part time 4x4

greggmig · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:52 am

The other day I was showing my son how to put the crd in 4 wheel drive I pulled the lever up to partime as we were driving roads were wet then to fulltime then back to 2 wheeldrive all this took place in less than a minute time frame. Now for the problem the partime light on the dash does not go out its been like this for a week. I know its out of this mode because I spun the back tire on a tight slow inside turn. I had the TC replaced last april under warranty.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:05 am

Sounds like you may have "confused" the system by doing thing too fast. Have you tried shifting thru the 2w/part time/4w modes at a modest speed, say 25, on a flat dry straight road? If that doesn't fix things I'd guess you have a bad/stuck drive position sensor but I don't offhand know where that is and what activates it.

greggmig · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:25 am

Yes I did go through the whole sequense several times. Whats strange is when I put it into fulltime the partime light goes out but comes back on agian when I put it back in two wheel drive

papaindigo · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:38 am

Figured you had but doesn't hurt to ask. When you put it if full time does the full time light come on?

Obvious comments but I cannot help much:
1. if when the part time light is on you are still in part time it's a 4w shifter problem - yes I know you are pretty sure it's out of part time (e.g. in 2w mode)
2. otherwise I'd go for a sensor related problem. All I can say is there are "cables" under the center console that trigger sensors associated with the transmission shifter and those sensors are located elsewhere. Perhaps there is a similar setup with the 4w shift lever. Beyond that uneducated speculation you will have to wait for better input.

greggmig · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:50 am

It was a few days ago when I did all this I dont remember if the fulltime light was on I think it was.

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:57 pm

If the handle is all the way down you are in 2wd, no matter what the light says. The problem is that the transfer case has a buggy sensor that reads specific resistance values, and where the sensor is, it can get contaminated easily. In many cases, the entire system will read one position off - showing Part Time when you are in 2wd, Full Time when in PT, and nothing in Full... If it really wants to be difficult, it will also show 4Lo in neutral AND 4Lo.

Solutions? Mine has reset itself and the light gone out on its own several times. Sometimes within a couple days, other times it took weeks. The handle connects to a long cable that runs to the transfer case - This is not the problem. That is both good and bad for you. Good, because you can know that if the handle moves solidly, then so is the mechanical lever on the side of the transfer case. It will be in whatever mode you choose. But it is also kinda bad, b/c then it points to that sensor... Which is installed on the top of the transfer case, in a hard to access location.

IIRC, the cost of that sensor is also a good few bucks, maybe in the $100 range, and you will get another sensor waiting to be contaminated by road grit and filth.

Stupid Chrysler Beancounter Design.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 1:31 pm

geordi - thanks for triggering my buggy memory. I knew I'd seen something about this and thought I had something in my notes somewhere. I did but the notes are just poorly labeled.

greggmig - see post #59 at http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread. ... 188&page=6 . The post relates to the 02-04 Center console but the 05-06 shouldn't be much different.

I'm about 99% sure the part # is 5083138AA (2006 parts book) in which case it can be found for about $50+shipping on-line. It's not a CRD specific part, it's used on all DCJ vehicles with our transmission and the same 4w drive set-up. List price seems to be about $75. You might consider risking $25 more or less and dig into the center console; pull the switch and give it a good cleaning (apparently it gets dirty in there); reinstall and see it that fixes you light problem; if not and if you are in a hurry blow that $25 on a new switch from the dealer.

Hope this solves your problem

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:54 pm

No problem PapaIndigo, I hadn't saved that info in my files at all, I just remembered what the basic thread was about.

For what it's worth, the sensor is the only electronics on the transfer case. It is entirely a mechanical beast, and that sensor shouldn't have any effect anywhere other than that indicator light. I don't recall my CRD performing any differently with the light in the wrong place when the case itself was in 2wd where I wanted it.

I think it is just there as a confirmation comfort system, nothing more. Lots of people have just unplugged the thing and left it at that.

greggmig · **Posted:** Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:50 pm

Thanks guys for all your valuable information maybe this weekend I can take a look at it. The other web site did a good job explaining how to get to the switch from the top. Now two weekends in a row wrenching just got done replacing both upper and lower control arms not a fun job. Had it aligned yesterday everything seems good except that the camber on the right side was maxed out at -1.1*. Hope it doesnt wear the inside of the tire.

part time 4x4

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