I've burned up all my AAA free tows till July of this year. Can't figure out what is going on with this thing. It is now a risk to take anywhere.

What it does is get stuck in first and will not shift to second. It will run like new then out of the blue stop at a light or in a parking lot and bam first gear is it. Let it set overnight and next day runs like new again till it breaks.

Any suggestions? I'm gonna pull PCM module and clean it up as well as the plugs. The manual shift mode never worked, and the D light in the shift column is out or doesn't work(never has). Sometimes when it gets stuck it will flash N on the shift column while in D. Would like to get all of that stuff working, but mainly the shifting problem is a must. Very dangerous trying to go down the road 10-15MPH.

maybe see if radesignsproducts.com can build you a sporty 5 speed manual shifter with a real shift pattern. Run that till you get the auto TCM sorted out


???????

Anyone used one of those repair services on ebay for ecu tcm modules or know of a company that does this? May not even be the problem, but gonna have to start throwing parts at this thing looks like and use process of elimination.

When it runs correctly now it shifts perfectly smooth at the correct rpms. Leads me to believe the actual hardware of the tranny is solid. The problem must be with the controls otherwise it would be broken all the time.

Still got the 2001 montero limited. Tried to sell last year nobody bit. Even when had it marked down to 1200 bucks wouldn't go any lower. Amazingly the shifting/shutter tranny problem went away last year on it's own. My theory one of the clogged hydraulic lines inside the tranny unclogged itself. Ever since it shifts like a new one.

The cranking issue is the only thing keeping it from being daily driver now. I'm at a loss on this one. Replaced everything still randomly decides not to turn over. You let it sit for couple hours or maybe 15 minutes it fires right up. Sometimes you can just shift it to neutral and it cranks. No pattern or logical troubleshooting step identifies the cause. Drove it for almost entire week couple months ago no issue then that Saturday drove up to best buy and it decided to stay there no crank. Got it towed to the house and right after they dropped it off in the driveway it cranked right up.

So I dug up this old thread to see if anyone has a suggestion on the cranking issue.

Check the shifter mechanical adjustments/positioning. I'm not familiar with the mechanical alignment of yours, but, I have seen issues with Cherokees where transmission mount flex can allow enough physical shifting to not allow proper release of a safety interlock with the result of engine will not turnover.

It is also a noted problem with column mounted shift levers where alignment of components can shift causing intermittent problems.

Well I'm thinking starter now. Had it not start while at the house and verified all the connectors in the shift lever were connected and in good shape. I can hear the solenoid trigger just does not turn over. After about 40-50 tries the starter out of nowhere cranks the truck up exactly the way its supposed to right after the solenoid click is heard.. My theory is I have a re-manufacture starter that has a dead spot. Seen it before when starter spins down after cranking on the dead spot even with full voltage battery it will not turn next try. Then bumping it with the switch creates just enough contact outside the dead spot to turn over. The one I had before with this issue you could also whack the starter with a piece of pipe and get her to turn over. Unfortunately you cannot get a piece of pipe in there to accomplish this on the montero.So now I need a good starer to prove my theory.

Sounds like progress!!!!

NEW Amazon Starter on the way. Last couple cranking tries I can actually hear the starter electric motor spin up just not engage the flywheel. Pulled up a youtube video of a mechanic that said this was a very common issue with Mits starters. The gear that spins the flywheel slides up the shaft of the starter motor locks the gear to the flywheel then spins starting the motor. Whole process starts with the solenoid kicking that gear mechanism in place. He said usually the internal gear that sends the flywheel gear up the shaft becomes wore down and will no longer lock it at the top of the shaft. Result no crank.

Is this the one you tried to drown? If so, did you replace the starter since? Might gave dirty contacts. Couple bolts to check that.