Shift cable stuck.

My 3.7 05 liberty needed an engine . I purchased a engine with low miles 2 plus years ago. I had life stuff going on I just got around to doing it . I dismantled it 2 plus years ago left the trans in neutral. Now my shift cable I'd stuck in neutral. I took the shifter cover off tried moving it from the cable it's self . No go. Any ideas . It was fine when I parked it.
Everything is back together running good except my shift cable won't move . I've never had this happen.
Edit ........
The arm on the transmission isn't moving . I removed the cable and it cycles fine. Odd. I may have bent something. Great.

Mrich0908 said:

My 3.7 05 liberty needed an engine . I purchased a engine with low miles 2 plus years ago. I had life stuff going on I just got around to doing it . I dismantled it 2 plus years ago left the trans in neutral. Now my shift cable I'd stuck in neutral. I took the shifter cover off tried moving it from the cable it's self . No go. Any ideas . It was fine when I parked it.
Everything is back together running good except my shift cable won't move . I've never had this happen.
Edit ........
The arm on the transmission isn't moving . I removed the cable and it cycles fine. Odd. I may have bent something. Great.

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I have ran into this on several occasions with Liberties that have sat for some time and also one that had been to the dealer twice for broken cables, the shifter linkage shaft in the transmission case is binding on actual case, it's a vertical shaft and the top seal below the arm that's attached can allow water and salt to leak inside the shaft case and start to build up a coating of white metal corrosion binding the linkage from moving, I have removed the transmission pan and dropped the shaft out to clean out the corrosion than just coated the shaft with a fine coating of white lithium grease , reassembled the valve body and replaced the filter and bottom pan gasket.
I have been seeing this problem cause people to replace broken shifter cables only to have it fail again because of the shaft binding but not fully seizing.
I hope this helps you, just be careful and take your time removing the top hardware on the shaft. take pictures of it while disassembling and they will definitely help you out with putting it back together.

The gov said:

I have ran into this on several occasions with Liberties that have sat for some time and also one that had been to the dealer twice for broken cables, the shifter linkage shaft in the transmission case is binding on actual case, it's a vertical shaft and the top seal below the arm that's attached can allow water and salt to leak inside the shaft case and start to build up a coating of white metal corrosion binding the linkage from moving, I have removed the transmission pan and dropped the shaft out to clean out the corrosion than just coated the shaft with a fine coating of white lithium grease , reassembled the valve body and replaced the filter and bottom pan gasket.
I have been seeing this problem cause people to replace broken shifter cables only to have it fail again because of the shaft binding but not fully seizing.
I hope this helps you, just be careful and take your time removing the top hardware on the shaft. take pictures of it while disassembling and they will definitely help you out with putting it back together.

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You confirmed what i read about last night thank you . I've never been inside this transmission but I've rebuilt 47re 4l80e and 4l60e so I should be ok.
At least I don't have to drop the transmission that was my biggest fear.
For others who come across this and are wondering what the gov is talking about at 7:50 of this video you will see the shaft.

Mrich0908 said:

You confirmed what i read about last night thank you . I've never been inside this transmission but I've rebuilt 47re 4l80e and 4l60e so I should be ok.
At least I don't have to drop the transmission that was my biggest fear.
For others who come across this and are wondering what the gov is talking about at 7:50 of this video you will see the shaft.

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I am glad to have been able to be a little help.... That's the great thing about this site,we're all helping keep these old Liberties alive.
Take care and good luck.

The gov said:

I am glad to have been able to be a little help.... That's the great thing about this site,we're all helping keep these old Liberties alive.
Take care and good luck.

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Came home dropped the front drive shaft shot wd40 up on top the gear selector shaft had a beer waited a hour came back worked it back and forth using a small adjustable wrench .Works great now thank you. I would of been reading all day .
How long are I considered a new member I joined in 2016 lol .

Does any one know how to reset the gear selector to have your shifter in line with your transmission. So I loosened the nut on the side of my selector . That released tension on my prnd21 shifter. Then I took the cable off first on the shifter then on the gear selector shaft under the transmission. Now depending where I put my cable and how I adjust the arm on the side of the shifter depends on what gear I'm in or not in. So if I push the gear shaft at the transmission all the way towards the back going to the rear end and line every think up with park . I can only get into drive if I drop to 1st then as I go to 2nd then drive I will get motion . I can not get reverse . I can't select drive or 2nd by its self . At one point I some how managed to make every gear selected drive.
Is this a valve body issue.
Seems to me like the manual rod is selecting gears and a solenoid isn't doing as it should. Fluid is fine.

Mrich0908 said:

Does any one know how to reset the gear selector to have your shifter in line with your transmission. So I loosened the nut on the side of my selector . That released tension on my prnd21 shifter. Then I took the cable off first on the shifter then on the gear selector shaft under the transmission. Now depending where I put my cable and how I adjust the arm on the side of the shifter depends on what gear I'm in or not in. So if I push the gear shaft at the transmission all the way towards the back going to the rear end and line every think up with park . I can only get into drive if I drop to 1st then as I go to 2nd then drive I will get motion . I can not get reverse . I can't select drive or 2nd by its self . At one point I some how managed to make every gear selected drive.
Is this a valve body issue.
Seems to me like the manual rod is selecting gears and a solenoid isn't doing as it should. Fluid is fine.

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I would suggest you check your solenoid connection at the transmission, does it start in any range or require you to be in park or neutral?
I am just thinking about the fact it was in neutral for 2 years or so if it maybe a switch issue. sorry to hear that you're not having much luck. I'm on the road at the moment but will give it some thought and hopefully I might be able to help out with a few suggestions.

As The Gov mentioned above, I had trouble with my son's 06 shifter cable. I pumped lubricant(ATF with acetone blend) into the pivot points of the vertical shaft bellcrank on the transmission. Did a couple of times, over a week, and that freed up the sticky mechanism. Like he said, crap sits and corrodes it. Worked great after that.

The gov said:

I would suggest you check your solenoid connection at the transmission, does it start in any range or require you to be in park or neutral?
I am just thinking about the fact it was in neutral for 2 years or so if it maybe a switch issue. sorry to hear that you're not having much luck. I'm on the road at the moment but will give it some thought and hopefully I might be able to help out with a few suggestions.

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I did check the harness and all was OK with it.
My jeep sat for 2.5 maybe even 3 years. I'm not sure why but it would not shift . My thought was all the fluid drained to the pan from sitting. I'm sure the seals in the pistons may of had issues from sitting dry if that happen. I purchased a used valve body and a trans go shift kit . Got it back together and all is good. Shifts as is. I've used transgo kits on may vechiles . It's what I have in my 48re in my compound turbo cummins. I love their products. Them and sonax.
Any ways thanks for the help ever one . This will be a great first ride for daughter .