Hey guys, XJ and all around mechanical noob . . .

Started the XJ (1998 Sport Automatic) up the other morning and heard some kind of mechanical rattle coming from the front end under carriage. Drove it home that afternoon and popped the hood to poke around. When I went to start the vehicle five minutes later and take it for a test drive with a buddy it wouldn't move.

After revving the engine a bunch it did start to eventually drift forward or backwards very very slowly.

No slipping, grinding, or other warnings transmission-wise. Tried to move it in all gears; nothing.

Anyone enconter this issue before? Local shops are quoting me 3-4 thousand for rebuild so it would be really nice if it were just a sensor I could replace or the torque converter bolts I've read a little about.

 

Checked the trans fluid level and condition?

 

Yes, plenty of fluid. It was a lighter brown color as opposed to the red it should be.

went and picked up some of that no slip stuff and put that in there to see if it would help; no luck.

 

It doesnt sound very promising, but you should do a few basic checks

easy to check TC bolts, just undo the plate that covers them and look

jack the rear, and see if the wheels move at all...manually work thru every gear

check the shifter linkage parts underneath are moving like they should, and not broken

a mechanical noise emanating from a trans is almost never good

Its quite a lot cheaper to install a used one, especially if you do it yourself

 

It's not a sensor. Might be the TC bolts or your flex plate. Find out what it really is before you drop any money on a transmission. Drop the pan and see what's in it, AFTER you check the flex plate bolts. It could be as simple as your flex plate giving up.

It doesn't take 3-4 grand to rebuild a trans. Find another shop. Ask at your local NAPA. You might find a good small shop that specializes in transmissions.

In my town I found a one-man shop who does nothing but transmissions. He's always booked 6-8 weeks in advance. I had a Chevy 460LE done by him for $1200. It it actually better than new. I did the R& R, but even counting the labor for that, $3-4k is a ripoff.

 

Not moving in reverse says it's not electrical or a sensor. It's a mechanical problem. I'd probably start by pulling the inspection cover and looking at the flexplate. Check the fluid level, and the cable from the throttle body to the trans. Any change if you shift in/out of 4wd?

 

Agreed, because it's a real possibility AND because it is the easiest thing to do at this point.

Good thought on the 4WD lever. Might just have popped the transfer case into neutral!