Ok I have been reading thru the forums and keep coming across this transmission. from what i read its not too hot of a model. How does one identify if I have this bad boy in my jeep? Im a noob at jeeps but so far im really loving it!!

 

scrtach this Question.......found the tech/specs page for grand cherokees......like i said noob comin thru!!!
Thanks for the site again!!

 

The 96-98 NP249 T-case isn't a bad case. Its the earlier model 93-95 NP249s that are a bad case. Only disadvantage is not having 2 wheel drive.

 

Awesome thanks!!!

 

Not having 2WD if it is a DD will wear the front out faster also...

 

I keep reading this.. what makes the 96+ a better TC? I dont doubt ya... i'm just uninformed..i know the VC is the culprit in earlier models.

 

In the pre 96 249s, the viscous coupler sensed slipage in the rear and then increased power to the front axle in both high range and low range. In the 96-98, it works the same in high range, but the front and rear axles are locked together with 50% power going to both in low range. A much better setup. The VC tends to fail somewhere between 100,000 and 130,000 miles.

 

100-130,000.....damn my zj got about 350,000 km on it....

 

I have about 178,000 miles or 286463 km on mine!

 

Well, mine went at 110,000. I've heard of several say theirs went in that 100,000 to 130,000 mile range. There are exceptions to everything. Let me rephrase it. "The VC is prone to failure somewhere between 36,000 miles (the warrantee period) and 350,000 miles". Now that should about cover it don't you think? The point is, that the VC is the weak link in the 249 TC. It is the strongest of the ZJ TCs, but has that one weakness. At some pont it will fail. It's still a great case, but with very little after market support.

 

Lol, i wasn't trying to prove you wrong or anything, just stating I am lucky so far with that much mileage on mine! Wanting to do a t-case swap but for me I'm not gonna throw money at it till it breaks!

 

I know you didn't mean anything by it. Lol, That was just the first thing that came to my mind. I was chuckling as I wrote it. It's still a pretty good case.

 

If it makes you feel any better mine went somewhere around 110,000.

 

Current date 11Dec2017. 212399 miles on my 1995 ZJ factory 249 transfer.

 

The transfer case is not bad and a rather strong one, but in my zj with 230,000+ miles (370,000 km) the transmission that its married too seems to be getting week. Is that a normal thing for my beloved gen one grand cherokee?