I have a 96 ZJ with a 4.0 and a 42RE and I am trying to pinpoint my problem.

I have done a lot of reading and there are so many familiars but none have nailed it..

When I shift from reverse to drive it seems to take a long time to engage. Once engaged, then it will work normal(except for the slipping from 1st to 2nd issue), sometimes and sometimes it just continues to slip and not full engage.

If I start out in low, it will shift perfect manually to 3rd (except for the slipping from 1st to 2nd with a hard throttle).

If I try to hammer accelerator from dead stop in drive or 1st, it will shudder then once I feather throttle slightly, it will grab and go.
Then the shift to 2nd is a severe slip with throttle hammered so a slight feather then a full engage. 3rd and OD are working great.

Now, I have changed out the fluid and filter. I have not adjusting the bands as I do not have an in/lb torque wrench but looking into investing in one.
I have tried the TV cable adjustment.

I have seen a frequent mention of the governor sensor and solenoid but not sure if they are my problem.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated...

Thanx for the noob support as I have learned a lot from everyone in here...

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you did put in ATF+4 right

it sounds like your sensor could be on its way out, i've read up quite a bit on the 42RE as i've virtually killed mine, I've cracked it and all...

my 42RE ALWAYS does slow shifts to 2nd at aggressive throttle, if its not so heavy it usually shifts just fine, not noticeably slow, its a jeep after all not a mustang

as far as extreme slippage, my jeep does ALL the above symptoms when the fluid level is low, if it sits in park for a day or two without driving it (and the fluid is low as the pan itself) it HATES me for the first 10 minutes of driving, slipping like crazy, revving up but not kicking down just a headache...

the governor pressure switch usually triggers check engine lights, and forces the jeep into limp mode, where you have no kickdowns or downshifts at the light, once it gets to 3rd it stays there, but will switch between 3rd and 4th... if you move the lever down it may shift to second, and i have to shift it just before coming to a complete stop to get 1st gear, you can usually feel it downshift so you know your in 1st.

id just double check the fluid level with it running warmed up after a ride down the block and see where its at, id see if maybe some lucas trans fix would help, or some seafoam transtune to remove any moisture that might have got into it... make sure its ATF+4 in it, and see if its throwing any codes...

turn the key to on (not start) off, on, off, on and the odometer should display codes, write them down if any show up, might not have any it'll just say done...

 

Yes these 42RE's are quite the headache. I have read that some people have been fortunate enough to have fixed their's and had no trouble since...

I do follow instructions well and did use ATF +4 Mobile1 Synthetic.I will check the codes again to confirm. I didn't get to adjust the bands but would like to try that...I don't have any lights coming on the dash for trouble codes. The fluid was used but not bad...There was a fair amount of gray shavings on the magnet and the bottom of pan.

Apparently the PO towed his 24' trailer with it so that may have worn everything down. So I'm hoping a band adjustment will help. If I shift manually from 1st through the gears she shifts normally as long as I ease of the throttle between shifts. The overdrive button responds normally.

But.....If I try and take shift from reverse to drive, she just sits there for a long time then may engage but does a lot of slipping and won't shift up so I have to do it manually.

Now...Once I have moved through the gears and I keep her in drive, lights and stop signs are no problem for upshifting automatically except of course if I hammer it she will sliiiiip into the next gear..

Automatic downshifts at intersections are flawless..

Thanx for your insight crazy....

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