Hello, I've got a 2002 Renegade 4X4 and whenever I'm driving with my window down, I hear this loud ratcheting/clanking noise coming from my transfer case as I go faster the noise gets faster almost sounding like the brakes but its not, while keeping my steering wheel straight I put my Jeep in 4 high and the noise goes away, but when I put it back into 2WD it starts making the clicking noise again which verifies to me its the transfer case. I can't see anything physically wrong when I looked underneath. The 4WD and everything works perfectly fine, but the noise is bad. HELP?

Maybe the transfer case isn't completely disengaging the front output in 2WD....

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Jeep Liberty Wikibook
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If this was indeed the case, wouldn't my differential start binding up when I made a turn or at least any sharp turn on the pavement? My Jeep turns fine and I don't feel any vibrations, everything seems fine, but the noise is getting louder, I've never had the transfer case serviced to my knowledge and I'm at 98,000 miles. I'm just hoping the transfer case doesn't need to be replaced, I'm sure thats an expensive route.

Worst case is your chain is stretched and when in 2wd it is slapping against the case(in 4wd it's got tension on it to keep it quiet),it happenned on my fathers borg-warner tranfer in his superduty(then again someone took the fluid and drain plug,an arrest is pending).Could also be the linkage needs to be adjusted.How is the fluid? Since you said you never serviced it it may be empty or severly burnt which will cause all sort of problems for the guts. Could need new bearings also,it's kinda hard without being there to hear it.

Has the 4wd ever been abused or used on blacktop? How often do you/how many times has the oil been changed?

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LOST KJ'S
Where are you going???
Current Jeep: 2004 Jeep Liberty
-Atlantic Blue
-Air Ride Rear Suspension ; OME/Rustys Lift ; Powertrax Locker ; Moog Lower Ball-Joints ; 245/70/16 Yokohama Geolander A/T-S's on MOABS ; Flowmaster 50 SUV
Lost #007082
http://www.cardomain.com/id/jeepjeepster

The 4WD has never been used on the blacktop, just to test the 4WD quickly I would use it for a few seconds, but always keeping the steering wheel straight as to not bind up the diff, but I take my Jeep offroading at least 3 times a month, but the transfer case has always been pretty smooth and it still works fine now, but the oil has never been changed as far as I know. I've only had my transmission serviced NOT the transfer case. The noise sounds like a brake sensor on a warped disc and it gets more rapid as I speed up thats the best I can describe the noise. Its NOT the brakes though.

Change the fluid and test drive,if it makes the same noise the transfer is probally toast or the problem is somewhere else.

I would start out by changing the fluid. A friend of mine had a clicking noise on a 93 Cherokee and I told him its probably a u-Joint on his drive-line/Front axle.. Turned out he had a bad u-joint on the front axle AND a bad tcase. He had never changed the oil in it.

Gotta stay up to date on stuff like that.

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LOST KJ'S
Where are you going???
Current Jeep: 2004 Jeep Liberty
-Atlantic Blue
-Air Ride Rear Suspension ; OME/Rustys Lift ; Powertrax Locker ; Moog Lower Ball-Joints ; 245/70/16 Yokohama Geolander A/T-S's on MOABS ; Flowmaster 50 SUV
Lost #007082
http://www.cardomain.com/id/jeepjeepster

Im going through the same problem right now, it sounds really bad in 4wd and theres the same clicking/ rattling you described when its in 2-hi, I just changed the T-case fluid, noise is still there.

I read some where it could be in a bind and to put up on a lift and let all 4 wheels spin freelly, I doubt this will do it, but Im going to try this as a last effort before taking it to jeep.

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http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2131588
Red 2002 sport
245-70-16 General Grabber AT2's
One day maybe: OME HD coils and Ranchos on all corners

My KJ is doing the same thing. I think it could be a u-joint but I'm no mechanic.

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08 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Rescue Green
Teraflex 2.5in
Huskey Liners
Sill Guards
Grab Handles
Neoprene Grab Bar / Handle Wraps

I had a bad cv on my drive shaft, guess I got lucky.

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http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2131588
Red 2002 sport
245-70-16 General Grabber AT2's
One day maybe: OME HD coils and Ranchos on all corners

Dude if you are wheelin you stuff 3 time a month and have 98K and have never chaned the fluid in the T-case I would bet it is gone
I wheel mine on average twice a month and change it every 12K along with every other fluid in it

now my wheelin and yours may be 2 different things but still it needs to be done evry 30K at least if not more
I would say more

My definition of wheelin is slow crawlin for 4-6+ hours over 3+ miles and spending alot of time on 3 wheels and never seeing 4hi