4x4 not working on my TJ - Off-Road Forums & Discussion Groups

Lumpster · #1 10-04-2008, 05:25 PM

My 98 tj is having a problem with the 4x4 drive. The jeep has a 4 inch lift. Engaged high range works fine for about 20 feet (at low speed) then starts to pull to the left and bind. It feels as if the gears are grinding. Could this be a problem with the angle of the driveline. 2X4 works fine. I've had the jeep for a year and a half and never used the 4x4 until just recently.
I trying to sell the vechicle and want it working properly before selling. I would appreciate any help.
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Rio_Grande · #2 10-04-2008, 09:13 PM

Where does the grinding sound like it is coming from?

A off sides guess with little info would be that there is a body lift involved and the shifter needs to be lowered properly to work, but that is a guess with little info... A body lift can cause the shifter to not throw all the way into gear thus allowing it to slip out. Going in and out you can sometimes hear grinding...

If the noise is in the front well lets not put two guesses in one post.

DoubleClutcher · #3 10-04-2008, 11:25 PM

The pulling to the left after a short distance sounds like something is wrong in the front differential. Is there any sort of locker or limited slip in the front?

You don't have 2 sizes of tire on the front do you. I once had the rear end on a Scout get hot and then start ratcheting. It turned out that at a service they had rotated a smaller tire off the spare onto the left rear. The limited slip didn't like it at all.

Lumpster · #4 10-05-2008, 07:57 AM

I'm sure that the tires are the same size, and the jeep does not have a body lift. 2 wheel drive works fine, so that would eliminate the driveline as a problem. Since the front driveline rotates during 2 wheel drive the problem could be in the front differential once the 4 wheel is engaged. I should take the differential cover off and see if there is anything out of whack. Not sure what to look for. Also it could to the transfer case (god I hope not). I hate to sell this jeep with out fixing the problem because it is sure to reduce the price quite a bit.
Thanks guys, as always this is the place to get the expert's opinion.

Rio_Grande · #5 10-05-2008, 11:51 AM

Again where is the noise coming from?

It is not unusual for a tj to pull to one side or the other when coming outof gear. Mine with a locker is so bad that when I a driving down the road I don't shift in and out. I come to a stop. The slight grinding is not uncaracteristic of it slipping out if gear. The larger cases I can't remember the NP number have been known for the shift forks breaking allowing the vehicle to be put into gear but then slip out. I am not ready to say this is your problem but it is a possibility. While I have fixed a couple of these in the larger trannys I have never seen it in the np231.

Frontend. While I am not willing to concider this as a possibility yet (without knowing where the grinding is coming from) if you pull the cover look for grindings and pieces. It is a possibilty there could be a side gear problem (I would be supprised) but the great thing about that is there are usually plenty of pieces to tell the tale.

I am still betting on a shifter or shift rail problem. What hapens if you put it into 4 low?

Lumpster · #6 10-05-2008, 12:22 PM

Thanks Rio,
I not sure where the grinding is coming from, but the jeep seems fine when first placed in High range. It is only after a short distance(20 feet) that is refuses to go forward anymore (locked up). Low range seems to be the same. I have to shift into reverse and drive a few feet to disengage the 4x4. The steering wheel gets yanked to the right (did I say left before?)

I have had the front differential cover off some so time ago (because it was leaking) and everything seem fine. I did not notice any metal shaving.
It will go into 4x4 neutral with no trouble, and drives in 2 x4 just fine.
If the steering wheel get yank to the right that should be an intication that the problem is in the front differential, because it is effecting the power going to only one wheel. I have zero experience working with 4x4s transfer case etc. And can only rely on my logic. What is a side gear?

Rio_Grande · #7 10-05-2008, 02:21 PM

Ok, So the drive train compleetly locks up. That is diffrent than wht I thought you were describing. For that to happen something is binding or not spinning as fast as it's attached parts.

I would start with the front cover it is a cheap look inside. Actually pull the fill plug on the transfer case and get a dab of the fluid on you finger it should be clear and pretty if not start there. If you can dab up some of the front dif fluid from the fill plug you can make the same observation.

This will be interesting... I am holding my bets at this point.

Jim_Lou · #8 10-05-2008, 02:26 PM

Could you have different size tires front and rear? Could the previous owner have swapped an axle with a different gearset?

Rio_Grande · #9 10-05-2008, 02:43 PM

Kinda what I was starting to think Jim. If it were those seems he could put it in reverse and imeadiatly unbind it? But I haven't any experience with that.

Lumpster · #10 10-05-2008, 03:26 PM

The tires are all the same purchased them myself (see pics). Ok guys I off to pull the plug....... let you know what I see.