We have a 1987 XJ with a transmission problem. It all started when we took it down the street and it would not shift out of first gear. So we thought ok have a bad tranny so we installed a new used tranny took it down the street to find it still will not shift out of first gear. Someone said it could be the TCM so we changed the TCM and still will not shift out of first. Stumped Need Help !!!!!!!!
A. Do you have a Transfercase drop?
A. Subsection 1: did you adjust the shift linkage after the lift/t-case drop?
1B. put the original TCM back in. These shouldn't be swapped blindly due to calibration differences. DO THIS FIRST!
C. Will it shift if you put it in 1st manually and bring it up through the gates?
D. Check the line pressure cable. (TV cable, kickdown cable, it has many slang names but it helps regulate pressures in the transmission to allow it to shift)
Sorry for the scattered thoughts, I don't speak jeep anymore. Please do 1B first and then let us know what state the jeep was in last time it shifted properly. i.e. stock, mild, just like it is now, etc.
BTW, your rear shackle angle is terrible unless the picture is decieving. If you want a better ride I may or may not have a trick or so up my sleeve.
Yes shifter linkage is good. tried both ways with the old tcm and the new tcm something. When you disconnect the tcm it will shift first, third then overdrive it skips second. with either tcm plugged in it only stays in first even if manually shifted. I bought this as a started project from a guy from four play off road club. This is my first jeep and know nothing about them. Neither of the tranny's slipped. As I said it was a started project so I have never driven the truck so as far as I know I bought it with this problem. Here is a better photo of the shackle . Thanks again for your help.
Do you have access to any scan tool?
I have a snap-on brick but no AMC cards
Damn the bad luck. You need to talk to that primitive PCM and TCM. The brick is even old enough to have the proper stuff to be used. Sorry you are there and I am here. Back in the day I thrived on these dilemma's. Now I don't like to speak jeep.