Factory shift light not working

[Jacob Ochs]

On the left side of my 86 2.8 gauge cluster there is an orange light pointing upwards. I found out its the shift light, the bulb is functional but the shift light never comes in. Is there a common fix to this not working as I would like it to work and come on!

[dasbulliwagen]

I just realized mine isn't working either. But I think it hasn't worked because my speedo cable isn't hooked up. At least that's what I'm going to tell myself until I install the new cable.

[Jacob Ochs]

That can't be It because my speedo cable is hooked up

[64 Cheyenne]

My question is why? Everybody knows those lights "LIE" did you ever try and always shift when the light says to upshift?

Probably won't keep doing it for long (shift when light comes on) and will probably overlook it soon, and then probably maybe wish you would have never put the effort into makin the durn thing work. IMO useless like the service reminder, or do you need that to work also? :rotf:

[64 Cheyenne]

FWIW, the light was for fuel economy, causes you to shift too soon, engine shift before power band, feels like poor performance.useless....

[87Warrior]

I actually noticed I have a shift light on my 86 2.5 the other night. Apparently some previous owner covered the light with something and enough had worn off I could see the glow in the dark.

 

Now my question is what triggers the light? The dang light would glow when going up hill when, in fact, I needed to down shift.

 

I know my TJ has an up shift light, but after 11 years I don't see it anymore.

[Jacob Ochs]

My question is why? Everybody knows those lights "LIE" did you ever try and always shift when the light says to upshift?

Probably won't keep doing it for long (shift when light comes on) and will probably overlook it soon, and then probably maybe wish you would have never put the effort into makin the durn thing work. IMO useless like the service reminder, or do you need that to work also? :rotf:

is it adjustable in any way?

[Knucklehead97]

My shift "light" is when the exhaust leak before the muffler gets to loud to bear :D

[91Pioneer]

I wouldn't worry too much about the light not working. My 88 had it, it did not work all the time and I rarely used it to know when to shift. I found shifts were smoothest when I shifted at 1,500 rpm or 2,500 rpm. Small city here, so I mainly shifted at 1,500 rpm around town.

[yxmj]

The light is not triggered by the speedo but by the engine vacuum ......on the AX tranny;s there is a 5th gear switch that de-activates the light in 5th ( cuz if it didn't you would try to shift into 6th  :doh: )