Transfer Case problem - way too much lag time

scoobysnax789 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 10:39 pm

Back in 2007 I asked the following question regarding my transfer case - I have the Selec-Trac (full time & part time.)

The other day it was pouring and it was the first time I used the full time for more than just a little clip to make sure it worked when I test drove it. It does work and so does the part time. However, I just noticed that after my foot is totally off the gas and then I get back on it there is a noticeable lag in the transfer case engaging the front drive shaft. The only way I can describe it is to picture a train, when the first car pulls out the freight car behind it won’t move until the coupler is grabbed and then that car jerks forward and so on down the line of freight cars. It’s not enough to jerk you head or anything like that and I don’t even think the passengers noticed it but I can feel it when I drive and it’s got me worried.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22488

Well, I’m now up to 82,000 miles and for the longest time it was fine – or at least the same. I never really used the “full time” mode in traffic or at speeds slower than 15 MPH or so. However, in the last month or so things have changed and I can’t think of anything that I’ve done to cause the change. The “lag” I described has gotten worse. So much so that I can now notice the lag at highway speeds and in traffic it’s enough that the jerk that follows the lag feels like a rookie driving a stick shift. There is a slight vibration that I can feel at highway speeds – not enough that a normal person would notice but any enough that any gear head would recognize. And finally, I’m pretty sure that my MPG’s decrease but I haven’t been able to say that for certain.

The odd part – ZERO issues in part time. ZERO issues in 2wd. All of the above are only issues in Full Time 4WD. Thoughts, comments, suggestions? Do I need a new chain? Is the transfer case shot?

irollgen4s · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 10:56 pm

IS part time like this also? If all of the 4wd modes are like this, i would think it to be a stretched chain/worn out teeth on the gears possibly. Have you ever driven around on dry pavement in 4 part time for an extended period of time?

scoobysnax789 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:54 am

No part time is fine. I never use part time on dry or even wet pavement. Back in '07 i brought it to the dealer and I was told it was normal in full time and in all honesty the guy told me I should really only use the full time when the ground is wet - not on dry pavement. He said something about the Select-Trac transfer case was a bad design for dry road conditions. But again, it's gotten worse and I'm not sure why.

HoosierJeeper · **Joined:** Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:23 am **Posts:** 1218

I have an NP242 x fer case for sale with 15k on it, I'd let you have it very reasonably.

XJMA · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:43 pm

how worn out are your tires?? are they all the same exact model??

scoobysnax789 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 06, 2011 2:42 pm

4 tires on the ground are all the same brand and size (245/70/16 Destinations) with about 30% tread left and all are worn evenly and are never off by more than 1 or 2 PSI between each wheel. The spare is the stock 235/70/16 with 100% tread. The spare was used once on the front axel about two years ago. It was used for about 2 miles in 4L in true off road situations (mud, loose rocks, logs, very rutted dirt roads, stream crossings and with extensive winch use.) After that on the same trip in 2WD only for 200 miles not exceeding 65 MPH before I could replace the damaged wheel (a rock cracked the inside of the rim on my front right wheel after it was jammed against the brake caliper.)

I have an '04 so it doesn't have ESP or anything like that.

Any other thoughts?

XJMA · **Posted:** Thu Oct 06, 2011 3:37 pm

jack the front wheels off the ground, get under there and spin the front driveshaft...see if there is any play anywhere or anything sounds out of order.

Then throw it in 4 and try to rotate both driveshafts, see if anything doesn't seem normal. Check the rear Ujoints and the CVs on the halfshafts and the front driveshaft.

Your symptom sounds strange!!! Go play with the whole drivetrain to see if you can find something out of whack.

scoobysnax789 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:46 am

I forgot to add some work that was done to the jeep about 5 months ago. My front right brake caliper locked up on me while driving on the highway. It was gradual so I didn’t notice it until I smelled the brakes overheating. Long story short by the time I got to a shop the heat built up so much that it melted the axle boot. They replaced the entire right side axel, brake calipers (left and right) new rotors and new pads. Is it possible the axel shaft was not installed correctly? Would it take a few months for a problem like to show itself?

In the mean time I’ll try to get under the car tonight and take a look.

XJMA · **Posted:** Fri Oct 07, 2011 12:59 pm

hmmmm.....interesting. enough heat to melt a CV boot surely could not have been good for your bearings!! it's tough to tell what else that may have done. who did the work?? a reputable mechanic or the stealership?? having a good relationship with a mechanic is worth a lot!

I think you need to jack up the front end and move things around. First just jack up one tire at a time and try to spin the tires. See how it sounds. then throw it in 4, which shouldn't allow the tire off the ground to spin at all (assuming you're in park). there will be a tiny bit of play - meaning you should be able to rotate the tire a tiny bit back and forth due to the backlash in the gears in the front diff and the tiny bit of slack in the Tcase chain - but this doesn't amount to very much. if you get any play, try to isolate the diff and the Tcase to figure out where the play is.

A way to check if there is non-kosher play in the Tcase is with both tires off the ground (use jack stands, of course), grab the front and rear DSs in your hand and rotate them....there shouldn't be much play at all. Also check the yokes/output shafts for play....zero radial play, just a tiny bit of horizontal (in and out) play is normal....like less than 1/8 inch.

one other thought, check the Tcase linkage adjustment. Get a good look at it, there is a metal rail and a bolt that tightens the arm attached to it down. loosen this bolt so that the arm can slide on the rail. Get in the vehicle and push the Tcase all the way down into 2 position. With your hand or a screwdriver make sure that the Tcase shift lever on the Tcase is all the way in the 2 position, then tighten that bolt...it's that easy. this can come out of adjustment over time when the motor mounts and Tcase mounts wear and move around a bit....or if you bend the Xmember, haha.

if you check all of this stuff and can't find anything out of the ordinary then you'll have a real mystery on your hands.

scoobysnax789 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 07, 2011 5:43 pm

The work was done by a Good Year dealer in Long Island. I showed up in their parking lot on a Friday evening going into Memorial Day Weekend with a packed Jeep, 3 bikes on the back a crying baby and smoke coming out of the right front wheel. They could have screwed me but I honestly thought they did a great job and while there was a lot of negotiating on price, I did get them down to price I thought was far. I’ll check my receipts to let you know the price.

The following link is another post of mine regarding a clank that seems to come from the rear axle at certain points and I’m starting to think they could be related. The videos were all taken maybe two months ago. I’ll get under the jeep and check everything again tomorrow morning to check things again.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=62540

Below are the links to 3 videos I took on a cell phone while under the jeep. It’s not the best quality but hopefully someone can tell me what their thoughts are and what my next step should be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRdDcfU6230
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhhRNJT8QtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNbdpkNifWo

scoobysnax789 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2011 1:28 pm

Lack of time & city living never let me know look at all this stuff myself. I'm still going to try to get under the Jeep so that I can say the following with 100% certainty but... I brought it in to my mechanic who told me...

all drive line components are fine. He didn't open up the Transfer case but said that something inside of it must be causing the problem. So, I'm going to have to bring it to someone who knows more about T-cases as I think my guys at his limit.

Question:

Am I at risk of doing any damage driving my Jeep in 2WD?
Am I at risk of doing any damage driving my Jeep in Part Time 4x4?

In 4L and Part Time 4x4 it's 100% fine in terms of normal feedback to the driver. The only issues I have as already described is in Full Time 4-Wheel Drive. Money is tight right now and obviously I don't want to risk causing any greater damage but if I can leave it be and just not use Full Time I think I'll do that for a little while and if we get snow I'll just use the part time as needed. However, if there's any possibility of doing more damage I'd rather just not use the Jeep and get it fixed.

Thoughts? I know there's not much to go on but I'd still like to hear thoughts? I'm already kicking around the idea of having another NV242 swapped in as I understand it may end up being cheaper than fixing a broken one.

QuestMan · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2011 9:06 pm

When's the last time you changed your xfer case fluid?

scoobysnax789 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 26, 2011 1:52 am

8,969 miles ago / 9-months ago with Mopar ATF+4. Fluid level is fine, and based on a finger dip appears to be clean.

scoobysnax789 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 26, 2011 1:56 am

HoosierJeeper - thanks for the offer on the NV242. I'm still up in the air on what I'm going to do - fix asap, wait a bit, possibly sell and trade, I'm just not sure. Where are you located so I've got an idea on what shipping would be. I'll PM you tomorrow.

HoosierJeeper · **Joined:** Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:23 am **Posts:** 1218

I'm in WI...shipping should be under $100.

No rush.

scoobysnax789 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2011 1:00 pm

Update:

So I took the Jeep to a 4x4 shop in CT that friends of mine have used for axle gearing and other stuff (EVB - Extreme Vehicle Builders.) I've been told that it's shot. the problem has gotten worse and now once I've got the Full Time 4-Wheel Drive engaged the lag time is longer. New problems that have started... If I stop the jeep and move the gear from P to D or P to R or D to R and what not there is a giant thud sound of gears getting mashed up. Going from D to 2 or 1 is fine. The problem had not happened in 4 part time or 4L but now that's starting as well. They think that the planetary differential is shot. They think the chain is probably fine. Replacing that part, and more than likely a few others with labor would be around $1,500. So I'm going with an option to get a rebuilt case with a 3 yr, 100,000 mile warranty on parts and labor so I don't have to worry about it. Here's what I've been quoted:

242 Transfer case from Jasper engines and transmissions with a 3 year/100,000 mile warranty through them-$1401
5 hours for Transfercase install Plus fluids and any additional work that might come about during install such as Worn out or broket parts and or hardware - 5hrs labor: $445 plus tax

$1401 -Parts
$445 - Labor
+ tax
-----------------
Total $1983.43

It really sucks, but it's a lot cheaper than replacing the Jeep which I gave a lot of thought to.

Transfer Case problem - way too much lag time

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