I am running an 03 Renegade with the 5 speed manual and the 231 transfer case (Unfortunately I am a bit of a noob and dont know proper names) The Jeep has 197XXX Kilometers on it and has the oil changed every 5000km.

At the end of winter I started to her a metalic clunking noise when in four wheel drive, I took it off road here and the noise was consistent throughout the entire drive, once in two wheel drive the noise goes away, it will happen in any condition at any speed in all gears. I have taken it to a mechanic and had him check it out and the comment was the chain in the transfer case may be going. Wondering how often this can happen in the jeeps? I do trust this mechanics opinion. Also I have just replaced the front diff fluid and there were no metallic pieces anywhere in it, CV joints look fine as well.

As for the transmission, going down the road in 3rd gear it will randomly pop out and into neutral, This has been happening for a year but has just gotten more and more frequent that I want to get it fixed. Any ideas on this as well would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

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03 Jeep Liberty Renegade, Black - SOLD
95 Jeep Cherokee XJ, 2 door 5 speed, Black

Change the fluid in the tranny and in the Tcase and see what the old fluid looks like.

231s are pretty rugged. If you kept it in 4 on dry pavement alot it could have stretched the chain....and if so, it's not hard to replace.

In terms of the popping out of gear it could due to a loose motor or tranny mount. TAke the cover off of the shifter so you can see, the shifter may be making contact with the body in 3rd and that could be popping it out. If it is making contact you could cut the sheet metal a tiny bit more to fix...or put a new tranny and/or motor mounts in it.

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