beefmobile

hey guys. my XJ has been developing a tranny problem for about the past 3-4 months and the symptoms have become progressively worse. it's to the point now that i can't even drive it. I have replaced the TPS and drained/filled the fluid once.

The symptoms are:
severe bucking
shift hesitation
when going into next gear, it quickly downshifts back to lower gear
when going over bumps (small bumps in road), it automatically downshifts

This weekend, i dove under the dash board to see if the TCM was plugged in all the way and the fuse was good, but i can't even find the damn thing. What i did find was three unplugged wires that didn't have their other half anywhere in sight. Please note that my A/C compressor does not come on, either. The freon is full, so one of them might be something related to the A/C.

I did find a small box that's bolted to the panel under the dash board. Is that the TCM? if so, where is the fuse?

Thanks for the help, guys. I'd really like to drive my XJ

Notes-- '95 XJ, 4.0, aw4, 140k miles

beefmobile

A couple of additional details are that i do not have a CEL and the motor runs perfectly fine.

I'll try and get a picture later of the three unplugged plugs.

Thanks again, guys.

BODCherokee

My TCM is bolted to the back of the dask on the passenger side. The lowest part where your knees would hit.

cruiser54

Silver box below the glove box. Fuse is in it's harness.

beefmobile

I unplugged the TCM this morning and drove to work. It drove GREAT.....with me shifting. Does this mean that it's a TCM related problem? Or could it be the shift solenoids? Or could it be as simple as flushing it and replacing the filter?


here are the three plugs that are just dangling under the dash

beefmobile

Does anybody know if those plugs are A/C or transmission related?

And is it safe for the transmission to drive the XJ with the TCM uplugged and manually shifting the tranny?

cruiser54

Not trans related.
Okay to manually shift the trans but it will skip a gear. Can't remember which one.

1988cherokee

it will skip second shifting it manually

beefmobile

Right, ya it skips second gear. But the fact that it shifts fine when i manually shift should mean that the shift solenoids are fine, right? Or what else could it be?

kissthis66

Kick down cable possibly? Just tossin an idea out.

beefmobile

What is the kick down cable?

beefmobile

Alright I'm pretty sure I fixed it. I dropped the pan (a *****) and replaced the filter. I sprayed the shift solenoids with electronics cleaner and refilled with fluid. The old fluid was burnt and dark in color. After I got everything buttoned back up, it ran GREAT.....better than it ever has. It shifted all gears at about 1500 RPM and smooth as butter.

BUT, after messing with those wires, my radio and dome light died....WTF??

1988cherokee

if the fluid is burnt be prepared for it to not last long even though it is shifting fine right now

beefmobile

Why? I refilled with fresh fluid.....3 1/2 quarts worth, at least..