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Transmission shifting issues

Tiny
EVZMTNMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 JEEP CHEROKEE
  • 2.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
I have a weird issue with my vehicle listed above (Sport). My transmission shifts through gears fine, I have done a fluid flush as well and it does what it's supposed to. The strange part is that, while the car is running, it only goes in drive, park works, reverse just doesn't do anything (engine just revs) neutral works just like drive, and of course drive works as it should. If I put the transmission in neutral and shut it off the engine it rolls freely like it's in neutral, when I start the Jeep back up it drives forward when in neutral, no clue what to do.
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Monday, February 25th, 2019 AT 10:00 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,576 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.
The description makes it sound like there is a linkage problem. The cable runs from the shift lever through the dash and down to the transmission. It clips into brackets at both ends. If the cable were to come out of a bracket it could allow the transmission to shift strangely. If you go underneath the truck and check the cable routing it should be easy to tell. If you have access to a lift or a way to get the wheels off the ground you could move the shift lever to verify that it works in each gear. When the transmission lever is moved fully to the back it is in park. If you shift that lever one detent forward and still have no reverse then there is an internal failure and either a rebuild or replacement transmission is likely the only repair.
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Monday, February 25th, 2019 AT 11:13 AM
Tiny
EVZMTNMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Copy, thank you. I'll check it out and see what I can do. What does the transmission being in gear only when the Jeep is shut off mean? Possibly a pressure or electrical issue?
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Monday, February 25th, 2019 AT 12:59 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,576 POSTS
If the linkage is not correct the transmission and the pressure control cable would be out of sync. It could actually be in gear while the shift lever is in neutral.
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+1
Monday, February 25th, 2019 AT 1:32 PM
Tiny
EVZMTNMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Sorry got busy there for a few days. Makes a lot of sense, I plan on checking it out tomorrow. I've also done a lot of reading and heard that it could possibly be the reverse band in the AW4, apparently it has a tendency to go if the transmission is run on low fluid. First thing I'll check is the shifter linkage. Anything else I should be looking at or other ideas as to what it might be more specifically outside of a full rebuild/replace?
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Tuesday, March 5th, 2019 AT 8:04 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
If the transmission is bad this video will walk you through the steps of changing it:

https://youtu.be/3vJAojsrfuU

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Saturday, March 9th, 2019 AT 1:06 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,576 POSTS
The band shouldn't cause the failure modes you have. A bad linkage or transmission throttle valve cable that is out of adjustment can cause a lot of weird issues as well.
As for the rebuild or replace. If you have a transmission shop that will rebuild using all the latest upgrades and better parts then I would probably go that route. If not then look for a place that has re-man units that are updated. This assumes that the rest of the Jeep is in good shape though. If it is heavily worn or rusted you might want to just find a used transmission at a salvage yard or you-pull-it place and just run it until it is time for it to become a parts donor.
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Tuesday, March 12th, 2019 AT 7:49 PM
Tiny
EVZMTNMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I took it into a transmission shop because I just couldn't figure it out myself. They put it up on a lift, didn't touch anything just did some testing, took it back off the lift and it went in reverse. They and myself are assuming something got jostled back into position, I'm having them take it apart anyways just to figure out what's wrong. Thank you for all your help.
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Tuesday, March 12th, 2019 AT 8:16 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,576 POSTS
Okay, that is strange, but not an uncommon thing to have a shop take a vehicle and the problem suddenly hides like it doesn't want to be repaired. Let us know what they find please. It adds to the library of knowledge. Thanks.
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Tuesday, March 12th, 2019 AT 8:29 PM
Tiny
EVZMTNMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
No worries, will do.
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Tuesday, March 12th, 2019 AT 8:35 PM

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