4 wheel drive problems!

asgates · **Posted:** Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:51 pm

Hey everyone! Its been a while since my last post, but I have recently had what seems to be a MAJOR PROBLEM! It snowed up here in VT recently and I needed to put it into 4WD to get out of my driveway. I have not even touched it for over 2 months, but I pulled the lever and proceeded to drive. Suddenly I noticed a noise coming from the front diff and a grinding/clanking sound. I then took it out of 4WD, but it took longer to disengage. Has anyone else had a problem with this and if so, what was the problem and how was it fixed? Any input would be helpful.

Thanks,
asgates

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:10 pm

Were your wheels straight when you engaged it? Did you turn your wheels after engaging it but before or just as you were turning? It may not have actually locked in.

asgates · **Posted:** Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:16 pm

i have tried all of the the above. i have had the whees at almost every possible angle, i have been at a standstill, and a slight roll (less than 5mph). i can not figure it out. i think i may have a major mechanical failure going on. i've talked to my dealership and the warranty "should" cover it.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:45 pm

asgates wrote:

i have tried all of the the above. i have had the whees at almost every possible angle, i have been at a standstill, and a slight roll (less than 5mph). i can not figure it out. i think i may have a major mechanical failure going on. i've talked to my dealership and the warranty "should" cover it.

Which transfer case do you have?

Have seen this before when trying to engage at very slow speeds. From my experience, pulling up the lever and driving away won't engage this transfer case. You have to be moving faster. Have found you have to anticipate changing weather conditions and park it already in 4X4 mode.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:15 pm

asgates wrote:

Hey everyone! Its been a while since my last post, but I have recently had what seems to be a MAJOR PROBLEM! It snowed up here in VT recently and I needed to put it into 4WD to get out of my driveway. I have not even touched it for over 2 months, but I pulled the lever and proceeded to drive. Suddenly I noticed a noise coming from the front diff and a grinding/clanking sound. I then took it out of 4WD, but it took longer to disengage. Has anyone else had a problem with this and if so, what was the problem and how was it fixed? Any input would be helpful.

Thanks,
asgates

dont worry just yet I have had all kinds of t-case problems here in south LA we may go for months and never put the KJ in 4wd then when we do it acts funny at first no grinding but trouble engaging
I had mega trouble getting the TJ to go in it had NEVER been put in 4wd from day 1 and was 34 months old when I bought it
I had to drain and fill the T-case then go drive on some dirt roads for a hour or so to heat it up and work all the parts
I would have problems with my ranger and the electric motor not being strong enough to engage 4wd ,that sucked
I have found it to be good practice to put it in 4wd at leas once a month or so just to move the "parts"
I use all the modes also so every body feels loved

FastTRX · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 12:56 pm

I've had problems w/ mine engaging...usually only into Lo. I find that if you drive about 15-25 mph when you go to put it into Hi that it engages better and locks....same w/ Lo. Get going about 15 and then throw it into Neutral and pull back on the lever...should pop right in. I was forever engaging it while sitting and have since been told to be moving while I do it by guys on here.

chefdab · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:36 pm

FastTRX wrote:

I've had problems w/ mine engaging...usually only into Lo. I find that if you drive about 15-25 mph when you go to put it into Hi that it engages better and locks....same w/ Lo. Get going about 15 and then throw it into Neutral and pull back on the lever...should pop right in. I was forever engaging it while sitting and have since been told to be moving while I do it by guys on here.

You do NOT want to be doing 15 when you shift into 4-lo, only about 2-3 mph. If you are going much faster than that you will hear and feel a really bad grinding sound and it will not engage 4-lo it will just pop back into neutral.

Video Guy · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:27 pm

asgates,

I discovered a similar sound today, and my KJ is also a 2003 model. Driving on a very wet road, I shifted into 4HI traveling around 40 mph, just for good measure as Jason Thompson recommends. After 30 seconds or so, I heard continuous loud clicking/clanking, like a roller coaster being pulled uphill on a chain drive. Shifted back in to 2HI and the noise went away. I did this three or four times at speeds ranging from 20-40 mph, and consistently got the noise. Braking even felt softer for a while too, but that may have been because of the wet brakes (I crossed a few deep puddles).

The sound was loudest when accelerrating. I didn't want to tempt fate, so I stayed in 2HI the rest of the way back to my office. I'll try 4HI again on the way home and look under the KJ once I get it inside my dry garage. At first I thought maybe the pavement's too dry, but there was standing water, and I've run 4HI on drier roads for longer periods before without ever hear the clicking noise.

T.J.

FastTRX · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:21 pm

chefdab wrote:

FastTRX wrote:

I've had problems w/ mine engaging...usually only into Lo. I find that if you drive about 15-25 mph when you go to put it into Hi that it engages better and locks....same w/ Lo. Get going about 15 and then throw it into Neutral and pull back on the lever...should pop right in. I was forever engaging it while sitting and have since been told to be moving while I do it by guys on here.

You do NOT want to be doing 15 when you shift into 4-lo, only about 2-3 mph. If you are going much faster than that you will hear and feel a really bad grinding sound and it will not engage 4-lo it will just pop back into neutral.

Everyone says you can be going a bit faster...but not exceeding 25 or you could take a risk at blowing the T-case.

Honestly I've engaged mine coasting in Neutral around 12mph and I've never had this problem...?

I usually only use 2nd when I'm in Lo...but I've never had a problem engaging it??

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:21 am

25mph is the max speed while in 4low FastTRX. ive probably never been over 15mph in low. I usually try to keep in in 1st or second gear also..

You may want to be alittle careful with the shifting into 4low going that fast. :wink:

MoladoGuy · **Posted:** Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:13 am

FastTRX wrote:

chefdab wrote:

FastTRX wrote:

I've had problems w/ mine engaging...usually only into Lo. I find that if you drive about 15-25 mph when you go to put it into Hi that it engages better and locks....same w/ Lo. Get going about 15 and then throw it into Neutral and pull back on the lever...should pop right in. I was forever engaging it while sitting and have since been told to be moving while I do it by guys on here.

You do NOT want to be doing 15 when you shift into 4-lo, only about 2-3 mph. If you are going much faster than that you will hear and feel a really bad grinding sound and it will not engage 4-lo it will just pop back into neutral.

Everyone says you can be going a bit faster...but not exceeding 25 or you could take a risk at blowing the T-case.

Honestly I've engaged mine coasting in Neutral around 12mph and I've never had this problem...?

I usually only use 2nd when I'm in Lo...but I've never had a problem engaging it??

Wow thats kinda scary. Pulling the lever higher than 5mph is not what you should be doing for 4-Lo. It's just a precaution to since the book tells you 2-3mph for 4-Lo shifting. The not exceeding 25 is driving while in 4-Lo, not when shifting to 4-Lo

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:10 am

My brother tried to put mine into 4low when we were riding around one day. I would say we were doing around 15mph or so. He was in the passenger seat and wanted to put it into 4wd so I said, aight. Since he was in the passenger seat, he accidentally pulled the lever to the right by-passing the gate that would usually stop it from going into low. I do not believe it hurt anything.. But I got some good grinding. :lol:

FastTRX · **Posted:** Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:40 pm

MoladoGuy wrote:

FastTRX wrote:

chefdab wrote:

FastTRX wrote:

I've had problems w/ mine engaging...usually only into Lo. I find that if you drive about 15-25 mph when you go to put it into Hi that it engages better and locks....same w/ Lo. Get going about 15 and then throw it into Neutral and pull back on the lever...should pop right in. I was forever engaging it while sitting and have since been told to be moving while I do it by guys on here.

You do NOT want to be doing 15 when you shift into 4-lo, only about 2-3 mph. If you are going much faster than that you will hear and feel a really bad grinding sound and it will not engage 4-lo it will just pop back into neutral.

Everyone says you can be going a bit faster...but not exceeding 25 or you could take a risk at blowing the T-case.

Honestly I've engaged mine coasting in Neutral around 12mph and I've never had this problem...?

I usually only use 2nd when I'm in Lo...but I've never had a problem engaging it??

Wow thats kinda scary. Pulling the lever higher than 5mph is not what you should be doing for 4-Lo. It's just a precaution to since the book tells you 2-3mph for 4-Lo shifting. The not exceeding 25 is driving while in 4-Lo, not when shifting to 4-Lo

Yea I'm pretty much an idiot...I think I was a bit out of it the other night. I dont know quite what I was thinking...but no...my KJ WONT engage in Lo at that fast. For some reason I must have thought this from being used to engaging Hi at that speed....yea I'm retarded. My mistakes...

asgates · **Posted:** Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:27 pm

everyone seems to be talking mostly about 4lo, when i'm talking about 4hi. my issue is with 4hi and i havn't even tried 4 lo.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Fri Dec 15, 2006 7:13 pm

asgates wrote:

everyone seems to be talking mostly about 4lo, when i'm talking about 4hi. my issue is with 4hi and i havn't even tried 4 lo.

it wont matter high or low if you do not fully engage it then it will make some real funny noises
I would try it again going about 5-10 mph while rolling do not hit breaks push gear selector to N then give on click up on the 4wd leaver then go back to D then hit the gas gently this should fully engage 4wd high once enguaged drive for a while to heat up the parts of the T-case that do not normaly move
probably about 2 miles or so
then slow to about 2-5mph put gear selector in N and pull T-case to 4lo then back to D and gently give some gas that should put you in 4lo once in 4lo put gear selector in first or 1 and drive in a figure 8 for a while that should loosen u the T-case

If you are 100% sure that you are fully enguaging 4wd then I would go to the dealer and let them check it out

FastTRX · **Posted:** Sat Dec 16, 2006 12:38 pm

jason thompson wrote:

asgates wrote:

everyone seems to be talking mostly about 4lo, when i'm talking about 4hi. my issue is with 4hi and i havn't even tried 4 lo.

it wont matter high or low if you do not fully engage it then it will make some real funny noises
I would try it again going about 5-10 mph while rolling do not hit breaks push gear selector to N then give on click up on the 4wd leaver then go back to D then hit the gas gently this should fully engage 4wd high once enguaged drive for a while to heat up the parts of the T-case that do not normaly move
probably about 2 miles or so
then slow to about 2-5mph put gear selector in N and pull T-case to 4lo then back to D and gently give some gas that should put you in 4lo once in 4lo put gear selector in first or 1 and drive in a figure 8 for a while that should loosen u the T-case

If you are 100% sure that you are fully enguaging 4wd then I would go to the dealer and let them check it out

You dont HAVE to use N when engaging into 4Hi right?? Because I dont....I know for sure this time. I usually roll at about 10-15 and just pull up on the lever coasting.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sat Dec 16, 2006 1:05 pm

FastTRX wrote:

jason thompson wrote:

asgates wrote:

everyone seems to be talking mostly about 4lo, when i'm talking about 4hi. my issue is with 4hi and i havn't even tried 4 lo.

it wont matter high or low if you do not fully engage it then it will make some real funny noises
I would try it again going about 5-10 mph while rolling do not hit breaks push gear selector to N then give on click up on the 4wd leaver then go back to D then hit the gas gently this should fully engage 4wd high once enguaged drive for a while to heat up the parts of the T-case that do not normaly move
probably about 2 miles or so
then slow to about 2-5mph put gear selector in N and pull T-case to 4lo then back to D and gently give some gas that should put you in 4lo once in 4lo put gear selector in first or 1 and drive in a figure 8 for a while that should loosen u the T-case

If you are 100% sure that you are fully enguaging 4wd then I would go to the dealer and let them check it out

You dont HAVE to use N when engaging into 4Hi right?? Because I dont....I know for sure this time. I usually roll at about 10-15 and just pull up on the lever coasting.

that could be very very bad when you do that the rear out put and the input have power to them but the front is spinning free it could do nothing or it could break a cog or the chain I would NEVER do that

rocketjocky · **Posted:** Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:16 pm

Ok this may be a very similar problem... the other day it snowed here in Ohio and as I made a turn about 15 to 20mph my KJ's back end broke lose so I went to 4hi just to be sure I had traction. it did grind a little (wheels turned???? cant remember) but the big problem very shortly after I was on dry pavement and went back to 2hi. The jeep did what is should and everything still works but...... now the indicator seems to be off by one position. The dash light shows 4hi in normal mode, no indication in 4hi, 4low in netrural, and nothing in 4low. Everything does work just the dash light seems to be off. Any help thoughts suggestions would be great.

Jeger · **Posted:** Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:19 pm

If you so decide to drive in figure 8's dont do it on pavement, find some grass, dirt, gravel or something that will allow for some slip.

The command-trac and selec-trac are both "shift on the fly" transfer cases, and you dont have to shift the tranny into Neutral in order to engage 4WD HI. Since we dont have lockout style hubs, as long as you are driving straight, and your rear wheels are not spinning faster than your actual speed, your front and rear driveshafts will be spinning at the same speed. Now if you have mismatched tires or something it could cause a problem.

It is probably best to go ahead and shift to Neutral so that you are not applying torque to the transfer case while you try to shift it. At least be sure that you are not accelerating when you shift. With some 4WD's I have found that to either get the T-case to engage or disengage it helps to---after shifting the t-case selector--- accelerate lightly and then decelerate several times, allowing the engine to slow you on deceleration. Of course there is always the possibilty that you have a linkage out of adjustment or some other problem.

asgates · **Posted:** Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:27 am

just got my KJ back from the dealership and it turns out that my transfer case fluid was in desperate need of changing

. eveything operates smooth as butter. i also had them do the ball joint replacement which were appearently in worse shape than i thought :shock:

.

4 wheel drive problems!

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