32RH transmission won't go into gear

Bvanwinkle

New Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2020
Messages
16
Location
Richmond IN
Can someone help me please? Im new to the forums, but owned this jeep for 21 yrs. its a 97 TJ 4.0L w auto tranny. Nothing special w mods. I just replaced the shifter selector switch seal. I did from the top so I wouldn’t remove the pan. I put the two brackets back on and the jeep wont start. Dash lights up, ignition on and nothing else. I removed the top bracket and turned the selector (I believe the one tied to the brake cable) and it starts. I put things back together and it started. New issue, now it wont go into any gear. The shifter will cycle no issue but its like the jeep is in N. Pissed off i walked away. Came back hr later to try to start it in N and against it wont do anything rater in park or N. The selector has flats on it so i dont see how i goofed this up? Everything worked fine before i replaced the seal. Any help would be appreciated!
 
The top one is the one i toggled by hand after removing the top brkt. Thats when jeep started. What activates this brkt? Seems like the issue is there? Pushing on brake isn’t moving it.
 
The top one is the one i toggled by hand after removing the top brkt. Thats when jeep started. What activates this brkt? Seems like the issue is there? Pushing on brake isn’t moving it.
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The upper cable connected to the rear-most bracket on the transmission is the throttle valve lever, it is moved by stepping on the gas pedal. It controls how and when it shifts from gear to gear. The bottom cable that connects to the front lever is what selects the gears.

32RH side view cables.JPG
 
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That helps! Then that brkt should have nothing to do w it not starting. Do you have any idea what’s going on then? Did i saturate a sensor? Im not sure what the sensor is on driver side at rear bottom of tranny is but it got washed down. The one just in front also got washed. Both were swimming in tranny fluid due to the leak.

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Hi Jerry, just noticed something. Not sure if it makes any difference. The top brkt when removed had the post sticking out. Its now flush w the brkt. I removed it again and opened the brkt up to make sure it seated fully. I also removed the bottom brkt to make sure it wasn’t holding it up. It seats fully and remains flush. It will not go down any further. See photos. 1st is original, second is now

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Hi Jerry, just noticed something. Not sure if it makes any difference. The top brkt when removed had the post sticking out. Its now flush w the brkt. I removed it again and opened the brkt up to make sure it seated fully. I also removed the bottom brkt to make sure it wasn’t holding it up. It seats fully and remains flush. It will not go down any further. See photos. 1st is original, second is now

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Hello, found some issues. I noticed today the “c” clip retaining clip was knocked off during install of the seal.
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I dropped the pan and all seems normal other than the throttle shaft sitting low. I found the clip and pushed the shaft up as far as it goes and installed the clip. Is there a groove for the clip to sit in? I removed the washer and never found a groove. I assume its used to add resistance and once the brkt is bolted on the shaft is fixed. Question is will this cause my no start and no engagement in any gear? Or is it possible that the NSS is bad due to tranny fluid bath and brake parts cleaner bath?

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Hello again, still working on this issue. Ive got some new info, maybe someone can help lead me in or on the right path? I found by reviewing the befor pictures that there was a “c” clip on top on lever for the throttle brkt. Pic 1: i found it by the grace of God and re installed. Also noticed no groove for clip to rest in. However it clipped right over the shaft. I dropped the pan to verify nothing was broke w the shift link and the throttle mechanism worked properly. Pic 2: all looks good but not being a tranny guy i cant say that w 100 percent certainty. What i did find is that the NSS switch was FULL of tranny fluid. I replaced the switch and waiting for the plug to drip out and ill clean it tomorrow pic 3. Could this cause my issue?

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Need PLEASE! Jeep is all back together now. No leaks and she starts just fine now w the new NSS switch. I put 3.5 qts fluid in let it run for 30 min in N and the dip stick reads full. New filter as well. I can shift into any gear and its like the tranny is in N. It will not move no matter the gear. Put it back in Park and the rpms drop by 200. Also notice the reverse lights are now on in any gear. What’s going on?
 
Hello, any help appreciated! Think i found my problem? I dropped pan again and found a piece of plastic in bottom of pan. It was part of the manual shift valve. The assembly had been raised somehow likely an error on my part. It wasn’t engaging the valve below the throttle valve lever. It dropped right back in place. My issue now is i cant find a replacement part. Anyone know where i can get this part? It appears I could drive it like this as long as i do not go into 1st or 2nd gear then damage the NSS or puts pcs of plastic throughout the tranny. Can u buy just the plastic and drill out the rivet holding in place?

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I searched the Mopar parts list for your 32RH and couldn't quite get enough of that part's information to track it down in the book.

Here's the complete parts list for your 32RH, good luck with it.
 

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  • 32RH Parts List.pdf
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That part is an assembly from Mopar. Your best bet is to look in the aftermarket like Sonnax. The part is called a neutral safety backup insulator. Sonnax makes a kit to repair it.
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Here’s how it’s repaired.
 

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  • 22229-03-IN.pdf
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That part is an assembly from Mopar. Your best bet is to look in the aftermarket like Sonnax. The part is called a neutral safety backup insulator. Sonnax makes a kit to repair it.
That part is an assembly from Mopar. Your best bet is to look in the aftermarket like Sonnax. The part is called a neutral safety backup insulator. Sonnax makes a kit to repair it.
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Thank you! Have you heard of these used for the 32RH? The web site does not show it for my tranny. Looks just like my orange one and states for 70-02 tranny w 3 terminal switch.