bgdog21

2002 jeep Cherokee limited. Sorry I am new here and kinda confused on how to post.

Dumajones

Yep,,**** happens..

bgdog21

Just bought a 2002 jeep Cherokee limited and the 4x4 is stuck in all time, everything is good its just the plastic piece of the shifter to switch back and forth between 4low and 4high etc. How do I fix this?

PatHenry

2002 Cherokee? Do you live outside the U.S? The XJ's last model year was 2001. The KJ was branded "Cherokee" outside the U.S. and "Liberty" inside the U.S.

Either way, I think you need to go to a junkyard to find a new shift lever or you can look for an aftermarket one on Quadratec or other aftermarket parts sites. You might find one on EBay as well.

You can crawl underneath and manually push the selector on the transfer case to switch it until you're able to get a new lever. If the lever broke off though - you might have some severe rust and might want to completely replace the linkage as well as the lever so it doesn't break again.

bgdog21

Thanks PatHenry I appreciate that. I am new here and its kinda hard navigating through here.

PatHenry

No worries -- ahh Grand Cherokee... why I always forget that most obvious of cases I do not know.

Yeah, so you can definitely crawl under and manipulate the lever. It'll be tight, so you may need a big screwdriver or something to push or a firm grasp on the linkage (being careful not to pinch your fingers) to move it. If the linkage is seized (which would explain why the lever would be broken) you can disconnect the linkage at any of the joints.. I wedged them apart with a screwdriver when doing the clutch on my XJ and pressed them back together with slip joint pliers.
There are a bunch of really GREAT aftermarket linkage kits to replace the rather obnoxious and sloppy OEM linkage.

You can drive in "Full time 4wd" without worries - a lot of folks with the full-time capability do just leave it in 4wd all the time.

bgdog21

That was my other worry, did not know if I could drive in full time till I can get a new shift assembly. Again I appreciate the help.

PatHenry

Yep - so long as it's FULL-TIME and not part-time. In part time you'd know something was wrong since there's a very distinct "tugging" feeling when turning on dry surfaces. When I was test driving my 95 prior to purchase I wanted to verify the 4wd was working and there was no snow or off-road spot to test so I threw it in part-time 4wd (it doesn't have the full-time option) and slowly drove forward and turned the wheel. As soon as I felt the tug I was satisfied it was working so I put it back in 2H and bought it.

Edit --- ONE caution with the 4wd - don't put different sized tires on it while it's in 4wd. I don't know if it's AS dangerous if you have full-time as it is for part-time, but I wouldn't put an off-sized spare or something like that on when in 4wd.

dave1123

The 2002 WJ shifts with a cable so he may have just snapped the shifter off at the gate. He can pull the cable clip off at the t-case lever and shift it from there to anything he wants to run in. I think all the way forward is 2wd.