Reverse did not engage, then it did

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Fargo

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Fargo, ND
So last week I had the family on a vacation in the Ouray CO area. We had a great time and drove a couple of fun trails. During one of the trail rides, I had to use reverse to turn around. When I shifted into reverse nothing happened. It was like I was in Neutral and the Jeep actually rolled forward a little. If I recall correctly I was in 4 low. With my foot on the brake, I then shifted into drive and I could feel the transmission engage. So I tried reverse again. To my relief, it grabbed reverse and I was able to back up and continue on with my trail ride. I was very nervous the rest of the trail, but it never had an issue again since.

I was a bit flustered because I didn't know what was happening and this was a few days ago now. So my recollection of the incident might be off a little. But that is basically what happened. Let me know if you have any ideas of what is going on. This is on a 2013 Rubicon with the 3.6l and automatic transmission. The transmission was flushed about 3000 miles before the incident. When the transmission shifts gears, it somethings feels like a pretty hard shift. Which I thought a good solid shift was a good thing, but maybe something is off. Let me know your thoughts.
 
Was never a fan of a flush with an automatic. Change filter and add fluid. Done. Maybe roll underneath and see if a stick got caught up in your shift linkage while you was out on the trail. Thats free to do. Were you 100% sure you went into reverse and not neutral? Maybe try and reenact this situation in your yard?
 
Was your foot on the brake when you originally shifted to R? I know, it sounds like a dumb question, but on more than one occasion, I have put mine in R from P without a foot on the brake and had no issues. I thought there was some kind of interlock that prevent shifting between P, R and D without a foot on the brake?
 
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@Dirty Dog - This is my first Jeep with an auto. I was surprised how much I missed my manual. The auto just feels kind of numb and I don't feel as in touch with the vehicle. It does make some things easier, but I'm undecided if its worth the tradeoff. As far as bushings go, the Jeep only has 72,000+/- miles. But that might be a possibility.

@Anybodyhome - I was facing downhill and did not want the Jeep to roll. So I'm sure I was on the brake. Also when I thought I was in reverse and let off the brake is when I rolled forward. So pretty sure I was on the brake.

@JeepJeezy - I've had some concerns about the flush. They also used a tranny fluid that was not on the approved list by Chrysler (BG Products #312). This is my greatest concerns. But it seems to shift fine other than this one time. I was mostly on rocky trails and my belly is pretty well covered. So a stick seem unlikely. But its a good idea to crawl under there and look for something.

Was I in reverse and not neutral? Now that is a more difficult question. I also wondered something along this line. Could it be possible that I hit reverse long enough for the indicator light to show I was in reverse while I was still in neutral? Or could I have had the lever in reverse but not fully engaged so the light was on and if felt like I was in gear, but it wasn't actually in reverse. How much do electronic controls play into shifting in the automatic? Could it have been an electrical glitch where I was in reverse but the electronics never engaged the transmission? My transmission has never felt like it was slipping or anything. Reverse just wasn't there. So I have wondered about an electronic situation or if I someone missed putting it into reverse.
 
Fargo said:
@Dirty Dog - This is my first Jeep with an auto. I was surprised how much I missed my manual. The auto just feels kind of numb and I don't feel as in touch with the vehicle. It does make some things easier, but I'm undecided if its worth the tradeoff. As far as bushings go, the Jeep only has 72,000+/- miles. But that might be a possibility.

The bushings on the shifter are a well known failure point. And how often you use them isn't necessarily connected to the miles driven. A single 100 mile trip can be two shifts; into gear and into park. Ten 10 mile trips is at least 100 shifts. More, if you ever use reverse.
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Fargo said:
@Dirty Dog - are you saying the bushings are on the shifter itself? Not the transmission? I'm not aware of that issue. I'll need to look into it.
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The same bushings are used in the transmission shifter and T-Case shifter and they don't seem to last very long.
 
I'll have to see if I can get a look at my bushings. I initially thought Dirty Dog was referring to an internal bushing inside the transmission. It took me awhile to realise he was talking about the bushings on the linkages. Thanks guys.
 
Fargo said:
I'll have to see if I can get a look at my bushings. I initially thought Dirty Dog was referring to an internal bushing inside the transmission. It took me awhile to realise he was talking about the bushings on the linkages. Thanks guys.
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Sorry for not being more clear.
 
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@Fargo Did you ever figure out what the issue was? I have the same vehicle as you and I also experience this from time to time mostly while off-roading. New filter and fluid and the issue persists. Drive to Reverse again has always fixed it. Sometimes on a slope and sometimes on flat ground. The last time it happened I left the shifter alone and let the engine rev a little and a couple seconds later it engaged hard
 
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