Ok, first the Jeep in question is a 1999 Cherokee Limited 4x4 with the AW4 Transmission. For reference I have another 1999 Cherokee Sport also 4x4 with the AW4. So, back to the problem Jeep, the Limited. The Jeep starts in 3rd gear. It will shift manually and shifts just fine. In my other Jeep, the sport I experienced something similar and replaced the TCU and that fixed it right up. So, when the limited started to do this I thought, easy it’s the TCU. So I ordered another and swapped it and BAM, no change. My first thought was that it’s a used part and maybe it just was bad. So, I swapped the TCU into the other Jeep and found that it does in fact work. So this rules out theTCU itself. Now I have read several posts about an inline TCU fuse but could not locate such fuse and I haven’t been able to decipher whether this fuse even exists on the ‘97+ XJ’s. I can change the shift sensors because I have changed those on the other Jeep as well and it really was an easy job but I can’t see how the sensors would be bad if the Jeep will shift manually. Am I wrong on this? Any thoughts? I have read everything from TPS to bad grounds to corroded electrical connections near the tranny dipstick to folks who just gave up and shift manually forever. So for the experts out there...where do I go from here?

I have done the shift solenoid swap as mentioned previously. It’s not bad. I just ordered a set off eBay just in case figuring it doesn’t hurt to try this. I know in my other Cherokee the transmission was simply slipping and this cured that and it didn’t hurt to drain all the fluid and change and change the filter. Let me know how it goes. I’m crossing my fingers that this is it and I won’t have to worry about electrical issues.