1997 XJ, np231, 208,000 miles

Recently if I shift into 4HI the Jeep will run for 100 yards than this awful grinding/whirring noise occurs and the Jeep won't move forward until I slam it back into 2WD. This happened once last year and hasn't happened since and now it has happened every time I shift into 4wd, rendering it essentially useless. I live in the mountains and drive through the snow on regular basis and need to get this sorted out sooner than later.

Adjust the linkage? Transfer case is toast?

I changed the fluid last year, didn't notice anything out of the ordinary with the old fluid.

Thanks for any help

 

Linkage needs adjusting.

 

Thanks, hoping that's all it is.

I just ordered the Boostwerks linkage and we will see.

 

If you find yourself in a situation where you absolutely need 4wd, you can either play with the shifter to see if going a little past 4H gets it to engage or you can crawl under and push it into 4H manually.

Keep us posted - I'm contemplating a boostwerks linkage myself if I even get a hint of not being able to get it into 4wd.

 

As stated above it's just an adjustment issue. Make sure your motor and transmission mounts are good though. The linkage is fixed to the body and to the transmission so if there is too much movement in the drivetrain it can cause it to come out of 4wd as well. I have a boostwerks linkage and it's been great except for when I had an issue with drivetrain movement and it would pop out of 4wd, but that was not the linkage's fault.

 

Thanks for mentioning the motor/tranny mounts. Motor mounts were done last year but the tranny mount is still original. Ill replace it as well while I'm under there. Going to start with the simple things before tearing into the case.

 

Changed the transmission mount last night. It wasn't in terrible condition but the new one is definitely better.

I also tried to adjust the linkage to get me by until the Boostwerks linkage gets here but it couldn't get it to adjust much.

Still have the grinding noise more often or not. It will go in and then after awhile the horrible grinding starts.

If I rest my hand on the lever, I can feel it almost catch on something internally and then it pops out and I hear the loud grinding. So I'm really hoping the linkage is just all out of wack.

Expecting 2ft of snow before Monday and no consistent 4wd. Yay.

 

To properly adjust it you loosen the bolt on the slider and then you put the transfercase in 4 low and then put the inside shifter in 4 low and then tighten the bolt. If the bushings are extremely worn out it should work.

 

Yeah, that's what I did. The lever inside the car didn't seem to need to move down in either direction on that slider. TCase was in 4Lo and lever was in 4Lo

 

Not sure why it wouldn't adjust then, that worked great for my Cherokee and a guy's TJ I helped adjust.