Title says it all - Been driving my 89 Cherokee with the front hub motor
vacuum lines switched to keep the front wheels disengaged. Front drive
shaft spins and I can hear the transfer case whining at speed so I know it
really is in 4x4. Checked the shift linkage - it looks and seems to work
fine, though I didn't disconnect it and really push it to see if it would
disengage 4x4.

Anybody seen this? Any easy fixes? Seems like my only alternative at this
point is to suck it up, drop the transfer case, and look inside. I'm also
debating just taking off the front driveshaft (this thing's got 190K on it
and has lots of other problems - I'm mainly just trying to keep it going
till it drops dead).

Thanks

-Pete

 

A bad engine or tranny mount can knock the linkage out enough to keep it
in the wrong gear.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

"news.verizon.net" wrote:
>
> Title says it all - Been driving my 89 Cherokee with the front hub motor
> vacuum lines switched to keep the front wheels disengaged. Front drive
> shaft spins and I can hear the transfer case whining at speed so I know it
> really is in 4x4. Checked the shift linkage - it looks and seems to work
> fine, though I didn't disconnect it and really push it to see if it would
> disengage 4x4.
>
> Anybody seen this? Any easy fixes? Seems like my only alternative at this
> point is to suck it up, drop the transfer case, and look inside. I'm also
> debating just taking off the front driveshaft (this thing's got 190K on it
> and has lots of other problems - I'm mainly just trying to keep it going
> till it drops dead).
>
> Thanks
>
> -Pete

 

A bad engine or tranny mount can knock the linkage out enough to keep it
in the wrong gear.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

"news.verizon.net" wrote:
>
> Title says it all - Been driving my 89 Cherokee with the front hub motor
> vacuum lines switched to keep the front wheels disengaged. Front drive
> shaft spins and I can hear the transfer case whining at speed so I know it
> really is in 4x4. Checked the shift linkage - it looks and seems to work
> fine, though I didn't disconnect it and really push it to see if it would
> disengage 4x4.
>
> Anybody seen this? Any easy fixes? Seems like my only alternative at this
> point is to suck it up, drop the transfer case, and look inside. I'm also
> debating just taking off the front driveshaft (this thing's got 190K on it
> and has lots of other problems - I'm mainly just trying to keep it going
> till it drops dead).
>
> Thanks
>
> -Pete

 

A bad engine or tranny mount can knock the linkage out enough to keep it
in the wrong gear.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

"news.verizon.net" wrote:
>
> Title says it all - Been driving my 89 Cherokee with the front hub motor
> vacuum lines switched to keep the front wheels disengaged. Front drive
> shaft spins and I can hear the transfer case whining at speed so I know it
> really is in 4x4. Checked the shift linkage - it looks and seems to work
> fine, though I didn't disconnect it and really push it to see if it would
> disengage 4x4.
>
> Anybody seen this? Any easy fixes? Seems like my only alternative at this
> point is to suck it up, drop the transfer case, and look inside. I'm also
> debating just taking off the front driveshaft (this thing's got 190K on it
> and has lots of other problems - I'm mainly just trying to keep it going
> till it drops dead).
>
> Thanks
>
> -Pete

 

A faulty vacuum switch on the transfer case will give you this symptom. You
stated that the front prop shaft is turning.... what isn't clear is whether
it still turns with the wheels off the ground. If your vacuum switch is
stuck and causing the front axle to engage, then the prop shaft should turn
along with it. It may very well be something more serious than this (broken
shift fork, mounts as Mike said), but I have seen dozens and dozens of stuck
vacuum switches. GM recalled most of the NP231-equipped trucks for this
concern. I would check that before I tear the case out.

Jerry



"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:3FA3E38C.131367A1@sympatico.ca...
> A bad engine or tranny mount can knock the linkage out enough to keep it
> in the wrong gear.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> "news.verizon.net" wrote:
> >
> > Title says it all - Been driving my 89 Cherokee with the front hub motor
> > vacuum lines switched to keep the front wheels disengaged. Front drive
> > shaft spins and I can hear the transfer case whining at speed so I know
it
> > really is in 4x4. Checked the shift linkage - it looks and seems to
work
> > fine, though I didn't disconnect it and really push it to see if it
would
> > disengage 4x4.
> >
> > Anybody seen this? Any easy fixes? Seems like my only alternative at
this
> > point is to suck it up, drop the transfer case, and look inside. I'm
also
> > debating just taking off the front driveshaft (this thing's got 190K on
it
> > and has lots of other problems - I'm mainly just trying to keep it going
> > till it drops dead).
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > -Pete

 

A faulty vacuum switch on the transfer case will give you this symptom. You
stated that the front prop shaft is turning.... what isn't clear is whether
it still turns with the wheels off the ground. If your vacuum switch is
stuck and causing the front axle to engage, then the prop shaft should turn
along with it. It may very well be something more serious than this (broken
shift fork, mounts as Mike said), but I have seen dozens and dozens of stuck
vacuum switches. GM recalled most of the NP231-equipped trucks for this
concern. I would check that before I tear the case out.

Jerry



"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:3FA3E38C.131367A1@sympatico.ca...
> A bad engine or tranny mount can knock the linkage out enough to keep it
> in the wrong gear.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> "news.verizon.net" wrote:
> >
> > Title says it all - Been driving my 89 Cherokee with the front hub motor
> > vacuum lines switched to keep the front wheels disengaged. Front drive
> > shaft spins and I can hear the transfer case whining at speed so I know
it
> > really is in 4x4. Checked the shift linkage - it looks and seems to
work
> > fine, though I didn't disconnect it and really push it to see if it
would
> > disengage 4x4.
> >
> > Anybody seen this? Any easy fixes? Seems like my only alternative at
this
> > point is to suck it up, drop the transfer case, and look inside. I'm
also
> > debating just taking off the front driveshaft (this thing's got 190K on
it
> > and has lots of other problems - I'm mainly just trying to keep it going
> > till it drops dead).
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > -Pete

 

A faulty vacuum switch on the transfer case will give you this symptom. You
stated that the front prop shaft is turning.... what isn't clear is whether
it still turns with the wheels off the ground. If your vacuum switch is
stuck and causing the front axle to engage, then the prop shaft should turn
along with it. It may very well be something more serious than this (broken
shift fork, mounts as Mike said), but I have seen dozens and dozens of stuck
vacuum switches. GM recalled most of the NP231-equipped trucks for this
concern. I would check that before I tear the case out.

Jerry



"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:3FA3E38C.131367A1@sympatico.ca...
> A bad engine or tranny mount can knock the linkage out enough to keep it
> in the wrong gear.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> "news.verizon.net" wrote:
> >
> > Title says it all - Been driving my 89 Cherokee with the front hub motor
> > vacuum lines switched to keep the front wheels disengaged. Front drive
> > shaft spins and I can hear the transfer case whining at speed so I know
it
> > really is in 4x4. Checked the shift linkage - it looks and seems to
work
> > fine, though I didn't disconnect it and really push it to see if it
would
> > disengage 4x4.
> >
> > Anybody seen this? Any easy fixes? Seems like my only alternative at
this
> > point is to suck it up, drop the transfer case, and look inside. I'm
also
> > debating just taking off the front driveshaft (this thing's got 190K on
it
> > and has lots of other problems - I'm mainly just trying to keep it going
> > till it drops dead).
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > -Pete

 

It would be easier to just reach up and loosen the lock bolt on the
rod from the shifter that runs back to the tc. Then take something
and pry the shift lever on the tc all the way (damn - forward or back?
Can't remember!) in the direction that the shifter would try to move
it. If it's still in 4wd, it's teardown time to fix it. There are a
couple of dogs on the shift plates inside that could be out of their
track or the pads on the shift forks could be worn out. Anyway, the
quickest and easiest thing would be to disconnect the shift and force
the tc to 2wd. If that fails, get the shift arm on the front axle to
disconnect then tie the sucker in place with the vacuum motor
disconnected and plugged.

If you can't get the tc out of 4wd then you probably have something
broken inside and the broken piece is just waiting to jump up and jam
the works - at the worst possible time.

On Sat, 1 Nov 2003 16:26:12 UTC "news.verizon.net"
<pxbacher@netaxs.com> wrote:

> Title says it all - Been driving my 89 Cherokee with the front hub motor
> vacuum lines switched to keep the front wheels disengaged. Front drive
> shaft spins and I can hear the transfer case whining at speed so I know it
> really is in 4x4. Checked the shift linkage - it looks and seems to work
> fine, though I didn't disconnect it and really push it to see if it would
> disengage 4x4.
>
> Anybody seen this? Any easy fixes? Seems like my only alternative at this
> point is to suck it up, drop the transfer case, and look inside. I'm also
> debating just taking off the front driveshaft (this thing's got 190K on it
> and has lots of other problems - I'm mainly just trying to keep it going
> till it drops dead).
>
> Thanks
>
> -Pete
>
>


--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

 

It would be easier to just reach up and loosen the lock bolt on the
rod from the shifter that runs back to the tc. Then take something
and pry the shift lever on the tc all the way (damn - forward or back?
Can't remember!) in the direction that the shifter would try to move
it. If it's still in 4wd, it's teardown time to fix it. There are a
couple of dogs on the shift plates inside that could be out of their
track or the pads on the shift forks could be worn out. Anyway, the
quickest and easiest thing would be to disconnect the shift and force
the tc to 2wd. If that fails, get the shift arm on the front axle to
disconnect then tie the sucker in place with the vacuum motor
disconnected and plugged.

If you can't get the tc out of 4wd then you probably have something
broken inside and the broken piece is just waiting to jump up and jam
the works - at the worst possible time.

On Sat, 1 Nov 2003 16:26:12 UTC "news.verizon.net"
<pxbacher@netaxs.com> wrote:

> Title says it all - Been driving my 89 Cherokee with the front hub motor
> vacuum lines switched to keep the front wheels disengaged. Front drive
> shaft spins and I can hear the transfer case whining at speed so I know it
> really is in 4x4. Checked the shift linkage - it looks and seems to work
> fine, though I didn't disconnect it and really push it to see if it would
> disengage 4x4.
>
> Anybody seen this? Any easy fixes? Seems like my only alternative at this
> point is to suck it up, drop the transfer case, and look inside. I'm also
> debating just taking off the front driveshaft (this thing's got 190K on it
> and has lots of other problems - I'm mainly just trying to keep it going
> till it drops dead).
>
> Thanks
>
> -Pete
>
>


--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

 

It would be easier to just reach up and loosen the lock bolt on the
rod from the shifter that runs back to the tc. Then take something
and pry the shift lever on the tc all the way (damn - forward or back?
Can't remember!) in the direction that the shifter would try to move
it. If it's still in 4wd, it's teardown time to fix it. There are a
couple of dogs on the shift plates inside that could be out of their
track or the pads on the shift forks could be worn out. Anyway, the
quickest and easiest thing would be to disconnect the shift and force
the tc to 2wd. If that fails, get the shift arm on the front axle to
disconnect then tie the sucker in place with the vacuum motor
disconnected and plugged.

If you can't get the tc out of 4wd then you probably have something
broken inside and the broken piece is just waiting to jump up and jam
the works - at the worst possible time.

On Sat, 1 Nov 2003 16:26:12 UTC "news.verizon.net"
<pxbacher@netaxs.com> wrote:

> Title says it all - Been driving my 89 Cherokee with the front hub motor
> vacuum lines switched to keep the front wheels disengaged. Front drive
> shaft spins and I can hear the transfer case whining at speed so I know it
> really is in 4x4. Checked the shift linkage - it looks and seems to work
> fine, though I didn't disconnect it and really push it to see if it would
> disengage 4x4.
>
> Anybody seen this? Any easy fixes? Seems like my only alternative at this
> point is to suck it up, drop the transfer case, and look inside. I'm also
> debating just taking off the front driveshaft (this thing's got 190K on it
> and has lots of other problems - I'm mainly just trying to keep it going
> till it drops dead).
>
> Thanks
>
> -Pete
>
>


--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>