[nychairs]

1998 Grand Cherokee Laredo, ZJ, 4.0 V6.

I can pull the 4WD shifter back but no dash lights and it does not go into 4WD. I replaced the mode selector switch on the T-Case, no luck.

I jacked up the front end and I can turn the front drive shaft and the tires rotate in opposite directions like they should.

It has an NP242J T-Case. Just wondering if anyone has seen similar problems. I am going to open the case up the next sunny day (calling for snow here today). Could it be as simple as a broken drive chain or is the non-working dash lights indicative of something worse?

Thanks.
-Rich

[jeepheller98]

have you checked the linkage? will it go into 4 lo?

[nychairs]

What should I be looking for with regard to the linkage? I just bought the jeep and this is my first foray into working on a 4WD system. I could not get the lever to pull back to N or Lo, the transmission was in N, but the jeep was stopped at the time.

[Kruzin]

You should be in drive and rolling 2-3 mph when you try to shift to 4-LO (can shift into 4PT or 4FT at driving speeds).

I agree, check the linkage. Look at the pivot arm. It's bushings have a tendancy to wear out, causing mis-adjustment. Have someone shift it while you are under there, and look for slop in the movement.

[CanadianZed-J]

Do what they said and you can also disconnect the linkage from underneath and manually push or pull the rod into 4Lo and try it then.

Though you've shifted into 4Hi and the front wheels didn't turn? Nevermind the dummy light on the dash. The system is entirely mechanical and the dummy lights and their switches often fail.



CZJ.

[nychairs]

I have not put the whole thing on stands to see what happens when in 4HI. I determined it wasn't working since I tried flooring it on my gravel drive and only the back tires spun. I also tried a hard turn and it did not skip.

Are there any good write-ups with pics of the linkage adjustment procedure?

[ratmonkey]

Originally Posted by Kruzin

You should be in drive and rolling 2-3 mph when you try to shift to 4-LO (can shift into 4PT or 4FT at driving speeds).

I agree, check the linkage. Look at the pivot arm. It's bushings have a tendancy to wear out, causing mis-adjustment. Have someone shift it while you are under there, and look for slop in the movement.

DO NOT attempt to shift into 4lo while in drive, you'll grind the ever loving crap out of your transfer case. it will NOT go into 4lo unless the transmission is in park or neutral.

there is an adjustment collar on the linkage, unscrew the bolt a bit, put the shift tab on the transfercase pointing forward and down(obviously), and the lever inside all the way forward to 2hi. snug the bolt down and it should shift. if it doesn't then you have some internal tcase problems.
4hi ft/pt can be shifted to on the fly at any reasonable speed. 4lo you must be in park or preferrably neutral rolling at 3-5mph and yank back on it hard.

[CanadianZed-J]

To see if you're in 4x4 I find it easiest to hit the gas in reverse in gravel. You just have to tap the throttle that way. With your 242 in Fulltime 4Hi, theoretically, you shouldn't notice any binding from sharp turns on pavement.

And you say you turned the front driveshaft and the wheels turned? I think you made a mistake when you said they turned in opposite directions. They should be the same when turning the driveshaft.



CZJ.

[nychairs]

Will recheck the tire rotation when I get a minute. I can try reversing in gravel when I get home. Is the adjustment collar near the T-case end or the lever end?

[TowMaster]

People, he'd know if he was in 4wd or not, he says hes tested it. The axle is engaging with the driveshaft, so it's a power to the driveshaft problem. Check that linkage as described about 4 times. If it won't engage after you've adjusted that (proper adjustment is important for engagement) and it still doesn't engage, its probably time to split the case. As said, those lights don't mean a thing. 4wd part time and full time can be shifted "on the fly" up to 55mph...NEVER engage 4lo in a drive gear.

[kd5zmg]

If the rubber in the linkage system is worn out, who would have the replacement items to rebuild the linkage?

[nychairs]

It appears to be a linkage adjustment issue. I stopped at my test track on the way home and was able to get the linkage lever into 4LO at which point the indicator on the dash went into 4PT. So my guess is that the linkage is way out of adjustment.

[TowMaster]

Indeed..WAY out of adjustment.

[nychairs]

I had limited success. The linkage arm is so rusted that I was only to adjust the slider a little bit. It was enough that I can get 4HI when the shift lever is in 4LO. Since I do not need 4LO at this point I can get through the winter the way it is and then replace the linkage next spring. Thanks for the help.

[TowMaster]

Ha, just do it man....get some parts cleaner and a wire brush or something, or a grinder if you can get to it that way...clean the rust and get her done right. You say you don't need it, but you never know what might happen. Glad to hear you got it to work though. Think of it this way...you were possibly anticipating splitting that case to get 4wd. Now you have it, but the linkage is still a little off. Replacing that properly is still a LOT less work than taking that t-case out...so you might as well just do it. IMHO anyways....