Just yesterday started having shifting problems with the rubicon. I believe it is the shift motor. My question is with the shift motor removed should the shaft of the shift motor be real easy to move? This one started to make much louder shifts(in ESP) and would sometimes not shift at all so I removed the shift motor but the shaft of the motor is very difficult to move by hand and has kind of a notchy feel to its movement. I hooked it up to a 12 volt source and it turns but make a lot of noise. Thanks

 

Sounds like you have the problem in hand. Never had mine apart so I wouldn't know what the feel is suppossed to be. But if it loud then is probably bad.

 

I would take it apart and clean the commutator bars , check the bearing & put a spot of grease on the bushing ..

 

I'll update this for anyone that may care, but what I discovered when I took the shift motor apart there are 2 magnets that look to be basically glued to the inside of the motor housing and one of them had come off not allowing the motor to turn freely and grinding up the magnet somewhat. I replaced the motor and now it shifts like new.