04 TJ Automatic Won't Shift Into 1st Gear With Console Shifter

zagfan1995-1999

zagfan1995-1999

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Joined
Jan 31, 2024
Messages
8
Location
Spokane, WA
Good day, folks. My daughter is turning 16 in a few months and I picked her up an 04 TJ Sport. It is the Solar Yellow, Automatic, with a Dana 44. It needs love, but pretty solid. There are a few issues I am working on (there is a leak somewhere, but fluid levels never go down), we have pretty good passenger Jeep Lean, and, what I am looking for answers here for, the automatic transmission shifts through the gears fine, 4wd works, 4 low works. The issue is, the shifter in the cab will not shift into 1st gear. Now, I did not want to post this for fear it has been talked about, but I have been scouring the internet and forums for a few weeks now and cannot find ANYTHING about this. Again, the shifter will not go into 1st. Every other gear is fine. The rig shifts from 1st up to OD just fine. What am I missing? I even thought the little off white balled shaft in the shift handle might be the culprit, but it is intact and working. Any help would be greatly appreciated. If, by chance this has been talked about on the forum, I do apologize. Thank you in advise for any assistance. Take care all and have a great day!
 
It doesn't have a body lift does it?

Many times a body lift will mess with shifter movement and limit travel.
 
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Are you saying the handle will shift to all the selections, but will not go into “1”? And the trans itself shifts fine while driving?
 
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I had the opposite issue once where the shifter would not go into Park. it ended up being what's pictured below. not sure what it's called but, it was not tight in the metal bracket. You can see where i had to use a zip tie to hold it in. Plastic clips were not holding it in well. You probably don't have the same transmission as me but, it may have a similar bracket and shift cable setup? Others with a 04 auto may have a better idea.

20240301_173214.jpg
 
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Mitchrb1 said:
I had the opposite issue once where the shifter would not go into Park. it ended up being what's pictured below. not sure what it's called but, it was not tight in the metal bracket. You can see where i had to use a zip tie to hold it in. Plastic clips were not holding it in well. You probably don't have the same transmission as me but, it may have a similar bracket and shift cable setup? Others with a 04 auto may have a better idea.

View attachment 505804
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Thank you for the reply. I will take a look at that tomorrow. Have a great night!
 
zagfan1995-1999 said:
Good day, folks. My daughter is turning 16 in a few months and I picked her up an 04 TJ Sport. It is the Solar Yellow, Automatic, with a Dana 44. It needs love, but pretty solid. There are a few issues I am working on (there is a leak somewhere, but fluid levels never go down), we have pretty good passenger Jeep Lean, and, what I am looking for answers here for, the automatic transmission shifts through the gears fine, 4wd works, 4 low works. The issue is, the shifter in the cab will not shift into 1st gear. Now, I did not want to post this for fear it has been talked about, but I have been scouring the internet and forums for a few weeks now and cannot find ANYTHING about this. Again, the shifter will not go into 1st. Every other gear is fine. The rig shifts from 1st up to OD just fine. What am I missing? I even thought the little off white balled shaft in the shift handle might be the culprit, but it is intact and working. Any help would be greatly appreciated. If, by chance this has been talked about on the forum, I do apologize. Thank you in advise for any assistance. Take care all and have a great day!
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Try starting the Jeep in P and N. If it can do that the shifter is adjusted correctly. If you can’t it needs to be adjusted. The adjustment is the screw on the left side of the shifter at the base. Removed the PRND12 Bezel and make a slight adjustment by loosening the 13mm nut and re-tightening.
 
JMT said:
Try starting the Jeep in P and N. If it can do that the shifter is adjusted correctly. If you can’t it needs to be adjusted. The adjustment is the screw on the left side of the shifter at the base. Removed the PRND12 Bezel and make a slight adjustment by loosening the 13mm nut and re-tightening.
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Okay, thank you! I will try that. I can start it in P no problem. Haven’t tried in N. Will do as soon as I can dig it out of the snow that fell last night (UGH!!!!!!!). Thanks again. I will report back as soon as I can.
 
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zagfan1995-1999 said:
Okay, thank you! I will try that. I can start it in P no problem. Haven’t tried in N. Will do as soon as I can dig it out of the snow that fell last night (UGH!!!!!!!). Thanks again. I will report back as soon as I can.
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Hey, I’m in Spokane too. If you need help let me know and I’ll zip over. I just finished a manual to 42rle swap yesterday.
 
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JMT said:
Hey, I’m in Spokane too. If you need help let me know and I’ll zip over. I just finished a manual to 42rle swap yesterday.
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Absolutely!! Thank you. The snow, warm, met, freeze, and repeat is hampering my progress as my hands are severely unhappy. So, as soon as I am back at it I will let you know. Thank you!!
 
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