I was driving about 65mph on a straight hwy when my rpms suddenly revved up like I just jumped into neutral. I let off the gas and coasted to a stop on the shoulder. I put it in park and back into drive, took off and it wouldn't shift out of first gear. I limped my way to a pull-off where I let it sit at an idle for a minute or two. Eventually, I turned back around and headed home with it. It did seem to shift somewhat normal on the way home, but it did act like it was trying to jump into neutral or whatever it was trying to do.

Any of you folks have a clue what was going on?
It is a 1996 xj 4x4 with 4.0/auto. 141,000 miles.
ps. It does not slip at all when taking off from a stop.

 

Any thoughts or suggestions at all will be great, no matter how far in left field they might be.

 

Oil level, freshness?

Shift solenoid?

 

check the fluid level and the color. trans fluid is check with trans hot and in park with vehicle running.

 

The first thing I checked was the trans fluid. It looked great and had no burned smell to it.
I thought about the solenoids, but I really don't know anything about them or how they work. Basically I know jack squat about transmissions...lol

 

cel on? if it is get the codes read. will have to go somewhere other than a parts place there reader cannont read trans codes. trans places usualy only charge 30 bucks or so to find out whats going on. or make an educated guess. i cannot tell you without driving, and unless ur funding a trip for me to arizona i dunno waht to tell u lol

 

I am not sure what you mean by "cel on?"
I am doing some reading on the solenoids, and that does seem like a good possibility.

 

CEL is Check Engine Light. If it was on, it would lead me to think PCM or TCM connection.

 

ok that was a duh moment. There hasn't been a check engine light on yet.
Could the solenoids be the problem without the check engine light ever turning on?

 

Yup, shift solenoids aren't going to throw a CEL code.

 

I have only had this xj for a few months, and from what I can tell it was babied most of its life. I guess when I am installing the lift kit this week I will also change out the solenoids. Thanks for the help!

 

Unplug your TCU, shift manually and see if it still slips. Also try adjusting your TV cable, it has a direct effect on trans line pressure.

Not shifting out of 1'st gear could also be a failing TPS or trans speed sensor.