Shift linkage, shifting linkage, transmission linkage, or transmission shift linkage consists of cables or metal rods that connect the gearshift or gear selector to the transmission. Shift linkage plays a vital role in both manual and automatic transmission cars because it translates the movement of the gearshift to the transmission.
Shift linkage can get damaged, bent, or broken and cause serious performance issues in your Jeep Wrangler. These performance issues can even result in serious accidents that can cause severe damage to the vehicle and serious injury to the driver.
Various reasons can be behind the shift linkage problem as the cables can get damaged because of physical stress, cold weather, lack of lubrication, and normal wear and tear due to time and usage. But you can easily solve this issue with the right tool and by following some simple procedures.
What Are the Common Symptoms of the Jeep Wrangler Shift Linkage Problem?
Your Jeep Wrangler can show various symptoms such as difficulty in shifting gears, shifting to the wrong gear, engine failure, and so on if the shift linkage starts to malfunction. All of these symptoms are discussed below.
Difficulty Shifting Gears
The most common sign of a failing shifting linkage is difficulty shifting gears. Gears become stuck in one place and require a considerable amount of force to change. This problem gets worse and worse with time if it remains unchecked. Shift linkage requires immediate attention if the gears become stuck and do not want to shift to neutral or drive.
Mismatching Gears
Gears can also shift to the wrong ones while operating because of shift linkage problems. This means that gears might shift to reverse or park when you shift to neutral or drive. This happens because the gearshifts are not synchronized to the transmission system. This can not only cause performance issues but can also lead to fatal accidents.
Engine Will Not Start
The engine can also fail to start if the shift linkage is damaged because your Jeep Wrangler will not start at the odd gear position. This can occur because of gear mismatch. Your car can also shut down sporadically because of gear mismatch.
Difficulty Turning The Engine Off
Another common symptom of shift linkage failure is that the car might face difficulty shutting off. This is also because of gear mismatch. But there are other reasons such as a bad fuel pump, faulty spark plugs, and other engine issues that can be behind this problem so make sure that all of these are not causing the issue before diagnosing with a shift linkage issue.
Leaking Transmission Fluid
The transmission system can also be leaking fluid because of shift linkage issues. Transmission fluid is distinguishable because of its red color so your Jeep Wrangler might have a faulty shift linkage if you notice puddles of red liquid on the driveway and cannot find any leaks in the transmission system.
Irregular Sounds
Unwanted noises coming from the transmission system especially when you are shifting gears is a sign of faulty shift linkage. These sounds can be thumping, clunking, squealing, whirring, clicking, and so on.
What Causes Jeep Wrangler Shift Linkage Issues?
Shift linkage issues can arise because of various reasons such as stress, weather, lubrication, and so on. The most common reasons are discussed below.
Excessive Stress
The most common reason for damaged shift linkage is excessive stress on the cable that occurs because of shifting gears at the wrong time. This happens to manual transmission cars more often than auto transmission cars but it can steal and cause shift linkage problems.
Cold Weather
Cold weather causes the shifting linkage to shrink because of the low temperature and puts it under a considerable amount of stress while shifting. This can cause the shift linkage to get damaged or bent over time.
Lack of Lubrication
Lack of lubrication on the joints can also increase metal-on-metal contacts and cause the shift linkage and the bushing to get bent and damaged. This is more common in cars that are older because the lubrication slowly degrades over time.
Regular Wear and Tear
Shift linkage can get damaged because of regular wear and tear as well. Regular operation of the vehicle puts tension on the cables and rods of the shift linkage and over time they slowly lose their durability and start to malfunction.
How to Solve Shift Linkage Issues in the Jeep Wrangler
You can solve the shift linkage issues in the Jeep Wrangler by adjusting the cable length, replacing the shift collet, and replacing the entire shift linkage. Adjusting the cable length and replacing the shift collet can be done easily by yourself but replacing the entire shift linkage system is very difficult and you will have to seek professional help from a trusted workshop.
Adjusting the Cable
The necessary steps to adjust the cable of the shift linkage are given below.
Step 1: Gather the necessary tools. You will need a jack to lift your car and wrenches.
Step 2: Follow the safety guidelines. Wear protective gloves and a mask.
Step 3: Get someone to sit in the driver’s seat.
Step 4: Lift the front side of your car with the hydraulic jack. Ensure that the vehicle is securely elevated.
Step 5: Tell the helper to put the transmission into neutral. Follow the movement of the transmission bracket.
Step 6: Locate the set of two nuts on a thread a few inches behind the bracket and use the wrenches to tighten the nuts.
Step 7: Tell the helper to cycle through the gears again and track the movement of the bracket.
Step 8: Tighten again if the cable still seems too loose.
Step 9: Avoid overtightening the nuts as it can cause the cable to snap and break.
Step 10: Put the car down and test drive to make sure that the shift linkage is functioning well.
Replacing the Shift Collet
Replacing the shift collet could solve the problem of shift linkage in your Jeep Wrangler. The steps to replace the shift collet are given below.
Step 1: Gather the necessary tools. You will need a hydraulic jack, wheel chocks shock absorber bushing, scalpel or blades, washer, retaining clips, and grease.
Step 2: Use the hydraulic jack to raise the front side of your car and place the wheel chocks behind the rear wheels. Make sure that the car is tightly secured in one place.
Step 3: Locate the point where the bracket and the shift linkage connect. Remove the old and worn-out bushing.
Step 4: Measure the diameter of the linkage hole and the bracket mount.
Step 5: Adjust the bushing’s diameter with a scalpel or a knife.
Step 6: Fit the bushing on the bracket mount.
Step 7: Place a washer on the bracket mount and apply grease.
Step 8: Grease the bushing, place it in the shift linkage, and then slide it on the bracket mount.
Step 9: Place another washer over the collet.
Step 10: Use a retaining clip at the end to hold everything tightly.
Are Shift Linkage Problems Covered by the Jeep Warranty?
Jeep usually provides a 5-year or 6000-mile warranty for the transmission system on their Wrangler models and it covers the shift linkage.
Will Shift Linkage Cause the Car to Not Shift to Neutral?
Yes, shift linkage issues can cause the car to get stuck in PARK or other gears and become very difficult for the driver to shift to Neutral. This occurs due to the shift linkage failing to transfer the movement of the gearstick to the gears in the transmission system.
What Happens When Shift Linkage Breaks?
Shift linkage plays a crucial role in the car by transferring the change in the gear shift to the gears in the transmission system which means that when shift linkage breaks, it results in irregular position of gears.
This is particularly dangerous because shifting to the wrong gear can result in the car moving when it is parked which can result in terrible accidents and possible fatalities.
A damaged shift linkage cable can also prevent the car from stopping in time which can lead to serious harm to both the car and the driver.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Shift Linkage?
The cost of repairing a broken or damaged shift linkage depends on the severity of the problem. It will cost next to nothing if only the nuts on the cable need adjustment and will cost only about $50-$60 if only the bushing of the shift linkage is broken and needs replacement.
Otherwise, replacing the damaged cable entirely at a trusted workshop by a professional mechanic will cost somewhere between $400-$600 depending on labor costs in your area.
What Is a Temporary Fix for a Gear Linkage?
The most effective temporary fix for a malfunctioning gear linkage is taking a piece of rubber glove or thick plastic sheet putting it over the ball and then inserting the joint. This will be able to hold the shift linkage cable long enough to get properly fixed later.