I understand that the AW4 Transmission that is currently in my '98 XJ has electronically controlled shifting for the two low gears. That is not my problem. The problem I have is that the shift lever itself will not even lock into that position on the console. The best I can do is get to about 3 and a half but not quite 1-2.

Did the lift kit throw off something? The gear indicator seems to be out of alignment all the way through the stack (when in drive the Red bar is not even visible.). I think either the linkage is off, or the indicator or something, but I definitely can not use the two low settings because I cannot get the shift lever to go any further down.

Any way to remedy this without butchering the center console?

 

Hi, did it go into 1st-2nd before you put the lift in? ...Tj

 

pop that shift indicator plate off. it could be the plastic thingy that covers the hole as the shift lever moves back and forth. my 99 had a problem when i first bought it that I couldn't get it into the 2-1 position and i found the PO had spilled soda on it and a couple of the plastic things fuesed together when the soda dried. took that whole plate off and soaked it in water for a couple hours, blew it out with the air gun and it was back to normal.

 

Actually I pulled the trim off earlier today and it looks like it may hit the metal stop before it gets into the 1-2 position fully...I couldn't quite tell because I didn't completely remove the trim and it was catching on stuff.

I will investigate further when I have a sec. How do you fully take the trim off?

 

check your linkage under the jeep next to the transmission, either your linkage needs ajusted or if you're like me and you like to throw it into the 1-2 range alot, your linkage bracket bolts may have loosened up on you, that happened to me and it would not lock into the 1-2 range because there was to much play from the loose bolts.