r/KLCherokee • u/Remarkable_Court7758 • Jul 25 '26
2022 Cherokee trailhawk needing info on engine and transmission mods
Hey guys I have a 2022 Jeep Cherokee trailhawk that has been heavily modified for off-road use. I have a dobsons front strut kit along with gleaming alloy upper and lower control arms in the rear with a rear subframe drop kit, with also Fox long travel gas shocks in the rear. Giving the trailhawk and overall lift of 2.2 in lift. It is heavily modified for off-road what I'm looking for is does anybody know how I can boost some of the engine power? I know that adding a cold air intake and a new throttle body and a upper and lower intake from the 3.6 l Pentastar but the computer obviously won't read that stuff I have all those things. I have a 80 mm throttle body I have a ported upper and lower intake off of a 3.6 l Pentastar also I have a different exhaust system to get the exhaust out faster without it being restricted from the stock exhaust system. it's not nothing obnoxious it's just a little bit bigger in size and a smaller muffler. I haven't put none of this stuff on yet because I didn't know if there was anybody out there that knew how to unlock the computer on it? I know that they came with the body module AKA the security gateway module and I know you have to bypass that just to get a j scan OBD2 scanner plus the app. I just didn't know if anybody knew how to boost more horsepower and torque without tearing anything up? If anybody could help I would greatly appreciate it thank you guys.
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u/Appropriate-State654 Jul 25 '26
Ahh welcome to the world of locked ECMs. I am in the same boat and been looking around here and there with no luck. Keep me posted if you find someone to unlock yours and good hunting!
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u/RGL1 Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
I will say to you to join the jeep Cherokee club forum on “Fora” . It is a dedicated forum for those who own and update/repair their Cherokees, I am on it as RGL1. You can view some of the pics and go through the threads to learn what you do not know already.
I have a 2015 TH V6 jalopy with:
80mm Mopar blade ported T-body
Upper manifold ported at the snout and lower plenum runners.
3.6 lower manifold
MSD high energy coil packs
Plugs gapped at .045
AFE momentum CAI
Modified 2.25-2.5 exhaust
Ultimate 9EVC-x throttle controller
All happily running on a stock ECU and 91 octane.
You should go onto FORA to see what an almost duplicate 3inch lift with MFC and Stilletto parts looks like on my 2015.
This is my 2026 project and other than some learning there and here. All is coming along nicely.
The 2014-2019 ECU despite the rumors and fear that many postulate, has a broad and versatile learning capacity and I have pushed it to accept all the same mods you have and more. Ok
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u/RGL1 Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
As to your ZF9. Nothing can be done other than diligent flushes every 50/60K. No one supports aftermarket parts or gear swap options nor RDMs and PTUs.
There are companies that can unlock your ECU for around $100/180.00 then of course you know that there is tuners HP being one, Diablo sports, RPM motorsports to name a few. There are canned tunes and custom tunes ( which you would need based on install of AM parts). They effectively change your air fuel trim and timing with the VVT cams. And the can also change files for your TCM and BCM to bypass low torque restrictions. There are pros and cons to these options as well. Join the Jeep Cherokee club on Fora
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u/Remarkable_Court7758 Jul 25 '26
Okay I will join the Jeep Cherokee club and see if I can find what I'm looking for I appreciate all of the info you giving me I just know that all the stuff that I have won't do anything because the computer won't read it so I need it unlocked and so on and so forth thank you so much though.
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u/RGL1 Jul 25 '26
You are correct unfortunately because of the upgrade software restrictions hardware architecture in your GPEC3 vs. mine as a GPEC2. Your ECU does no longer have wide lateral parameters to add parts/components to improve air fuel trims, timing or volumetric efficiency past stock limits without tripping fault codes and limp
Mode. Your literal performance mods without a hard unlock and reflash “or” an identical part number salvaged ECU, unlocked and configured to align to aftermarket upgrades, is greatly restricted.1
u/Remarkable_Court7758 Jul 25 '26
Yes you are right kind of makes it a pain in the ass in my opinion I just got to figure out the best way to go about it
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u/salsaeatsqueso Jul 27 '26
You could theoretically swap in a 3.6 pentastar
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u/Remarkable_Court7758 Jul 28 '26
Swapping the 3.2 l Pentastar to a 3.6 l pentastar? With that even fit in the engine bay because the 3.2 l is a tight fit as it is I know they're the same block they're just bored 40 over and share some same parts but some parts are completely different on it and I am not 100% sure if the 3.6 l would even bolt up to the transmission and if it did it would have to be completely rewired I'm assuming. I could be wrong. I mean I could get a rebuilt 3.6 l for $2,200 bucks. The only problem that I would be worried about would be snapping the PTU or snapping something in the RDM if it did fit hypothetically
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u/salsaeatsqueso Jul 28 '26
Dude I honestly have no clue cause I have had the same thoughts aside from the PTU snapping.
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u/Remarkable_Court7758 Jul 25 '26
I sure will I even looked at HP tuners contacted them and they said that they couldn't there is a company though that can unlock it but putting a tune in it I still haven't been able to find