'95 Grand Cherokee Limited, automatic.

I'd like to disassemble the handle assembly to get to the shift indicator to do some cleaning and restoration. How the heck does the handle come off the rod?

The handle doesn't need to be removed to expose the shifter guts.

My faded indicator tab was painted w/ the handle in-place.

...and the trick to doing that without breaking all the heat sealed tabs off is how?

There are not any heat sealed tabs.

My images show complete disassembly for other reasons, not required for your service. For your service the floor center console must be removed and the shifter must be removed, not everything as-shown in my images.


Remove Center Console to Expose Shifter


Two Cables on my ZJ (No Brake Pedal Interlock Rework Performed)


Shifter Removed and Cables Disconnected (Plate Removal / Transmission Removal / Interior Removal Not Required)


Screws Retaining Bottom of Shifter Assembly to Top - Remove Screws


Screws Removed / Top Removed / Faded Tab Painted

Here is the freshly-painted indicator tab.

Thank you for the pictures.

FWIW, mine does not have the four screws holding the light diffuser to the top piece. These are heat sealed buttons. It appears they can be ground and drilled to accept screws so I'll try that.

I also need to replace a missing slide cover, hence my asking how to get the handle off.

Please post images showing those heat sealed buttons.

It is surprising to me those differences exist between my '94 and your '95 ZJ vehicles.

Is the missing side cover the NP249 transfer case position indicator plate, P/N 5502 7664, or is it the parking brake cover, P/N 5EP1 4SAZ? Both of those are junk yard parts.

The handle may be removed, probably by a sharp yank up.

He said "Slide", not Side. Also a junkyard part.

Sharp yank up....hmmm. Might wait to try that until I go to the salvage yard. I'd rather break someone else's stuff trying an unknown method on my own.

Slide, yes. The approx 1"x6" black piece of plastic that covers the gap under the shift handle as it slides back and forth through the gears selections.

I'll try to get pics this week. Nothing impressive, just heat sealed buttons. My '98 was the same way. Haven't dug in to my '99 to see what it has.

View of the underside of the shifter cover. Haven't made it to the Pull N Pay yet. Putting together a shopping list for the '95 and '99 before I go.

BTW, Wingless and Dave, I appreciate you guys presenting good suggestion on repairs other than cut/tear/rip/hack it apart that I see in a lot of other threads.

Glad to help.

Thanks for the image.

It looks like they changed from screws to heat stake, probably for speed, to save assembly time.

No doubt. A change that saves only a nickle per vehicle will amount to over $80,000-$100,000 in saving over the life of a production run.