1989 Cherokee Sport 5spd 4.0

My lever is floppy between 2H and 4H. I was wondering what the steps are in shifting from 2H to 4H as I am pretty sure I am not transitioning between the two. Furthermore it feels like I am always in 4H, with a noticeable 'tug' while turning at slow speeds. While driving a moderate trail a few days ago I definitely felt like my 4H was working but shifting from 2H to 4H I never felt or heard anything that resembled a positive shift.

Anyone?

 

sounds like the t-case is not shifting out of 4x4, this happens to NP231s when they get old...chain stretches, or sprokets get worn? Mine did that, I swapped in another NP231 I had. I took the old one apart and looked at it, the chain was wrapping around a sprocket or something, couldnt quite figure out what was going on, but didnt really worry about it.

 

It sounds like the shift linkage under your Jeep has gotten sloppy, or there is issues with the shift forks or the main shaft they slide on inside of the T case. Look under your Jeep and make sure all the rubber bushings are still in side the holes that the linkage ends push into.

Check out this link, i just when thru problems with my 242 T case....

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/suc...g-4-lo-120724/

 

Ill check it out in the morning, thanks

 

So I crawled under her this morning. Found that the linkage was not connected. I got it connected an shifted it into 4H with positive connection. I fear though, it has the potential to unconnected itself again as the boot/retainer is pretty worn.
So there is no way I was ever in 4WD. Which is good to know.

 

Here's what it looked like.

 

From what i can see from your pic's, it look like the mounting/pivot point that attaches to the side of your transmission has wore out. It looks like the rubber bushing that holds the linkage into place has rotted out, or just plain broke. If it was me, i would just go to my local Jeep stealership, and pick up a new rubber bushing kit that holds all the 4 wheel drive linkage into place.

It sucks, but you can always climb under your Jeep and shift the T case into 4 wheel drive manually bye hand until you get the linkage bushings replaced.

It the lever on the T case is all the way out, or the lever pushed all the way forward towards you motor, that is 2 wheel drive, 1 click back towards the rear of your Jeep is 4WD Part time, 2 clicks back is 4WD Full Time, which is really the position you want your T case in for everyday driving in 4WD.

 

It is definitely the little rubber grommet. I managed to force it into it's position and am able to shift fine. Maybe with a lot of banging and bouncing it will come out again, but until I get a new hardware pack for it, it shouldwork. I've only got 2H 4H N 4L. It is my understanding that the part time full time is an option my XJ doesn't have

 

That is correct. Part-time/full-time option came with the NP242 transfer case which is found in some Cherokees and Grand Cherokees