Treebeard

Good evening,

This is my first post and it's a tech problem ha! There seems to be a bunch of knowledgeable people here so I jumped in!

I have an 01 auto XJ and the 2H and 4H do not engage. I was traveling in ice with 4H and I grinded to a stop. 4L still worked so I was able to get home thank God. If I put the Jeep in Drive in 2H or 4H it grinds and doesn't move. Any idea where I should begin?

Thanks for your time!

ajpulley

Which TC do you have?

You may try crawling underneath to see if the linkage attached to the 4WD lever came loose. Perhaps it has slipped, and is misaligned now?

If it works in 4L, then you've narrowed the problem down to the transfer case.

Treebeard

It hasn't been replaced before so I'm assuming whatever is stock on a 4.0.

ajpulley

Well, which stock transfer case do you have? Does it have the full-time and part-time 4H, or only part-time?

Treebeard

When in 4H part time is displayed for sure.

ajpulley

Look on the display, next to the handle. What is on it?

DFlintstone

AJ, sometimes we call that the "Bezel" , (no idea why). Treebeard, the 231 has the 4 high and low options you mention. A 242 is different with a "Full time" option.

Treebeard

Thanks, got it. I'll make a note of that in doing my research.

DFlintstone

Just look at the bezel. If it only has 4 high, and 4 low it's a 231. The 242 has five options, including "full time", for on pavement with the TC working sort of like a normal differential. A 242 in full-time won't bind any mote then a non posy rear end will in any rig. It just evenly distributes, one end spins? Fine. Sort of boils down to three wheel drive I suppose. if one wheel, front or back, in full-time can spin, no torque is going to the other three. Till then it's "all wheel drive"

In "part time" both 231 and 242 T-Cases "lock" , the power out the front and rear drive-lines. This means if say a front hits ice, torque will still go to the rears, or vice versa. Note that without limited slip, or locking differential's, whichever end is getting torque from the TC will spin freely if it can.

Upshot, even "locked" in 4 WD if one front and one rear, both can't get a grip, you stop. In "Full time", Only one of four leaves you stopped. That's what Pozzy, and "limited slip" Diffs are all about. Applying torque to wheels that might freewheel otherwise.

A bit toasted, leaving this lengthy dissertation I want to mention. If yer stuck, try applying your emergency, parking brake. Stopping the spinning wheel can transfer more torque to the other wheel that might have traction. The engine still has power. This is true and does work in the right place, I've done it.