I just bought a 91 Cherokee Laredo 4x4 and after a couple days the transmission stopped shifting out of first and I hear and feel a rattle under the shifter console. It's an automatic and has the 4x4 shifter on the center console also. Can anybody tell me what could be the problem?

 

You'll have to dig in there to see what the rattle is.
Can you shift manually, 1-2 then up? Might check the fuse for the TCU too, I believe it's up under the glovebox in your year. Fuse taped in the harness.

 

Checked the fuse and it didn't seem to be bad, was a bugger to get to it. I can not get it to shift manually and from day one i have had to jerk on the shifter because the release button wasn't working. it is a well used old jeep but it is the style i have always liked and i don't want to give up on her.

 

checked the tcu fuse and it seemed ok. from day one i have had to jerk on the shifter to get it in gear because the release button didn't work. could this be part of the problem?

 

I cant' tell from here. You'll have to peek in there to see what's loose.
If it's shifting to "D" properly, that isn't likely the issue though.
Can you shift manually?
How's the fluid level and condition?
Is there +12V and Ground present at the TCU connector?
Transmission harness damaged?
Did your forward speed sensor (in the transmission case, not the rear one in the transfer case) come unplugged?