i bought a zj shift **** for my xj. i put it on and it wont shift. it works fine when i put the stock one back on. could i have gotten a messed up shifter? im sure it was on there good. im kinda stumped.
should i get another one?

 

I did this too,its in my build thread,get a hack saw and cut some of the bottom off of the new shifter a little at a time and it will work,the lengths are a little different because of the thickness of the shifter and its not engaging is all

 

wow, mine works perfectly fine as is. didn't cut any off.

weird...

 

Hmm maybe its something to do with different tranys or something,just know mine wouldnt engage at all.I trimmed a little off at a time till it went down far enough for the thumb button to work,

 

Wonder if it has anything to do with mine being a 97?

 

could be. but i've used a 97+ xj shift lever for a while before i used my zj lever. i have this on both my 90 and my 92. so i'm not 100% sure for the 97+.
the only difference i thought was the 97+ xj lever has a bend in it as opposed to the early years.

i remember mine was a little finicky at first, but i just hit it down hard with my hand till it worked.

 

Yeah maybe the Op should give it a lil love tap with a rubber mallet first to see if that does it then maybe trim if it doesnt

 

Damn, I was looking at one of those at the junkyard last time.

I didn't know they could be used in an XJ. I will have to grab one next time!