Adjusting transmission shift cable

Alxmarquez23

Member
Original poster
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
Messages
81
Location
Arizona
I’m having a hard time figuring out how to adjust the shift cable on the transmission. I have a 32RH that won’t go into park any advice would be appreciated.
 
It is adjusted at the mounting bracket on the driver's side of the transmission, where the shift cable passes through it. A clip at the bracket is partially pulled out that holds the cable in place and the outer cable sheathe is moved forward or back until it's adjusted. The clip is located on item 3 in the below illustration.

From the FSM...

ADJUSTMENTS
ADJUSTMENT - GEARSHIFT CABLE
Check adjustment by starting the engine in PARK
and NEUTRAL. Adjustment is OK if the engine
starts only in these positions. Adjustment is incorrect
if the engine starts in one but not both positions. If
the engine starts in any position other than PARK or
NEUTRAL, or if the engine will not start at all, the
transmission range sensor may be faulty.
Gearshift Adjustment Procedure
(1) Shift transmission into PARK.
(2) Raise vehicle.
(3) Release cable adjuster clamp (at transmission
end of cable) to unlock cable.
(4) Unsnap cable from cable mounting bracket on
transmission (Fig. 103).
(5) Slide cable eyelet off transmission shift lever.
(6) Verify transmission shift lever is in PARK
detent by moving lever fully rearward. Last rearward
detent is PARK position.
(7) Verify positive engagement of transmission
park lock by attempting to rotate propeller shaft.
Shaft will not rotate when park lock is engaged.
(8) Slide cable eyelet onto transmission shift lever.
(9) Snap shift cable adjuster into mounting
bracket on transmission.
(10) Lock shift cable by pressing cable adjuster
clamp down until it snaps into place.
(11) Lower vehicle and check engine starting.
Engine should start only in PARK and NEUTRAL.
32rh.JPG
 
Last edited:
It is adjusted at the mounting bracket on the driver's side of the transmission, where the shift cable passes through it. A clip at the bracket is partially pulled out that holds the cable in place and the outer cable sheathe is moved forward or back until it's adjusted. The clip is located on item 3 in the below illustration.

From the FSM...

ADJUSTMENTS
ADJUSTMENT - GEARSHIFT CABLE
Check adjustment by starting the engine in PARK
and NEUTRAL. Adjustment is OK if the engine
starts only in these positions. Adjustment is incorrect
if the engine starts in one but not both positions. If
the engine starts in any position other than PARK or
NEUTRAL, or if the engine will not start at all, the
transmission range sensor may be faulty.
Gearshift Adjustment Procedure
(1) Shift transmission into PARK.
(2) Raise vehicle.
(3) Release cable adjuster clamp (at transmission
end of cable) to unlock cable.
(4) Unsnap cable from cable mounting bracket on
transmission (Fig. 103).
(5) Slide cable eyelet off transmission shift lever.
(6) Verify transmission shift lever is in PARK
detent by moving lever fully rearward. Last rearward
detent is PARK position.
(7) Verify positive engagement of transmission
park lock by attempting to rotate propeller shaft.
Shaft will not rotate when park lock is engaged.
(8) Slide cable eyelet onto transmission shift lever.
(9) Snap shift cable adjuster into mounting
bracket on transmission.
(10) Lock shift cable by pressing cable adjuster
clamp down until it snaps into place.
(11) Lower vehicle and check engine starting.
Engine should start only in PARK and NEUTRAL.
View attachment 108168
I’m have a hard to finding exactly where that clip is . Can you circle it on the picture I attached?

E4C92F24-292B-482B-8989-3A972DA176CC.webp
 
It has been 12 years since I last saw that clip. Thinking it's the wider black section to the left of the bracket, the section with the two cutouts on either side so it can be pulled outward with needle nose pliers. It just comes out maybe 3/8" or so to release the cable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: H_E_H
I just found this thread...

As I too, can't figure out how to "adjust" the auto shifter cable length.

I ended up breaking a small tab off in the process. Can't seem to get it to release the cable, for adjusting. I need... literally, to have the cable adjusted 10mm or so to get my shift lever to be able to drop the trans into 1st. Right now, when I drop it into 1st it's only dropping into 2nd. Not good, for using engine braking on steep downhills. ;)

Does anyone have better intel on this? Maybe a video?

Sure would be helpful!!!

Alxmarquez23... did you figure it out???

I have the 42RLE, but I'm assuming it's same/same as it looks identical.

HELP!!!!
 
this might be more frustrating than helpful but the clip that needs to be released is circled in the photo below. don't ask me how to release it. like @Johnnyairtime I broke off a small tab trying to figure it out.






transmission cable adjuster.webp
 
Hey all,new Jeep owner. First issue was it would only start in neutral majority of the times. Thought the safety switch was bad but it was actually the shift cable. Had the hardest time trying to figure out how to adjust until reading here. Thanks for the help! Here is a photo to maybe help you understand where exactly this clip pops out at. I tried needle nose pliers, but they would NOT do it. What I did was use a small flat tip screw driver and then pried along the clip slightly. (See photo) Its almost impossible to not get tooling marks, but it won’t break the clip. Maybe you can spray some WD40 to help loosen it? I don’t know. The clip came all the way out, and then you simply push/pull on the far front portion to make your adjustment! Now I can start in park ;-)

F54EE06C-670A-4609-AD4D-42D1F2FAC4A0.webp


7230FB36-A571-4849-B468-06C1CDE166F2.webp
 
  • Love
Reactions: hear
FYI....

I just recently FIXED my shifter linkage, as it looks nothing like the adjustment previously posted (by releasing the cable clip at the trans mount, and adjusting the cable length).... in fact, it's done below the center console at the shift lever linkage in the cab;
Gearshift Cable.webp


Just as posted, there's a 13mm nut that you loosen... adjust the metal/silver linkage (removing the slack in the cable), and tighten the nut. Easy peasy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jerry Bransford
Ok so do I tighten my cable shifter in the cab? Or do I tighten it underneath at the shifter cable?
 
Thanks, the other post confused me. Got it tightened underneath. Managed to not break the plastic lock thing... stressful.
 
Hey all,new Jeep owner. First issue was it would only start in neutral majority of the times. Thought the safety switch was bad but it was actually the shift cable. Had the hardest time trying to figure out how to adjust until reading here. Thanks for the help! Here is a photo to maybe help you understand where exactly this clip pops out at. I tried needle nose pliers, but they would NOT do it. What I did was use a small flat tip screw driver and then pried along the clip slightly. (See photo) Its almost impossible to not get tooling marks, but it won’t break the clip. Maybe you can spray some WD40 to help loosen it? I don’t know. The clip came all the way out, and then you simply push/pull on the far front portion to make your adjustment! Now I can start in park ;-)

View attachment 271264

View attachment 271265

Very helpful! That should do it!
 
if I’m correct, this is only to fix the issue of it not starting in park or neutral correct? I have been noticing something weird on my 1999, I have 32RH with the straight 6. My transmission used to shift into 2nd gear around 2250 and 2500 rpm’s. I was constantly resetting my computer trying to figure other things out but then I noticed when I got the other issues fixed it slowly creeped up to shifting from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd at around 3100 yo 3200 RPM’s. Is there a way I can adjust that? Bring it back down to shifting around 2500?
 
5 times. This is magical.


The TV cable adjusts how long it holds shifts for, by making the transmission think there is more or less gas pedal being applied.

There’s a shifter cable that deals with the shifter & transmission selector shaft interplay.
 
5 times. This is magical.


The TV cable adjusts how long it holds shifts for, by making the transmission think there is more or less gas pedal being applied.

There’s a shifter cable that deals with the shifter & transmission selector shaft interplay.

I necro’d the post for a reason. I’m trying to add value to this thread because I believe it goes in line with it. I have searched on here and cannot find any posts that talk about what RPM’s the 32RH should be shifting at. This posts talks about how to adjusts it so it’s in park or neutral to start… but never on what RPM you should adjust so that first shifts to second and second shifts to third at the appropriate RPM. I’m just hoping to be able to find out the way to calculate it my rpm shift point for my tire size and gear ratio and hopefully save someone else the trouble later.
 
I necro’d the post for a reason. I’m trying to add value to this thread because I believe it goes in line with it. I have searched on here and cannot find any posts that talk about what RPM’s the 32RH should be shifting at. This posts talks about how to adjusts it so it’s in park or neutral to start… but never on what RPM you should adjust so that first shifts to second and second shifts to third at the appropriate RPM. I’m just hoping to be able to find out the way to calculate it my rpm shift point for my tire size and gear ratio and hopefully save someone else the trouble later.

If what you're looking for exists, I've never run across it, and I have looked. It's just a function of pressure at various spots within the valve body, so I'm sure some Mopar engineer who has long since died has a beautiful graph detailing it. If you find it, please share it! Conversationally, it's hard to have a scientific discussion about it, because it depends on throttle position + your specific TV cable adjustment (never mind, tire size, gear ratio, etc) so it's almost always the equivalent of measuring something by holding your hands apart and then walking across the room to compare. Error bars are just too high.

Having said that, 9 times out of 10, you're better off just staring a new thread with your specific questions.
 
Well I can’t believe it, but now it’s my turn to necro this thread.

Current status: under TJ buddy’s jeep in a gravel parking lot next to some pop up Indian food truck extravaganza, trying to get this shifter cable adjusted.

My gut says it’s actually a valve body issue. This thing doesn’t feel right when you run through the gears.
 
  • Face Palm
Reactions: macleanflood
Wish I could help. I have a TV cable I stripped off the Jeep I pulled the 32RH from...let me know if I can measure it or pull the valve body and overnight them somewhere.

IMG20260820164706.webp


-Mac