Hey guys, hoping somebody can help me out here. I'm new to having a Cherokee but not offroading and a season back I mad the mistake of using throttle to make it up an obstacle and stomped my breaks when I began to slide back down the obstacle. As soon as I did I heard a loud popping sound and clicking coming from my transfer case. I also lost 4x4 in the front both in high and low. Now it's hard to get the lever to fully engage 4x4 low (if you can at all) and when under pressure or acceleration the transfer case will make clicking sounds and have no power. 2wd everything works fine and is quiet. I was going to order a whole new NP231 transfer case for it but before I do I wanted to see if anybody had advice or knows what I may have broke. The rig is a 2001 cherokee xj limited with a NP231 command Trac transfercase and a slip yoke eliminator. Thanks in advance for any help!

For reference the picture below was taken moments before the disaster.

 

Broken chain? The 231 is pretty easy to rebuild, so it might be worth opening it up before deciding to spend a ton of money on a replacement. You said "both part and full time", are you sure it's s 231 and not a 242 with fulltime 4wd?

 

It's a 231, both high and low 4x4. I'm thinking you're right and dropping it and just looking couldn't hurt. Gotta come out anyway.

 

So after doing a bit more research on the transfer cases and how they work in the jeep I realized why everyone is getting confused by my question. I was understanding full and part time as having high and low 4x4. I now understand that's completely off and have edited my post. My bad for the confusion still learning the trucks. However it is a 231 transfer case and i am pulling it out this weekend to open it up and see whats going on.