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CJ7 transmission problem

Discussion in 'CJ' started by MrLucky7137, Mar 23, 2018.

  1. Mar 23, 2018 at 9:41 AM
    #1
    MrLucky7137

    MrLucky7137 [OP] Member

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    Hello everybody thanks for accepting me. I have a 1980 CJ7 with the 4.2 L engine and automatic transmission and I love it. However last trip out I had a problem at first I thought reverse gear went out in the tranny. Then within hours I realized the shifting linkage wouldn’t engage any gears at all but I still had drive. I inspected all of the linkage an adjustment and it was perfect the problem is in the transmission. The next day after going down a bumpy road the gears started engaging again but no reverse no neutral just drive. Has anyone else had this problem?
     
  2. Mar 23, 2018 at 10:47 AM
    #2
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine Moderator

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    Welcome to the site!Sorry I cant be much help, but hopefully someone will pop in soon.
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2018
  3. Mar 23, 2018 at 12:34 PM
    #3
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

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    Howell fuel injection, header, HEI distributor, TH350, NP208, SOA lift with YJ springs in the front & GW springs in the Rear. AMC20 with G2 1 piece chromos trussed, Dana 30 with G2 chromos and 760x ujoints and MM Stainless Hubs, Geared 4.56. Tom Woods shafts, Metal cloaks, Caged, 37" Toyo MTs.
    Have you checked the fluid per the owner's manual instructions?
     
  4. Mar 23, 2018 at 3:53 PM
    #4
    MrLucky7137

    MrLucky7137 [OP] Member

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    I did check the fluid while it was running and in park I think you’re supposed to check in neutral but neutral will not engage right now so I’m not sure what to do.
     
  5. Mar 23, 2018 at 7:03 PM
    #5
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    Welcome to the forum dude.
    Sorry man. My first thought was fluid also. I'm sure some one jump on that can help. Not really my forte. Then again. Don't really have a forte. Lol. Good luck with your Jeep dude.
     
  6. Mar 24, 2018 at 7:22 AM
    #6
    MrLucky7137

    MrLucky7137 [OP] Member

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    Thanks man. I’m gonna try to Engage neutral through the transfer case today and get an accurate reading. I never thought it could be fluid because it still has Drive and doesn’t slip at all.
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  7. Mar 25, 2018 at 4:43 AM
    #7
    MrLucky7137

    MrLucky7137 [OP] Member

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    OK I’m starting to think the original owner put a different dipstick in the transmission or something I added 3 quarts of fluid while it was in the neutral position on the column and in neutral on the transfer case and let it run for 10 minutes. It acts like it’s stuck in drive for every gear on the column park reverse neutral drive low range all act the same except park engages a little. Weird.
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  8. Mar 25, 2018 at 11:52 AM
    #8
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

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    Howell fuel injection, header, HEI distributor, TH350, NP208, SOA lift with YJ springs in the front & GW springs in the Rear. AMC20 with G2 1 piece chromos trussed, Dana 30 with G2 chromos and 760x ujoints and MM Stainless Hubs, Geared 4.56. Tom Woods shafts, Metal cloaks, Caged, 37" Toyo MTs.
    Having a hard time following this. It seems to me like you are saying that the transmission is stuck in drive no matter what gear your selecter says you are in. I would look at the linkage at the transmission end and make sure you are connected. If so would have someone shift through the gears while you watched the shifting mechanism to make sure it is shifting. If not you likely have come disconnected or broken cable at either the shifter end or tranny end. You say you are not reading full yet. In other vehicles if you shift through all of the gears and put it in park that will suffice. I have also left it in gear and applied the parking break to get an accurate reading. I hope you are poring in the right tube usually the tube you pull the tranny dipstick from. Good luck. Get back to us.
     
  9. Mar 25, 2018 at 12:38 PM
    #9
    MrLucky7137

    MrLucky7137 [OP] Member

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    I’ve been over the linkage like you say with someone helping it’s working just fine. Definitely pouring tranny fluid into the right tube. I checked it again today and it’s stuck in drive will not engage neutral or reverse at all.
     
  10. Mar 25, 2018 at 3:45 PM
    #10
    MrLucky7137

    MrLucky7137 [OP] Member

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    Can anyone tell me what exactly this is, it had a three prong wire going to it right next to the linkage on the transmission. When the wires were disconnected it prevented the motor from starting.

    8A80DBAE-27CC-408E-8643-0E83506CB6EB.jpg
    691D1E68-5CA9-41A8-B90F-C30A0C2259A2.jpg
     
  11. Mar 25, 2018 at 3:48 PM
    #11
    MrLucky7137

    MrLucky7137 [OP] Member

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    I looked it up it’s called a neutral safety switch is it possible this is my problem?
     
  12. Mar 25, 2018 at 4:53 PM
    #12
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Tuffy>AEV>TTO>JW>STech>EVOcage>MagnaFlow>SpiderTrax>RockHard>TF>SpringTail>67design>Bolt>GPCA>Curt>
    That is the NSS that you unplugged. Disconnected the CJ won't start as it provides ground to the starter solenoid in neutral+park to start the jeep.
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2018
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  13. Mar 25, 2018 at 4:58 PM
    #13
    MrLucky7137

    MrLucky7137 [OP] Member

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    Is it possible it’s making the transmission stay in drive ?
     
  14. Mar 25, 2018 at 5:03 PM
    #14
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    That is not the function of the NSS. I think the center terminal provides ground to the solenoid and the other one goes to the reverse lights
     
    JKBob 25 likes this.
  15. Mar 26, 2018 at 7:42 AM
    #15
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

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    Howell fuel injection, header, HEI distributor, TH350, NP208, SOA lift with YJ springs in the front & GW springs in the Rear. AMC20 with G2 1 piece chromos trussed, Dana 30 with G2 chromos and 760x ujoints and MM Stainless Hubs, Geared 4.56. Tom Woods shafts, Metal cloaks, Caged, 37" Toyo MTs.
    Is this a quadratrac tcase with the TH400 or is it the Dana 300 Tcase and Automatic (I think the TF727). I would definitely get the tranny full of fluid to make sure that is not your problem. I mention the TH400 and quadratrac because I believe they share fluid and if you are parked on an incline or you have done a tcase drop or motor lift then the fluid will run back to the tcase causing you to have to have to add more tranny fluid than normally required. Of course there is the obvious question; do you see any leaks. You said you added 3 quarts and it still did not register on the stick. Makes me wonder what happened to the fluid. That is a lot and I would think that you would see where it was going. Is your vacuum hooked up? Next, after everything else is checked out I would guess that the valve body has some crud in it not allowing the fluid to flow through correctly through it making the shifts available to you. On the th400 the valve body is pretty easy to get to, but your diving into the realm of a tranny shop now. You might be better off getting their diagnosis before spending a lot of time and money guessing.
     
  16. Mar 26, 2018 at 7:55 AM
    #16
    MrLucky7137

    MrLucky7137 [OP] Member

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    I’m not sure which transmission it is is there an easy way to tell? Sorry I wasn’t clear before I added 3 quarts of fluid and it registered on the stick I just thought it might’ve been a different dipstick maybe from a different transmission. I mostly park in the dirt I guess that’s why I didn’t realize the extent of the tranny leak it definitely leaks. I pulled out the neutral safety switch and it leaked out at least 3 maybe 4 quarts of tranny fluid.
     
  17. Mar 26, 2018 at 8:53 AM
    #17
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Second having a trans shop check out the AT as you don't want to lose DRIVE (most important to me). I'm suspecting an internal issue.
     
    chris4x4 likes this.
  18. Mar 26, 2018 at 12:22 PM
    #18
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

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    The quadratac Tcase is a constant 4wd mode only allowing you to shift from 4H to N to 4L. The Dana 300 Gives you 4H 2H N and 4L.
     
  19. Mar 26, 2018 at 9:21 PM
    #19
    MrLucky7137

    MrLucky7137 [OP] Member

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    Defiantly the Dana 300. How about the transnission is there a easy way to identify it? Thank you.
     
  20. Mar 27, 2018 at 6:45 AM
    #20
    OFFGRID

    OFFGRID Well-Known Member

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    Howell fuel injection, header, HEI distributor, TH350, NP208, SOA lift with YJ springs in the front & GW springs in the Rear. AMC20 with G2 1 piece chromos trussed, Dana 30 with G2 chromos and 760x ujoints and MM Stainless Hubs, Geared 4.56. Tom Woods shafts, Metal cloaks, Caged, 37" Toyo MTs.
    If it is Factory it will be the TF-999 for the 4.2L I6, and TF-904 for the 2.5L 4cyl. You said that you had a 4.2 so I assume it is the Torque Flight 999 (TF-999) For lots of information google Wiki Jeep CJ. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_CJ
     
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