Xj88

So.. Last night I get home, put the jeep in park (or so I thought) let off the brake and it backs up as if its in reverse.
So I fiddled with it for a second and finally park catches..

This morning..get in, put it in reverse, back out like normal, go down my street and it feels like I am in first gear..go down the street a bit more and pull in dudes driveway, go to back out, put it in reverse and it still is pulling forward..
So I shut the thing off to ponder..bad Idea. The shift lever feels super loose like I can almost transition between all gears without it catching.. jeep wont start so the NSS definitely is either bad, or realizes something is messed up. Thing is nothing was catching, no matter what position the lever was in the jeep would roll back ( I was on a steep *** hill)..

So I call the tow truck, get it home, and get under it.. this is what I find.



I am still able to shift the lever thats attached to the tranny by hand.
Whats the linkage supposed to look like? Thoughts on a fix?

Lowrange2

The bracket is stretched out.

The cable is supposed to be snapped in that "C" shape on the bracket.

Like so:



Not an XJ but you get the point.

Xj88

Ive got an FSM (just not at work with me).
What I am nervous about is this.. My logic isnt the greatest right now so bear with me.

I thought the jeep was in a drive gear..wouldnt that make it to where the jeep wouldnt freely roll? The tow truck driver winched it right up when it should have been in drive..

The tranny hasnt acted up at all.. other than getting warm from the 35s..

If the tow truck driver was able to freely pull it on the tow truck wouldnt the only way to be in neutral? Thats what I dont understand..if it was freely moveable why wouldnt it have started?

Lowrange2

It'll roll in drive with the engine not running.

With that cable not in position it'll allow the cable to flop around all *****-nilly. There's no telling what gear it'd be in.

Xj88

So you think the little bracket is bent? Didnt look it..just looked like maybe the thing had slipped out of the bracket..then again idk.

I just hope I dont have to buy another NSS..didnt realize they are like 200 bucks.

Lowrange2

Nah, the NSS is fine. The black round do-hicky needs to be attached back to that bracket. Get someone to sit in the Jeep and shift thru the gears while you watch the linkage. You'll see what's going on.

If you want to test it you push the lever towards the back of the Jeep all the way and try to start it. That should be park. Should start right up.

Xj88

Derp.
I was trying to start it in 2nd and 3rd then..

Per the FSM:

Lowrange2

Yup. It'll only start in Park and Neutral.

Xj88

Im gonna go home on lunch and try to put it in park manually, then start it.
That should indicate all I need to do is fix the linkage.

Lowrange2

How much money ya got? I'm feeling like a gambling.

Xj88

Started right up.
I need a picture of someone's linkage and how it goes in the bracket

Lowrange2

Ignore the bent cable but the cable is in the clip correctly in this picture.



It just snaps in.

Xj88

Hmm.
I have the spring and a little clip.. need to.figure it out where the clip goes

Xj88

Anyone else have a picture of the linkage from directly under-neath?
Its hard to tell exactly where the linkage goes into the bracket..

Lowrange2

lol

The spring slides as far away from the shifter lever as possible. The clip goes on the cable to hold the spring in place. Then you push the cable sheath towards the shifter lever, into the 'C' part of the bracket until it snaps in place. The little tab on the side of the cable fits into the opening in the 'C'. If the 'C' is too large it would prevent the cable from snapping into place.

Unfortunately, MSpaint crashes on this computer evertime I open it or I'd add a visual to this explanation.