Forgive me if I'm using the incorrect terminology, but I'm I Jeep guy and that's what it is for us.

My 96 has probably never been off road and may have never been shifted out of what is basically 4H. The **** is in the right most rear position. It will kind of give alittle when I try to push it forward, but I don't want to force it. It is by no means as easy as the youtube video in the sticky makes it out to be.

Any thoughts or suggestions on freeing it up? Does the console have to come out? Do I have to go up under it and access the linkage? If I pull the console, will I be able to gain access to the linkage?

Does anyone think a 5 MPH coast in neutral and trying to actuate it will do any good?

 

I just went through the same thing. Had to pull the console, pull the shifter, and rebuild it on the bench.

 

Does the shifter assembly come out through the console or out from underneath? I've been watching the video's on youtube and trying to figure out the best way to do this.

Was yours all crudded up in the little box where the nylon ball joint sits?

Any chance this is just stuck from lack of use and I could disconnect the linkages and try to work them? There's some give, but I don't want to force and break anything.

 

Yes stuck from non use

You need to remove console, drill the rivets on shifter boot, unhook linkages unbolt and remove shifter,disassemble clean lube , reverse order

 

Psh, mine was never ever used, I just muscled it into neutral, then got out of the car, grabbed it by the base of the shifter and pulled like hell until it went over. A few of those and some WD on the linkage and it works fine.

 

It comes out through the console. The nylon part was fine, but the metal rod was seized up. The grease was also starting to get baked on.

 

Check the solenoid to the right of the shifter. Shown here already pulled. Unbolt and just install the plate. Clean and lube all linkage. Mine was stuck and would not allowing me to shift. As I hear it's not critical to have.

 

Thanks, I've also heard of people just removing the pin/nipple from it and reinstalling it.