Four 98 LTD 4.0 litre issues
 

I have a Cherokee 98 LTD with the 4 Litre engine. I bought it a few weeks back and posted about a problem getting it stuck in 4 wheel drive. Changed the oil and used it a bit and it is fine however...

1. If I use the 4WD for any length of time I get a grinding noise. It has been suggested that it may need a new CV boot or a clutch plate? Anyone had this problem be able to clarify?

2. I've got an intermittent reverse light problem, it doesn't come on in reverse but I've seen it on once as I was reversing towards a mirror.

3. I'm getting the sound of a cog turning just under where the 2WD/4WD selector stick is, could this relate to my grinding? It doesn't sound too smooth.

4. I got a picture of a key with a cross through it came up on my dash but disappeared after turn the ignition off and back on, driving down the road 5 minutes later the airbag light came on and the speedo and rev counter just stopped and returned to zero.

Any help greatfully received!

Al

You may have a problem with your transfer case. I would advise checking the fluid for color and metal flakes. Your reverse light problem sounds like the beginning of a neutral safety switch malfunction. Be careful with this one, your Jeep may not start sometime and you'll need to put it in Neutral to get it to start. Your third issue is probably related to your transfer case issue. The fourth issue, the key with a cross through it, sounds like it could be a security issue, like your ignition switch is going bad - which could also explain the random lights in the dash and the speedometer/tachometer problem. I'm not a mechanic, and maybe some other members can sound off too. Good luck.

I agree with the op as far as you first 3 issues, the fourth ,it souns like you have a bad connection at the back of the cluster(use the search function on here) the key with the slash through it was for vehicles with sentry key (chipped keys) and that didn't happen here untill the year 2000. And i'm not sure if they did it in any other markets. The other thought is do you know the history of the jeep? If the po has built this from many others you may now have a "gohst" due to mix and match compnents and modules.
sorry for the long winded post..... Good luck!!

agreed ......start at the TC sounds like it might be it...but its hard to diagnose by "grinding or bad noise" .... its a jeep, they always talk back........your spider gears could be damaged, or maby a spicer u-joint....only one way to find out....

Cheers for the replies, it's really appreciated guys. I've taken it to a 4X4 specialist with a print out from this page, should find out the extent of the problem soon!