I have a 99 Wrangler Sport.

I think I'm having a differential issue... I shift it into 4WD, it
engages.. the light comes on.. and all seems to be fine.

When I switch back, the light goes off, I do the little tap of the
gas... Nothing. I try backing up, lunging forward, nothing... No
'click'.

I ran it like this for weeks last winter not realizing it until my wife
pointed out she could watch the gas gauge going down. All of a sudden
the lost power and engine running higher RPMs started to make sense.

Anyway... I spent like 20 mins shifting in and out of 4WD and
eventually it did disengage..

Anyone have any advice on what I should be checking? I'm afraid to use
my 4WD...

Joseph

 

I would guess that your linkage is slightly out of adjustment. There is
a rod with a lock nut/bolt on it that sets it on the older ones.

I am not sure if they changed it on the TJ, but for the older ones, you
are supposed to put it in 4 low and use a 1/8" shim or drill bit between
the shifter and it's end gate to have it adjusted right.

I would guess yours is more like 1/4" gap or something like that...

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/in...?id=2120343242
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Ice wrote:
>
> I have a 99 Wrangler Sport.
>
> I think I'm having a differential issue... I shift it into 4WD, it
> engages.. the light comes on.. and all seems to be fine.
>
> When I switch back, the light goes off, I do the little tap of the
> gas... Nothing. I try backing up, lunging forward, nothing... No
> 'click'.
>
> I ran it like this for weeks last winter not realizing it until my wife
> pointed out she could watch the gas gauge going down. All of a sudden
> the lost power and engine running higher RPMs started to make sense.
>
> Anyway... I spent like 20 mins shifting in and out of 4WD and
> eventually it did disengage..
>
> Anyone have any advice on what I should be checking? I'm afraid to use
> my 4WD...
>
> Joseph

 

I would guess that your linkage is slightly out of adjustment. There is
a rod with a lock nut/bolt on it that sets it on the older ones.

I am not sure if they changed it on the TJ, but for the older ones, you
are supposed to put it in 4 low and use a 1/8" shim or drill bit between
the shifter and it's end gate to have it adjusted right.

I would guess yours is more like 1/4" gap or something like that...

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/in...?id=2120343242
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Ice wrote:
>
> I have a 99 Wrangler Sport.
>
> I think I'm having a differential issue... I shift it into 4WD, it
> engages.. the light comes on.. and all seems to be fine.
>
> When I switch back, the light goes off, I do the little tap of the
> gas... Nothing. I try backing up, lunging forward, nothing... No
> 'click'.
>
> I ran it like this for weeks last winter not realizing it until my wife
> pointed out she could watch the gas gauge going down. All of a sudden
> the lost power and engine running higher RPMs started to make sense.
>
> Anyway... I spent like 20 mins shifting in and out of 4WD and
> eventually it did disengage..
>
> Anyone have any advice on what I should be checking? I'm afraid to use
> my 4WD...
>
> Joseph

 

I would guess that your linkage is slightly out of adjustment. There is
a rod with a lock nut/bolt on it that sets it on the older ones.

I am not sure if they changed it on the TJ, but for the older ones, you
are supposed to put it in 4 low and use a 1/8" shim or drill bit between
the shifter and it's end gate to have it adjusted right.

I would guess yours is more like 1/4" gap or something like that...

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/in...?id=2120343242
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Ice wrote:
>
> I have a 99 Wrangler Sport.
>
> I think I'm having a differential issue... I shift it into 4WD, it
> engages.. the light comes on.. and all seems to be fine.
>
> When I switch back, the light goes off, I do the little tap of the
> gas... Nothing. I try backing up, lunging forward, nothing... No
> 'click'.
>
> I ran it like this for weeks last winter not realizing it until my wife
> pointed out she could watch the gas gauge going down. All of a sudden
> the lost power and engine running higher RPMs started to make sense.
>
> Anyway... I spent like 20 mins shifting in and out of 4WD and
> eventually it did disengage..
>
> Anyone have any advice on what I should be checking? I'm afraid to use
> my 4WD...
>
> Joseph

 

It may be shifting out of 4wd anyway. It doesn't always make an audible
"click." when it shifts out, although it may delay shifting out for a few
seconds depending on the torque load in the T case. Tapping the thottle will
increase the torque load and do the opposite of what you want. If you have
an automatic, try shifting the tranny into neutral when shifting the tcase;
manual, let up on the gas or disengage the clutch.

All this is valid assuming what you are describing isn't actually being
stuck in 4 Lo.

"Ice" <joseph@vndinc.com> wrote in message
news:1134840935.033617.59260@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
>I have a 99 Wrangler Sport.
>
> I think I'm having a differential issue... I shift it into 4WD, it
> engages.. the light comes on.. and all seems to be fine.
>
> When I switch back, the light goes off, I do the little tap of the
> gas... Nothing. I try backing up, lunging forward, nothing... No
> 'click'.
>
> I ran it like this for weeks last winter not realizing it until my wife
> pointed out she could watch the gas gauge going down. All of a sudden
> the lost power and engine running higher RPMs started to make sense.
>
> Anyway... I spent like 20 mins shifting in and out of 4WD and
> eventually it did disengage..
>
> Anyone have any advice on what I should be checking? I'm afraid to use
> my 4WD...
>
> Joseph
>

 

It may be shifting out of 4wd anyway. It doesn't always make an audible
"click." when it shifts out, although it may delay shifting out for a few
seconds depending on the torque load in the T case. Tapping the thottle will
increase the torque load and do the opposite of what you want. If you have
an automatic, try shifting the tranny into neutral when shifting the tcase;
manual, let up on the gas or disengage the clutch.

All this is valid assuming what you are describing isn't actually being
stuck in 4 Lo.

"Ice" <joseph@vndinc.com> wrote in message
news:1134840935.033617.59260@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
>I have a 99 Wrangler Sport.
>
> I think I'm having a differential issue... I shift it into 4WD, it
> engages.. the light comes on.. and all seems to be fine.
>
> When I switch back, the light goes off, I do the little tap of the
> gas... Nothing. I try backing up, lunging forward, nothing... No
> 'click'.
>
> I ran it like this for weeks last winter not realizing it until my wife
> pointed out she could watch the gas gauge going down. All of a sudden
> the lost power and engine running higher RPMs started to make sense.
>
> Anyway... I spent like 20 mins shifting in and out of 4WD and
> eventually it did disengage..
>
> Anyone have any advice on what I should be checking? I'm afraid to use
> my 4WD...
>
> Joseph
>

 

It may be shifting out of 4wd anyway. It doesn't always make an audible
"click." when it shifts out, although it may delay shifting out for a few
seconds depending on the torque load in the T case. Tapping the thottle will
increase the torque load and do the opposite of what you want. If you have
an automatic, try shifting the tranny into neutral when shifting the tcase;
manual, let up on the gas or disengage the clutch.

All this is valid assuming what you are describing isn't actually being
stuck in 4 Lo.

"Ice" <joseph@vndinc.com> wrote in message
news:1134840935.033617.59260@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
>I have a 99 Wrangler Sport.
>
> I think I'm having a differential issue... I shift it into 4WD, it
> engages.. the light comes on.. and all seems to be fine.
>
> When I switch back, the light goes off, I do the little tap of the
> gas... Nothing. I try backing up, lunging forward, nothing... No
> 'click'.
>
> I ran it like this for weeks last winter not realizing it until my wife
> pointed out she could watch the gas gauge going down. All of a sudden
> the lost power and engine running higher RPMs started to make sense.
>
> Anyway... I spent like 20 mins shifting in and out of 4WD and
> eventually it did disengage..
>
> Anyone have any advice on what I should be checking? I'm afraid to use
> my 4WD...
>
> Joseph
>

 

Matt,

Good info. I'll give that a shot when I finally do give 4WD a try.
Thanks.

The poor gas mileage and performance loss indicates strongly it is not
coming out of 4WD.

Joseph

 

Matt,

Good info. I'll give that a shot when I finally do give 4WD a try.
Thanks.

The poor gas mileage and performance loss indicates strongly it is not
coming out of 4WD.

Joseph

 

Matt,

Good info. I'll give that a shot when I finally do give 4WD a try.
Thanks.

The poor gas mileage and performance loss indicates strongly it is not
coming out of 4WD.

Joseph