4WD Not Engaging

My shift linkage lever is working, I'm able to pull it up to 4h, N, and 4L but it's not engaging in the transfer case and I'm essentially stuck in 2h. No dash lights indicating changes anymore either. It was always a little bit off and the positions on the shift lever didn't totally match when the 4h and 4L lights would come on the dash. I'm thinking this is because I have a 4 inch suspension lift and stock z linkage and brackets so it's kind of off and mounted too high.

But anyway, I've tried to adjust the rod in the z linkage by loosening the nut and shifting to 4h and 4L, then tightening the nut again, but when I do that it won't shift back down from 4h or 4L any lower. When it's in 2h and the shift lever in the cabin is all the way down, there's only like a quarter inch of rod sticking out past where the nut tightens. But it always engaged before and it still appears to be shifting the transfer case, just now with no results.

Does this seem like a linkage issue, maybe a sensor that's keeping it from engaging if it's controlled electronically, or something with the transfer case? Any ideas would be appreciated. Oh, and all of this was done with the jeep parked and in neutral but 4h and 4L always engaged for me at rest before.

Chris said:

Seems like a linkage issue given how problematic and annoying the factory linkage is.

I'd highly suggest upgrading to a Savvy or Novak cable shifter. You'll thank me ten times over. It really makes such a huge difference. It's one of the best affordable mods you can do to your TJ.

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Thanks, I'll probably end up changing my linkage out if I have to. I like the alternate stainless steel linkage mechanisms too. I was just really wanting to take it out in this snow so I'm hoping there's some kind of adjustment I can make to get it to engage in the meantime. I currently have the linkage arm disconnected from the transfer case. Should I be able to manually move the transfer case into 4h and 4L by hand with the linkage disconnected if it's in neutral and all wheels are on the ground? Does the clutch have to be engaged? I was thinking maybe I could engage 4h or 4L on the transfer case by hand and move the shift lever to the corresponding position and then reconnect the linkage and tighten the bolt and it would be in sync again.

The linkage is definitely convoluted. Somehow it's survived 27 years. I'll probably get a chance to try to shift the transfer case by hand tomorrow. Do I need to have someone rock the jeep back and forth to be able to shift to 4wd by hand at the case? I couldn't get the thing to budge yesterday while the jeep was parked. Oh, and does the switch actually control anything or is it just a quality of life feature that displays a light on the dash? I'm assuming it's just the light but wanted to check in case it's part of the problem and needs replaced.