AX-15 only goes into 1st and 2nd gear

[93Hotel]

Hi,
I have a '97 TJ with an AX-15 transmission. I hit a pothole which broke the fan shroud. I engaged the clutch and made it to the side of the road. I removed the shroud and it cranked fine. The problem is I can only go into 1st or 2nd gear. I can move the shifter right a little with some effort, but didn't want to force it. Limped home and discovered a 5" piece missing from the bottom of the shroud. Could the missing piece of plastic have somehow jammed the AX-15? Could the AX-15 have been somehow damaged from the pothole? Any ideas on where to start investigating? Thanks in advance!
Herb

 

[tworley]

Two separate issues. The shroud is a minor issue--Mine has been broke on the bottom for two years now. Find a replacement when you can, it could effect the cooling of your jeep. The fact you can only get your ax-15 to go in 1st and 2nd only could be a few things; sychros, bad transmission, bad slave cylinder or something potentially binding. You still have your skid plate attached? Being from VA I am sure your prone to rust issues.

 

[bromel]

That's... weird. My guess would be that the broken fan shroud is a symptom of another problem, one that caused your entire engine and driveline to shift dramatically due to a shock.

Is your skid plate firmly attached? Motor mounts intact? Do you have a lift kit?

 

[93Hotel]

Thanks guys! I've had her a year and swapped the 4.0 (Piston slap) with a reman. These isn't any rust on the frame since everything was coated in years of oil. I have a 2" spacer lift and used Brown Dog mounts (stock, not tucked.) The shroud was admittedly held on by 4 zip ties.
I don't know anything about the trans, and was going to change the fluid next weekend. It has been fine thus far. The clutch was replaced when I swapped motor. I'm thinking binding, but not sure how to investigate.

 

[Tranz Zam]

Didn't another member here have an issue where their trans didn't want to go into certain gears, and it turned out the trans mount rotted and let the trans sag toward the rear?

If yours isnt rusty, maybe something came loose and allowed the engine to lean back, taking out the shroud and causing the trans issue.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

It's possible a piece of the shroud flew up above the transmission to between it and the floor and is now partially blocking the throw of the shifter.

 

[93Hotel]

That's... weird. My guess would be that the broken fan shroud is a symptom of another problem, one that caused your entire engine and driveline to shift dramatically due to a shock.

Is your skid plate firmly attached? Motor mounts intact? Do you have a lift kit?

Nailed it. Motor mounts are fine, but the bolts on the bracket backed out! I couldn't see it until I got underneath. Good news is I replaced my transmission mount before I figured it out! Everything is leaning to the passenger side. Much better than a broken Ax15!

Thanks for the replies everyone!!

 

[Steel City 06]

Hopefully the bolts on the bracket didn’t strip out the block...

If they did, Brown Dog makes a replacement bracket that uses extra engine bosses so you don’t have to trash the engine.

Here is the pair:
https://browndogindustries.com/S2572P-Jeep-I6-Engine-Super-Brackets.aspx

 

[93Hotel]

Hopefully the bolts on the bracket didn’t strip out the block...

If they did, Brown Dog makes a replacement bracket that uses extra engine bosses so you don’t have to trash the engine.

Here is the pair:
https://browndogindustries.com/S2572P-Jeep-I6-Engine-Super-Brackets.aspx

Thanks! I literally just ordered these! I went ahead and got the set so both sides will be covered. I'm hoping that in my sleep-deprived engine swap state I just forgot to Locktite them and didn't over torque.