Ceraquin

I have a couple issues with a 1997 XJ Sport that I just bought last month. This is my first Jeep so I don't know all the specs about it and I didnt get a manual for it either to look up some stuff.

My first issue is I dont know if the 4wd works. When I put it in 4-hi the dash light doesnt come on and it doesnt shift past 4-hi. I have no idea what type of t-case it has. As far as I know everything is stock.

My second issue started the other day after steering into a fishtail. When I make a sharp turn at a intersection or anything the tire feels like it is going to fall off. It drives fine when Im going straight so I dont think its the death wobble but there is def something going on.

Any advice or ideas as to what it could be would be greatly appreciated. I dont want to drive it feeling like the tire is gonna fall off especially with my daughter me.

TIA

Xj88

Advice:

Get under it and see whats causing your tire to feel like its going to fall off.
Could be a plethora of things.. trac bar, tie rod, allignment, ball joints, hub unit, anything.

If your shift lever for your 4wd has a FULL TIME option then you have the NP242, if not you have the NP231..

Ceraquin

I am rather inexperienced working on vehicles and have no idea what I am looking for or what something wrong would look like. As for the t-case I have no idea if there is a full time or part time. This is my first 4wd vehicle ever.

97jeepxj40

You can see what transfer case you have by looking at the shift lever. You noticed it said 4-HI, have a look and see if it says "full time" anywhere. As Xj88 said... if full time is not labelled next to the lever, you have the NP231 transfer case.


Good luck.

Ceraquin

Ok I will have to borrow a friends jack to check that out and thanks for the video. So how can I find out if my 4wd works and why wont it go past 4-hi?

97jeepxj40

Not sure about going past 4-hi, but you should be able to tell if it works by making a tight turn on the road with 4x4 engaged. The front wheels should start to bind. Don't do this much though - just as a quick test. The 4x4 on the NP231 case shouldn't be used on dry solid surfaces. Only for loose ground where you are likely to loose traction.

PocketsEmpty

Again, as others mentioned....LOOK AT YOUR 4x4 SHIFTER. Do you see a full-time option? That will help us help you...I know the basic Cherokee models didn't have the indicator light (correct me if I'm wrong, someone) but yours being a Sport should. There's a plug that hooks into the t-case for the sensor. maybe it's unplugged or dirty?

When you say it "doesnt shift past 4 hi" do you mean you physically can't shift it? If so, might be a problem with your linkage.

Ceraquin

Im gonna go out and look right now but it physically will not go past 4-hi. I can not move it past it.

Ceraquin

Ok so on the shifter it doesn't say full-time or part-time but on the dash there is a spot that would light up that says part-time full-time and an up arrow. When I tried to shift it into 4wd you can hear something moving when I put it in and out of 4-hi but the shifter will not move past 4-hi into neutral or 4-lo at all

PocketsEmpty

Sounds like you probably have the 231 then. Try putting your transmission in neutral (apply parking brake first), and then try shifting into N or 4-lo.

DieselD

This.

Plus remember you have to push the tcase handle a bit to the right like the shift pattern on the bezel.

Ceraquin

I did not know that thanks!!! I will try it out right now!!

Ceraquin

So I can totally shift past 4-hi. I didnt know you had to move the shifter. This is my first 4wd ever.

97jeepxj40

Good! Glad you got it sorted

DieselD

Lol. Somehow I knew that was it. Try the simplest solution first.

Glad that worked for you.

Now go get it muddy.