Noises from transfer case in 4WD

[Jackman]

So tonight I put my Jeep in 4hi got the first time since July... At first I heard a few clunking noises that concerned me a bit , and then when starting from a dead stop it made a grinding noise like I was grinding the gears. Put it back in 2wd and it was fine. 4 cyl 5 speed 98 Wrangler. Any suggestions??

 

[Blackjack]

So tonight I put my Jeep in 4hi got the first time since July... At first I heard a few clunking noises that concerned me a bit , and then when starting from a dead stop it made a grinding noise like I was grinding the gears. Put it back in 2wd and it was fine. 4 cyl 5 speed 98 Wrangler. Any suggestions??

Two easy things to start with are looking at the front driveshaft to make sure the double cardan has not failed and that the shift linkage is not out of adjustment causing engagement issues. From there you will probably end up tearing into the tcase to see what is going on.

 

[Jackman]

If it were the double cardsn joint, wouldn't it also be making noise in 2wd?
I won't be able to check it out until next weekend at the earliest.. We have some brutal cold today and tomorrow,and then busy at work all week.

 

[Blackjack]

If it were the double cardsn joint, wouldn't it also be making noise in 2wd?
I won't be able to check it out until next weekend at the earliest.. We have some brutal cold today and tomorrow,and then busy at work all week.

Not necessarily some only show they are bad when you put power to them.

 

[Jackman]

Ok thx.. I'll be looking into this

 

[RaymondT]

Make sure the adjustment for the shift lever is correct. Best way is to put it in 4-lo, loosen the lock-bolt (1/2"), and from the back of the skid, push the rod to the transfer case forward all the way. I find that if I use the fore/middle fingers of one hand to pull the adjuster bolt rearward and simultaneously push the end of the rod with the thumb, it positions everything just right. Then lock down the bolt firmly.