JK Wrangler Transfer Case Linkage Cable Disconnect

[Max]

This is a community service message for JK owners!

If you go to shift your transfer case and it suddenly feels loose and flips back and forth with no or almost no effort, your cable may have come undone. Apparently this is a common problem, but one that somehow I have not heard about. I know it happens with older models, mine is a 2009, but I can't confirm if it affects 2012-13's.

This happened to me and it took a long time to figure out what went wrong and how to get access to the part. This is bad because depending on what gear it slipped of in, you're either not going to be able to complete the trail, or not drive home safely.

If it feels completely loose, the cable is probably disconnected at the shifter in the passenger compartment. If it still feels like there is some resistance, then it may have come loose under the Jeep by the transfer case.

You can remove the one Torx bolt on the driver's side on the center console where the shifter is and pry it up and hold it open with a small flashlight. A quick trail fix with no tools for the shifter link is to simply hold it on with your finger and shift. Some suggest you have to remove the whole center console including both transfer case and transmission shift knobs, but I had luck with it this way.

A quick fix for the undercarriage link is to hold it on with a zip tie or tape and shift it to the desired gear. This one is a lot easier with a friend that can work the shifter while you hold the cable on with your hand. Photo 1 is disconnected, photo 2 is held on at yellow part.

The OEM part number for the plastic clip is 68064273AA. There area few stronger fixes out there using metal parts if you Google this problem.

Hopefully this saves someone the stress it caused me. Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can make any part more clear.

Cheers,
Max

[Max]

Here is another picture of the zip tie fix under the Jeep, and what it looks like when it's disconnected under the center console.

[Tom]

Thanks Max. I was aware of the problem but your description , fix and pix will be helpful.

[Popsgarage]

Common problem. Shifter cable is a bit out of alignment with the transfer case arm which places pressure on the coupling, causing them to separate. I think Kory had this happen to him at China Wall a couple of years ago. Kind of a bad design not having a keeper pin holding it together. Silly Jeep engineers.

[carpenle]

Silly Jeep engineers :thumb:

That is funny, I like the temp. fix and thanks for the info.

[Popsgarage]

Double shear works best in any case. When in single shear, they should have known something would happen with that goofy plastic retainer.

[Tom]

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?67478-Transfer-Case-Shifter-Cable-Report-to-Jeep-and-NHTSB

http://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?17263-JK-Transfer-case-linkage

Think I'm going to buy a couple and carry em.

http://www.jeep4x4center.com/mopar-transfer-case-shift-cable-retainer-clip-68018106aa.html

[Max]

Think I'm going to buy a couple and carry em.

http://www.jeep4x4center.com/mopar-t...8018106aa.html

That's not the part in question here. I listed the part number in the first post. I believe the clip in this link is to hold the whole cable up.

[glacierpaul]

I saw this on jeepforum awhile back. Thanks for the post here! Def. need to order the back up part, already carry zipties with me.

[ColoJeeper]

Thanks for the post. I am familiar with this, and keep a couple spares in the glovebox just in case this happens to me again. I have also had the cable break on me, not sure what caused that to happen. Here is the better fix for this problem, though it does cost a couple hundred dollars.

http://www.advanceadapters.com/products/715596--heavy-duty-jk-cable-shifter-upgrade/

[Max]

I just posted a write up on how I fixed mine.

[Tom]

Got mine. $3.50 each @ Prestiege Chrysler in Longmont. Online they want $10 just for shipping.

2012 JKU console come a part a lot differently. Top section just pops off using a interior trim tool. To get it completely off though you have to remove the tcase shifter knob.

[Max]

Yeah, I went in and asked for 6. The guy asked if I was sure, because they are $3.50 >:0 I said no, I just want 2.

[ForumAdmin]

Max, a kind gent, Geoff in Michigan, wishes to send a message of thanks for this issue...

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I just to thank a member (Max) for their thread on the shifter cable coming loose. (https://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?19489-JK-Wrangler-Transfer-Case-Linkage-Cable-Disconnect). I was in the middle of the UP with barely any reception, 6 hours from home, when my transfer case shifter went limp. I was looking for images of the transfer case to get an idea if I could shift it manually from underneath or see what went wrong when images from this thread came up. I read through the thread and the troubleshooting pointed me *exactly* to the problem, complete with photos and a fix. Saved me a *giant* headache and potentially tow bill, so I just wanted to be able to thank them.

I miss the old days of forums before everyone migrated to FB and the like. Wanted to shout out that they still held merit!

[Max]

That's great! It's funny reading something I wrote eleven years ago! I'm glad it helped someone.