I am interested in purchasing a 2000 Jeep Cherokee sport. I took it on a test drive and put it into 4 wheel drive (While stopped) while in 4x4 I started to drive and when I made a turn the car made this loud clanking sound, kind of like how an old wooden roller coaster sounds when its ticking up to the top of the track. The mechanic who's car it was assured me this was normal, he claims you are not supposed to make sharp turns while this car is in 4 wheel drive or it makes that terrible noise. It was making this noise even on slight turns as well. We then stopped and took it out of 4 wheel drive and it would not come out, after 5 minutes of driving in 4x4 it finally popped out on its own and the noise went away while in regular 2 wheel drive.

I'm assuming the jeep is not supposed to make this noise while in 4x4 and this guy has no idea what he is talking about?

 

It sounds like it may need new u-joints, which is not hard to do. Also, depending on what transfer case you have, you're not supposed to engage 4-wheel-drive on dry surfaces.

 

Dry surfaces or dry pavement?

 

You shouldn't be using 4x4 on Dry surfaces with no give, ie-pavement, asphalt, concrete etc. Dry dirt and gravel is fine. The clunking was normal as it was causing binding while trying to turn (assuming it is a part time case (np231)) if it had a full time case (np242) then it is more acceptable to use it on the dry roads although still not recommended. As for it not disengaging, there are some tricks to that some times. Neutral and a small bit of forward rolling can assist with it coming out. Our the linkage could be in need of adjustment.

 

any dry non-slip surface. so, pavement, slickrock, or the like.

 

Yes, that is exactly what bad U-Joints on the front do. I actually put up with mine clacking for a very long time since I only use 4WD if I get stuck.

In 4WD the front's and rears can get in a bind so it cant come out of 4WD. Usually backing up does the trick. That would apply to "part time", not so sure about "full time" though. If it only has 4 high and 4 low, it was in "part time"

 

That's one thing I like about these older XJ's you can still work on them to a certain degree yourself.

 

And, it wasn't shifted properly into or out of 4 wheel drive:

Here's how the factory suggests you shift the transfer case and I've been doing this since these things were new and I worked at the dealership. Quoted from the owner's manual. The suggestions in ITALICS are mine.

"To engage, shift the transfer case lever from 2H to 4H while the vehicle is moving at any legal speed". I let off the gas, throw the lever, and then tap the gas and let off.

4L position: " To engage, slow the vehicle to 2-3 MPH , shift the transmission to Neutral, then shift the transfer lever to the right and pull firmly rearward to 4L".

To shift out of 4L, shift the transmission into neutral with the vehicle stopped, shift the transfer case lever to 2H, then to D if you have an automatic, or into first gear with a manual, and continue on.


Revised 01-31-2014

 

Thanks for the info guys, very helpful!

 

Does the axle have a locker in it?

 

To find out if its U-joints. Put it into 4wd, Lift the front up on Jack Stands so the wheels are free, if the U-joints are good the front wheels shouldnt spin at all(when locked in 4x4). If they are bad the wheels will spin a little (1/8th of a turn? or around that amount), when mine were bad I had some pretty serious clanking in 4wd and It would shake the Jeep a lot, even on snow. My new 99 has the 231 and it starts to hop when its in 4wd on dry pavement, but it doesnt make odd noises.