4x4?

x91j · 11-20-2009, 02:30 PM

ok so since the winter is coming in illinois i want to use my four wheel drive the only problem is idk if it works. I got the jeep about 3 months ago and the people i bought it from said it did (stupid me never tried it). i read that your t case could blow or that u could be stuck in 4x4 and it cost alot to repair so im kinda scared to try it. whats the worst that could happen if it doesnt work? its a 91 laredo with 162k on it

winston427 · 11-20-2009, 03:00 PM

The biggest issue you could have is the vacuum disconnect on the front axle not working, if your Jeep is equipped with it. 91 was the last year for the vac disco front axle and not all XJs had it. The 2 easiest ways to tell are by looking for the shift motor housing on the back side of the axle housing on the passenger side, or if you know which transfer case you have. The NP231 tcase, identified by a 2H - 4H - N - 4L shift pattern, or the NP242, identified by a 2wd - 4 part time - 4 full time - N - 4 Lo shift pattern. The NP231 will be a vac diso front axle and the NP242 will not. The problem with the vac disco axle is they are prone to vacuum leaks, broken vacuum lines, and faulty shift motors that engage the axle shaft on the axle housing.

x91j · 11-20-2009, 03:03 PM

so if i do try to put it in for wheel drive and there is something wrong will it get stuck or will i be able to just drive it as a 2wd vehicle

winston427 · 11-20-2009, 03:11 PM

It is hard to say what could happen if there is a problem until we know what tcase you have and try to diagnose what is at fault. Check to see which tcase you have first.

If you have the vac disco front axle and it is faulty, nothing will happen at all. The vac disco axles have a 2 piece passenger side axle shaft that is locked together by a collar. The collar is slide into place by a shift fork operated by vacuum when you engage the transfer case. If there are vacuum leaks, broken lines, or a defective shift motor the collar will not slide over and you will basically still be in 2wd. The non disconnect axle, with the NP242 tcase, has a one piece axle shaft on the pass side.

x91j · 11-20-2009, 03:13 PM

ok ill go check right now

x91j · 11-20-2009, 03:23 PM

its 2wd - 4 part time - 4 full time - N - 4 Lo shift pattern

but look at this

winston427 · 11-20-2009, 03:30 PM

So you have the NP242 so no worries about a faulty vacuum disconnect. The only thing I can say for now is to put it in 4 wheel drive and try it out. The 242 is a reliable tcase and usually doesn't have many issues unless neglected or severly abused. It does appear in the photo the the inspection cover on the transmission bell housing is missing. While this is not a huge problem, it should be replaced to prevent rocks or road debris from getting in there. A nice rock at highway speeds can do some nasty damage to the flexplate and torque convertor. You should be able pick one up at the local junkyard for just a few bucks.

x91j · 11-20-2009, 03:32 PM

thanks man your amazing

XJ4life92 · 11-20-2009, 03:39 PM

just remember, when you try out your np242, not to put it in 4wd in your driveway then turn out of the driveway. this is what i did when i first got mine. part time locks the front and rear differentials together. full time engages the center diff. full time is ment for road driving, and part time is only for slippery and loose offroad driving or in deep snow. if it get stuck in part time and you turn sharp, you may hear a loud pop noise. i did that the first week i got mine, and it scared the **** outta me. just make sure its in full time before you drive on the road.

4.3L XJ · 11-20-2009, 06:52 PM

The definitive way to check of the 4WD works is to engage the transfer case, drive it a few feet and wait for the light to go on if it will. Turn off the engine, put it in park and jack one front wheel off the ground about an inch. If you can turn the tire, it does not work. If the tire will not rotate, it works.

11-20-2009, 02:30 PM	#1
x91j CF Veteran Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 1,974 My Photos 1991 Cherokee Year: 1991 Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Straigh 6 Transmission: Auto Transfer Case: 242 Front Axle: D30 Rear Axle: D35 Tires: 30x9.5r15 Lift Specifications: 2 inch rough country Misc Accessories: Camo headliner, CAI	4x4? ok so since the winter is coming in illinois i want to use my four wheel drive the only problem is idk if it works. I got the jeep about 3 months ago and the people i bought it from said it did (stupid me never tried it). i read that your t case could blow or that u could be stuck in 4x4 and it cost alot to repair so im kinda scared to try it. whats the worst that could happen if it doesnt work? its a 91 laredo with 162k on it

11-20-2009, 03:00 PM	#2
winston427 Junkyard pillager Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lebanon, TN Posts: 5,336 My Photos 1991 Laredo Cherokee Year: 1991 Laredo Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Transmission: AW4 Transfer Case: NP231 Front Axle: Dana 30 3.55 soon to be 4.56 Rear Axle: 8.25 3.55, got a D44 waiting for a regear to be installed Tires: 33x12.5x15 Dunlop Mud Rovers on 15x10 black steelies Lift Specifications: 6.5 inch Misc Accessories: hours of profanity, Le Baron hood vents, ZJ tie rod, ZJ pitman arm, CSF 3 row radiator	The biggest issue you could have is the vacuum disconnect on the front axle not working, if your Jeep is equipped with it. 91 was the last year for the vac disco front axle and not all XJs had it. The 2 easiest ways to tell are by looking for the shift motor housing on the back side of the axle housing on the passenger side, or if you know which transfer case you have. The NP231 tcase, identified by a 2H - 4H - N - 4L shift pattern, or the NP242, identified by a 2wd - 4 part time - 4 full time - N - 4 Lo shift pattern. The NP231 will be a vac diso front axle and the NP242 will not. The problem with the vac disco axle is they are prone to vacuum leaks, broken vacuum lines, and faulty shift motors that engage the axle shaft on the axle housing. __________________ Why is it called common sense if it's not very common? 89 XJ 4.0, AW4, D30, D35 91 XJ 4.0, AW4, D30, 8.25 01 XJ 4.0, AW4, D30, 8.25 89 Wee J

11-20-2009, 03:11 PM	#4
winston427 Junkyard pillager Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lebanon, TN Posts: 5,336 My Photos 1991 Laredo Cherokee Year: 1991 Laredo Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Transmission: AW4 Transfer Case: NP231 Front Axle: Dana 30 3.55 soon to be 4.56 Rear Axle: 8.25 3.55, got a D44 waiting for a regear to be installed Tires: 33x12.5x15 Dunlop Mud Rovers on 15x10 black steelies Lift Specifications: 6.5 inch Misc Accessories: hours of profanity, Le Baron hood vents, ZJ tie rod, ZJ pitman arm, CSF 3 row radiator	It is hard to say what could happen if there is a problem until we know what tcase you have and try to diagnose what is at fault. Check to see which tcase you have first. If you have the vac disco front axle and it is faulty, nothing will happen at all. The vac disco axles have a 2 piece passenger side axle shaft that is locked together by a collar. The collar is slide into place by a shift fork operated by vacuum when you engage the transfer case. If there are vacuum leaks, broken lines, or a defective shift motor the collar will not slide over and you will basically still be in 2wd. The non disconnect axle, with the NP242 tcase, has a one piece axle shaft on the pass side. __________________ Why is it called common sense if it's not very common? 89 XJ 4.0, AW4, D30, D35 91 XJ 4.0, AW4, D30, 8.25 01 XJ 4.0, AW4, D30, 8.25 89 Wee J

11-20-2009, 03:23 PM	#6
x91j CF Veteran Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 1,974 My Photos 1991 Cherokee Year: 1991 Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Straigh 6 Transmission: Auto Transfer Case: 242 Front Axle: D30 Rear Axle: D35 Tires: 30x9.5r15 Lift Specifications: 2 inch rough country Misc Accessories: Camo headliner, CAI	its 2wd - 4 part time - 4 full time - N - 4 Lo shift pattern but look at this Attached Thumbnails

11-20-2009, 03:30 PM	#7
winston427 Junkyard pillager Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lebanon, TN Posts: 5,336 My Photos 1991 Laredo Cherokee Year: 1991 Laredo Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Transmission: AW4 Transfer Case: NP231 Front Axle: Dana 30 3.55 soon to be 4.56 Rear Axle: 8.25 3.55, got a D44 waiting for a regear to be installed Tires: 33x12.5x15 Dunlop Mud Rovers on 15x10 black steelies Lift Specifications: 6.5 inch Misc Accessories: hours of profanity, Le Baron hood vents, ZJ tie rod, ZJ pitman arm, CSF 3 row radiator	So you have the NP242 so no worries about a faulty vacuum disconnect. The only thing I can say for now is to put it in 4 wheel drive and try it out. The 242 is a reliable tcase and usually doesn't have many issues unless neglected or severly abused. It does appear in the photo the the inspection cover on the transmission bell housing is missing. While this is not a huge problem, it should be replaced to prevent rocks or road debris from getting in there. A nice rock at highway speeds can do some nasty damage to the flexplate and torque convertor. You should be able pick one up at the local junkyard for just a few bucks. __________________ Why is it called common sense if it's not very common? 89 XJ 4.0, AW4, D30, D35 91 XJ 4.0, AW4, D30, 8.25 01 XJ 4.0, AW4, D30, 8.25 89 Wee J

11-20-2009, 03:03 PM	#3
x91j CF Veteran Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 1,974 My Photos 1991 Cherokee Year: 1991 Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Straigh 6 Transmission: Auto Transfer Case: 242 Front Axle: D30 Rear Axle: D35 Tires: 30x9.5r15 Lift Specifications: 2 inch rough country Misc Accessories: Camo headliner, CAI	so if i do try to put it in for wheel drive and there is something wrong will it get stuck or will i be able to just drive it as a 2wd vehicle

11-20-2009, 03:13 PM	#5
x91j CF Veteran Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 1,974 My Photos 1991 Cherokee Year: 1991 Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Straigh 6 Transmission: Auto Transfer Case: 242 Front Axle: D30 Rear Axle: D35 Tires: 30x9.5r15 Lift Specifications: 2 inch rough country Misc Accessories: Camo headliner, CAI	ok ill go check right now

11-20-2009, 03:32 PM	#8
x91j CF Veteran Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 1,974 My Photos 1991 Cherokee Year: 1991 Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0 Straigh 6 Transmission: Auto Transfer Case: 242 Front Axle: D30 Rear Axle: D35 Tires: 30x9.5r15 Lift Specifications: 2 inch rough country Misc Accessories: Camo headliner, CAI	thanks man your amazing

11-20-2009, 03:39 PM	#9
XJ4life92 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: south-eastern P.A. Posts: 107 My Photos 1992 Cherokee Year: 1992 Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.0L H/O Transmission: aw4 Transfer Case: NP242 Front Axle: d 30 Rear Axle: dana 35 (dmn ABS) Tires: goodyear wranglers Lift Specifications: stock for now Misc Accessories*: subs sometimes, pro comp es3000.	just remember, when you try out your np242, not to put it in 4wd in your driveway then turn out of the driveway. this is what i did when i first got mine. part time locks the front and rear differentials together. full time engages the center diff. full time is ment for road driving, and part time is only for slippery and loose offroad driving or in deep snow. if it get stuck in part time and you turn sharp, you may hear a loud pop noise. i did that the first week i got mine, and it scared the **** outta me. just make sure its in full time before you drive on the road. __________________ "Crap...that was deeper then it looked!". A jeep only gets old if you let it.

11-20-2009, 06:52 PM	#10
4.3L XJ CF Veteran Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Chico, CA Posts: 2,143 My Photos 1986 Cherokee Year: 1986 Model: Cherokee Engine: 4.3L with headers and full 3" exhaust system Transmission: 4L60E with manual lockout. Transfer Case: Atlas 4 speed with 2.7, 3.8 and 10.38 Front Axle: D30 going to Toyota 8.25 with ARB Rear Axle: D35 going to Toyota 8.25 with ARB Tires: 31X10.50X15 going to 38s Lift Specifications: 7.5" RE coils on homegrown longarm, Tereflex high steer, bastard pack rear. Misc Accessories: Warn 9.5ti, a bag of goodies and custom onboard air	The definitive way to check of the 4WD works is to engage the transfer case, drive it a few feet and wait for the light to go on if it will. Turn off the engine, put it in park and jack one front wheel off the ground about an inch. If you can turn the tire, it does not work. If the tire will not rotate, it works.

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