Grand Cherokee Transmission issue

xjoffroad · Dec 28, 2008

I just bought a 96 ZJ with the 5.2 v8 for $400. Heres the catch, the transmission doesnt have reverse. I drove it home and it shifts great. Upon further looking into it, reverse acts like its in neutral and neutral acts like its in drive. I have searched and found great info but not what Im looking for.

Anyone have had this issue? Ideas?

jimijam19K · Dec 28, 2008

Sounds like a simple shifter issue, if it is you got the deal of the decade. Did you get that rig off CL? I think I remember an add fitting that desciption. Are you gonna fix and drive or use it as a donor?

xjoffroad · Dec 28, 2008

I'm gonna fix it and build a mild wheeler out of it for the family. Cant take my kids in my XJ.

jimijam19K · Dec 28, 2008

I would start by crawling underneath it and make sure the selector arm is positively hitting Reverse. If the shifter somehow got jacked up it may be off one based on your initial post. Does the NSS work properly? If the shifter indicates Nuetral but the vehicle moves as if in drive AND the vehicle won't start in N then It's probably just the shifter.

If your daring enough do this...unhook the shifter cable, start it, with somebody holding the brakes put it in R from underneath if it works normally then it's just a shifter issue.

xjoffroad · Dec 29, 2008

well got under it today and played with the linkage and everything looks good. it will start in neutral and when you hit the gas its like its in drive. still nothing in reverse. anything else I can look at?

jimijam19K · Dec 29, 2008

If the vehicle moves when the trans is in neutral then you have issues I can't help you with. I'm assumeing you have absolutley, positively verified that the trans is in the same gear as is indicated on the shifter console. If that's the case it's above my technical ability and I suggest someone with tranny building experience. Good Luck, even with a bad tranny it's still a deal.

nevada · Dec 29, 2008

jimijam19K said:
If the vehicle moves when the trans is in neutral then you have issues I can't help you with. I'm assumeing you have absolutley, positively verified that the trans is in the same gear as is indicated on the shifter console. If that's the case it's above my technical ability and I suggest someone with tranny building experience. Good Luck, even with a bad tranny it's still a deal.

it really does sound like the shifter linkage is messed up. the N switch is in the shifter console..isnt it? thats whats allowing it to start...even tho its actually in drive.

does PARK work normally, does it line up with the indicator? if so..then the linkage being out of adjustment...isnt likely.

jimijam19K · Dec 29, 2008

nevada said:
the N switch is in the shifter console..isnt it?

Actually it's screwed into the side of the trans housing. When the selector spool valve goes side to side it will ground the switch in P & N. That's why I was specifically asking about it. If it starts in N then you know that the valve body is in N. Also why I suggested disconnecting the cable and manually placing the trans in R, takes the shifter out of the equation and checks the valvebody operation. After that I can't help.

nevada · Dec 29, 2008

jimijam19K said:
Actually it's screwed into the side of the trans housing. When the selector spool valve goes side to side it will ground the switch in P & N. That's why I was specifically asking about it. If it starts in N then you know that the valve body is in N. Also why I suggested disconnecting the cable and manually placing the trans in R, takes the shifter out of the equation and checks the valvebody operation. After that I can't help.

ah, gotcha.

my thought is..if PARK is correct, the problem isnt with the shifter.

i have seen them get messed up, and there was NO park. well, it was there, but the shifter wouldnt travel far enough to hit it. so you had to start it in neutral. i was thinking this might be the same problem.