://jeepcherokeeclub.com/4-2014-jeep-cherokee-general-discussion/239378-never-seen-9th-gear.html

https://jeepcherokeeclub.com/4-2014-jeep-cherokee-general-discussion/231178-mystery-9th-gear.html

https://jeepcherokeeclub.com/4-2014-jeep-cherokee-general-discussion/26178-9th-gear.html

https://jeepcherokeeclub.com/4-2014...on/115058-how-hit-9th-gear-your-cherokee.html


.
 
#47 ·
Very helpful reply to the OP.

I finally saw 9th gear a couple of days ago. I was going with traffic at approximately 78-80MPH, on a slight downward grade, just barely touching the gas from time to time. Noticed my RPMs drop from about 1900RPM to around 1500RPM, so I popped the gearshift over to manual mode so the dash would show what gear I was in. Sure enough, it had shifted to 9th gear.

9th gear is possible! WooHoo!!! :grin:
 
#50 ·
^
Right. ok... so if I tap over while moving it does show my current gear?
I guess I never really paid attention.
Is there any other way to see the gear you're in, like in real time as it's shifting?
Or a way to actually shift it to a certain gear?
I guess I don't really need to do either, but I'm still learning what's available!
:wink:
 
#51 ·
Yes. No. No. :grin:
Ok-ok... Yes it does show currrent gear, and no there isn't another way to view current gear, unless you hook up some OBDII scan tool. With ERS (2014-18s) you cannot *shift manually* like AutoStick does (2019s). ERS allows you to select top gear, so that can translate into manually downshifting if you want (within rev limiter) by choosing a lower *top gear* (= downshifting), but ERS can't upshift while AutoStick can, to a certain extent..
 
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