So I've been completely rebuilding a 1991 4x4 cherokee Laredo. I bought it non-running with a blown engine with 361k on the odometer. No other information other then the guy said he drove it to the parts store and it wouldn't crank back up.

I completely rebuilt at 97 ZJ engine and dropped it in and it cranks and runs like a sewing machine. Problem now is it feels like the transmission is loaded up while in park and moves forward in every gear but park. I have no reverse at all and it will not shift into 1/2.
So far I have:
1.Adjusted the shift linkage. This was slightly off but still does not allow it to go into 1/2. Verified by manually shifting trans with cable off.
2. Adjusted the throttle transmission line pressure cable
3. Removed the NSS and tried shifting. This did nothing to help. The NSS is new and I have reverse lights and it cranks in park/neutral
4. Dropped the pan today. Checked all the solenoids. They all read 13 to 16 ohms. Manually opened solenoids with 12v and they all click very firm.
5. Checked the harness from firewall to trans for abrasions. All good. Cleaned all connectors and greased with dielectric.
6. Pulled TCM fuse. No changes.
7. With the pan off shifted the trans manually and watched the selector and spring. It will shift from park to 3 smoothly but will not move into the last position 1/2, even with force.

I read another thread where the guy had a very similar problem and it ended up being the trans was froze and locked in 1st gear and he had to replace the trans. Has anyone else had this issue or any recs on where to go from here other then replacing the trans or dropping it and attempting to go through the internals.
I'm headed to the JY next weekend and plan to pull a 96xj trans if it still has the trans when I get there.
Any help would be appreciated!

 

Well I figured it out! Dropped the pan again to pull the valve body and found that the selector pin was not in the valve selector groove thus basically keeping it in 1/2. Dropped the valve body enough to put the pin in the valve groove and bingo! Got reverse and all gears shifting smoothly.

 

I wonder if this is my problem. I have a 1996 Jeep Cherokee Sport. It will not shift into D, R, 3, or 1-2. No car movement in any gears. I move the shifter through all gears and its like its still in N. If I dont put my foot on the brake I cannot shift out of P so Im pretty sure the NSS is ok. I filmed the cable movement with my phone and it is moving and detenting through all the gears. Do you think my AW4 is the same as your transmission?

 

The pin slipped out of position is pretty unusual. Not sure how that could happen.

For Gort - the NSS has nothing to do with pressing the brake to be able to shift out of park. Have you started with the basics like checking if you have fluid? Will the car roll if you put it in neutral. Yeah, I'm going to ask -- is the xfer case in neutral?

 

Yes, fluid good. Will roll in Neutral. 2WD no transfer case. Thanks My next task will be to change fluid+filter. I will meter the solenoids for correct ohms and activate them with 12v to see if they work.