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[Brynjaminjones]

The Jeeps are really testing me at the moment! The transmission in the ZJ has been slipping when really cold for quite a while now, although it got better quite quickly when it started to warm up.
The fluid has now been changed, and now it's slipping on the 2-3 shift no matter how warm the car is.


Symptoms:

• Reverse and drive engage straight away with no slippage
• 1-2 shifts perfectly every time
• 3-4 (& torque converter lockup) operate perfectly
• When driving normally, 2-3 shift gets stuck in 2nd gear - I can either accelerate harder until it revs right up past 3k, at which point it will slam into gear, or I can let go of the throttle, then accelerate again which will make it slip then reluctantly go into gear.
• Driving very, very gently will result in it changing fine
• If I completely floor it, e.g. from a roundabout, it will change absolutely fine
• Sometimes it will change fine for no apparent reason when driving normally, other times it will slip - seemingly completely random

Am I right in thinking that I should prepare myself for the worst?

[JamesH]

I know it's a different gearbox to the XJ but I had shifting problems that were down to the neutral safety switch on the side of the box. It just needed an good clean and re grease (or replacement). Just an idea to google to see if it might be that simple for the ZJ box.

[bigjeepzj]

James the XJ box is full electronic the zj NSS just stops you starting the Jeep when not in park you nutral
bryn  Wonder if your shiftier cables need adjusting ie kick down

[Brynjaminjones]

Cheers guys. I'm sure the NSS is fine, as the reverse lights are fine and it always goes into gear and starts correctly etc (I've looked into XJ NSS symptoms before!).


Dave, funnily enough I have recently fiddled with the TV cable, as I thought it probably needed adjusting after 30,000+ miles since I last did it. I've tried a couple of positions now, but I thought it just affects shift position rather than being able to make it slip?
Could you maybe explain to me how to adjust it correctly?


I adjust the XJ's cable almost every time I open the bonnet and I've never had an issue.

[Mike Pavelin]

The bands need to be adjusted properly every 60000 miles. Get this done first. 42REs also suffer from shift solenoid and pressure sensor problems, but these normally make them stay in 2nd gear permanently.

[Brynjaminjones]

Rather embarrassingly, it would seem that my fiddling with the TV cable was the main cause of the problem. 
It's still not perfect - it slips for a couple of shifts when cold even with new fluid, but once warmed up there's no slipping at all.
I'm still not a huge fan of the 42RE, but it's perfectly drivable now.