[Mikeysjeep]

My 2000 Jeep XJ is experiencing a lazy shift from First gear to Second gear. It’s not slipping, but has a 5 second pause before a positive shift.
I’m confident it doesn’t need a full rebuild.
Anyone here have experience with a good kit that could cure the lazy shift response?
Mike R
Tulalip Washington
35 Miles Northwest of
Seattle.

 

[Ralph77]

Google adjusting the kickdown cable in an XJ Jeep and give that a try before you do anything.
Take 5 minutes, cost nothing, and see what happens.

 

[Mikeysjeep]

Ralph,
Thanks for your reply,
I guess I should have added the list below of items that have been tried.
1 The kickdown cable has been adjusted at least five times. No Luck!
2. I’ve replaced the TBS throttle body sensor three times to get one that read within the correct parameters. Ended up with the most expensive TBS from the Jeep squeelership, Ouch! No Luck!
3. Replaced the TCM, transmission control module. No Luck!
4. more test drives by several knowledgeable Jeep guys, including two shops, than I can count on all my fingers and toes many times. No Luck!
There has to be a stumbling servo between first and second gear.
Now that I have explained everything that has been done, has anyone had the same issue(s)?
Thanking you in advance,
Mikey
Tulalip Washington
35 Miles Northwest of
Seattle

 

[warriorsuspension]

Sounds to me like you have a lack of pressure. This can be caused by wear on bushings and seals. I have never done this on an AW4, but you can upgrade the spring in the reserve servo in the valve body. That is one of the items changed out in shift kits to give a better pressure. If you do this, you will have to drop the pan, change the filter while you are at it and change it out. It is a large (reletavely) pointing down on the valve body and replace the spring with a heavier one and O rings

 

[Mikeysjeep]

Sounds to me like you have a lack of pressure. This can be caused by wear on bushings and seals. I have never done this on an AW4, but you can upgrade the spring in the reserve servo in the valve body. That is one of the items changed out in shift kits to give a better pressure. If you do this, you will have to drop the pan, change the filter while you are at it and change it out. It is a large (reletavely) pointing down on the valve body and replace the spring with a heavier one and O rings

 

[Mikeysjeep]

warriorsuspension,
Thank you!
this makes sense. What kit do you suggest?
Mikey
Tulalip Washington
35 Miles Northwest of
Seattle

 

[warriorsuspension]

I would go to a local transmission shop that rebuilds the stuff they work on. I have done that and got individual parts

 

[Mikeysjeep]

I would go to a local transmission shop that rebuilds the stuff they work on. I have done that and got individual parts

I’m looking as the speedway transmission valve body kit that has the heavy duty springs and O rings.
I have contacted my Transmission shop. And planning on having a complete trans fluid flush.. then adding the Speedway trans shift kit.
please say a prayer for me…
Mikey
Tulalip Washington
35 Miles Northwest of
Seattle

 

[warriorsuspension]

Hope it all works out

 

[pavlov]

Hmmm......I'd be interested to find out if this works..... My '95 Grand Cherokee 6-cyl (250,000 miles) has a similar issue when shifting between 2nd and 3rd gear..... Keep us posted !

 

[jacks 94XJLS5.3]

My 94 XJ does same thing for the first few minutes, you have to feather the throttle, it shifts normal through the upper ratios. After 5 minutes it is warm and works very well. It has 303k miles on drive train. I had flushed with new fluid (bucket to drain trans cooler line when running. Stop and pour in more clean fluid and run again , repeat until color looks fresh, included a quart of some miracle transmission rebuild in a can. It was 11 quarts before it went from dark brown to acceptable red. Helps a little bit still has hitch as noted above. The solenoids, O rings and seal rings are probably just hard and not doing a good. Time for an LS conversion, got my money’s worth out of that one.

 

[pavlov]

Thanx, jacks 94XJLS5.3 ! I serviced my x-mission last summer ( filter/fluid) , but due to bad gasket leak had to do it again......so the fluid ( 16 quarts total after 2 changes) is definitely clean ! I'll bet you are probably correct about the o-rings and seals. Interesting to note that from day 1 ( BRAND new) it has always had a BIT of hesitancy (or back-and-forth) when cold and accelerating slowly. ....it is smooth and quiet and no leaks currently . I was considering engine and transmission rebuilds later this year perhaps anyway ( 260 000 miles now).
Thanx ! Jeff C Sheridan, WY

 

[jacks 94XJLS5.3]

Sounds like you have tried all the possibilities. A transmission shop I spoke with said it was time to rebuild. Seals and o rings when old causes all sort of issues but a lazy shift is a good clue. I will keep running mine until I do the LS conversion. I only drive the XJ maybe 2000 miles a year.

 

[Mikeysjeep]

Sounds like you have tried all the possibilities. A transmission shop I spoke with said it was time to rebuild. Seals and o rings when old causes all sort of issues but a lazy shift is a good clue. I will keep running mine until I do the LS conversion. I only drive the XJ maybe 2000 miles a year.

My 2000 XJ is mostly used as a toad behind our Motorhome. I’m really buried in this. New radiator and hoses, all hoses new, New heater core,
air conditioning evaporator, both drivelines rebuilt and balanced, front axles rebuilt, new front wheel bearings, brake rotors and calipers, n hoses, complete rear brakes replaced including brake drums, brake cylinders shoes and hardware parts and hoses, engine oil leaks repaired, including front and rear main seals, installed new heavier duty alternator, front suspension, upper and lower control arms replaced with a Ruff Country kit. Including drag link and heavy duty sway bar.
Auxiliary electric fan timed switch. Engine intake manifold and injector insulation kit installed. New fuel injectors. New power steering pump. Now I have a squeaky idler, haven’t had time to replace it yet.
New right and left electric windows control panels, New rear hatch struts and lock.
New rear bumper with spare tire swing gate.
New Road-master tow bar assembly. Wired tail lights system through the jeep.
WOW! I’m really buried in this thing…
Please!! Don’t tell my wife…

I know I’ve missed something!
now if I can get the lazy shift deal fixed I’ll be happy
Mike Root
Tulalip Washington
35 Miles Northwest of
Seattle

 

[jacks 94XJLS5.3]

I am right there with you on the lists. Mine was worth it as there was no rust at all. Good luck

 

[Mikeysjeep]

I am right there with you on the lists. Mine was worth it as there was no rust at all. Good luck

 

[Mikeysjeep]

Same here, I’m on the west coast, very little salt. And I personally knew the little old lady that owned it.
I told her I would match the trade in value the dealer would offer. That was $700.00 and I felt well worth it.
That said, as you can see it’s basically a new vehicle! Now to the lazy shift and I think I’ll be happy..
Mike Root
Tulalip Washington
35 Miles Northwest of
Seattle

 

[Yak’n-Wag’n (2001_XJ_2WD)]

I would suggest a transmission filter swap and while you are there, replace the shift solenoids. Can be done for less than 100 bucks, plus the cost of your new ATF, if you can do it yourself.

 

[Yak’n-Wag’n (2001_XJ_2WD)]

 

[Mikeysjeep]

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