On Tuesday I brought my Jeep (01 Sahara) in for service. Standard
stuff, change the transfer case fluid, check the breaks, oil change,
and adjust the 4x4 lever. (Previously if you pulled back to the 4x4
high location it would be in neutral.. you had to be in the middle of
the position to be in 4x4 high..)

After picking up the jeep I drove around (all different speeds) for
15-20 miles. No out of place noises nothing.

Yesterday after lunch I was driving on the freeway (it had been
raining, but luckily had stopped). Just turned on the cruise control
to 65 MPH.. and suddenly "_BANG_", "screeetch".. Something broke at 65
MPH and the wheels locked up! 65-0 in about 10-15 seconds.. dead in
the middle of the freeway with on coming traffic going 65-80 MPH!

Luckily I avoided getting rear-ended and was able to get highway patrol
there within a few minutes. When loading the jeep onto the flatbed we
put the transmission and transfer case into neutral. The rear tires
"lurched" and turned.. the front fires wouldn't turn at all. Had the
jeep towed back to the dealership (15 or so miles away).. ($500+!
dealership picked up the invoice on that...)

I'm still waiting to hear what went wrong and whats broken..... but I
was wondering, if anyone has any idea what the hell happened.... and
what I need to look out for (damage wise).

My suspicion right now is either all 4 tires locked up or only the
front 2. If all 4 locked, then I suspect the transfer case blew up.
If only the front 2 locked then the front differential blew up.

If the transfer case blew, then could the front/rear differential,
drive shaft, etc be damaged? (I already expect the tires to be flat
spotted).

If only the front differential blew up.. would there be any damage to
anything other then the front axel?

(Needless to say, it was damned scary going from 65-0 without being
able to do anything about it.. highway patrol, highway helper, tow
truck driver and jeep service guy were all amazed I didn't flip/roll
it.. geez..)

Thanx,
Mark

(First time I've posted here.. been reading the group for the last 4
years.. all sorts of great tips!)

 

Wow, you were lucky.

Too hard to guess at the damage. Too many things could have jammed but
having the linkage adjusted and something like the t-case blowing up is
too strange.....

That almost sounds like you were in 4 high on dry roads and it grenaded
the t-case. I have seen that happen, the t-case was literally in pieces
with the front driveshaft blown right out.

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

fray wrote:
>
> On Tuesday I brought my Jeep (01 Sahara) in for service. Standard
> stuff, change the transfer case fluid, check the breaks, oil change,
> and adjust the 4x4 lever. (Previously if you pulled back to the 4x4
> high location it would be in neutral.. you had to be in the middle of
> the position to be in 4x4 high..)
>
> After picking up the jeep I drove around (all different speeds) for
> 15-20 miles. No out of place noises nothing.
>
> Yesterday after lunch I was driving on the freeway (it had been
> raining, but luckily had stopped). Just turned on the cruise control
> to 65 MPH.. and suddenly "_BANG_", "screeetch".. Something broke at 65
> MPH and the wheels locked up! 65-0 in about 10-15 seconds.. dead in
> the middle of the freeway with on coming traffic going 65-80 MPH!
>
> Luckily I avoided getting rear-ended and was able to get highway patrol
> there within a few minutes. When loading the jeep onto the flatbed we
> put the transmission and transfer case into neutral. The rear tires
> "lurched" and turned.. the front fires wouldn't turn at all. Had the
> jeep towed back to the dealership (15 or so miles away).. ($500+!
> dealership picked up the invoice on that...)
>
> I'm still waiting to hear what went wrong and whats broken..... but I
> was wondering, if anyone has any idea what the hell happened.... and
> what I need to look out for (damage wise).
>
> My suspicion right now is either all 4 tires locked up or only the
> front 2. If all 4 locked, then I suspect the transfer case blew up.
> If only the front 2 locked then the front differential blew up.
>
> If the transfer case blew, then could the front/rear differential,
> drive shaft, etc be damaged? (I already expect the tires to be flat
> spotted).
>
> If only the front differential blew up.. would there be any damage to
> anything other then the front axel?
>
> (Needless to say, it was damned scary going from 65-0 without being
> able to do anything about it.. highway patrol, highway helper, tow
> truck driver and jeep service guy were all amazed I didn't flip/roll
> it.. geez..)
>
> Thanx,
> Mark
>
> (First time I've posted here.. been reading the group for the last 4
> years.. all sorts of great tips!)

 

Wow, you were lucky.

Too hard to guess at the damage. Too many things could have jammed but
having the linkage adjusted and something like the t-case blowing up is
too strange.....

That almost sounds like you were in 4 high on dry roads and it grenaded
the t-case. I have seen that happen, the t-case was literally in pieces
with the front driveshaft blown right out.

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

fray wrote:
>
> On Tuesday I brought my Jeep (01 Sahara) in for service. Standard
> stuff, change the transfer case fluid, check the breaks, oil change,
> and adjust the 4x4 lever. (Previously if you pulled back to the 4x4
> high location it would be in neutral.. you had to be in the middle of
> the position to be in 4x4 high..)
>
> After picking up the jeep I drove around (all different speeds) for
> 15-20 miles. No out of place noises nothing.
>
> Yesterday after lunch I was driving on the freeway (it had been
> raining, but luckily had stopped). Just turned on the cruise control
> to 65 MPH.. and suddenly "_BANG_", "screeetch".. Something broke at 65
> MPH and the wheels locked up! 65-0 in about 10-15 seconds.. dead in
> the middle of the freeway with on coming traffic going 65-80 MPH!
>
> Luckily I avoided getting rear-ended and was able to get highway patrol
> there within a few minutes. When loading the jeep onto the flatbed we
> put the transmission and transfer case into neutral. The rear tires
> "lurched" and turned.. the front fires wouldn't turn at all. Had the
> jeep towed back to the dealership (15 or so miles away).. ($500+!
> dealership picked up the invoice on that...)
>
> I'm still waiting to hear what went wrong and whats broken..... but I
> was wondering, if anyone has any idea what the hell happened.... and
> what I need to look out for (damage wise).
>
> My suspicion right now is either all 4 tires locked up or only the
> front 2. If all 4 locked, then I suspect the transfer case blew up.
> If only the front 2 locked then the front differential blew up.
>
> If the transfer case blew, then could the front/rear differential,
> drive shaft, etc be damaged? (I already expect the tires to be flat
> spotted).
>
> If only the front differential blew up.. would there be any damage to
> anything other then the front axel?
>
> (Needless to say, it was damned scary going from 65-0 without being
> able to do anything about it.. highway patrol, highway helper, tow
> truck driver and jeep service guy were all amazed I didn't flip/roll
> it.. geez..)
>
> Thanx,
> Mark
>
> (First time I've posted here.. been reading the group for the last 4
> years.. all sorts of great tips!)

 

Wow, you were lucky.

Too hard to guess at the damage. Too many things could have jammed but
having the linkage adjusted and something like the t-case blowing up is
too strange.....

That almost sounds like you were in 4 high on dry roads and it grenaded
the t-case. I have seen that happen, the t-case was literally in pieces
with the front driveshaft blown right out.

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

fray wrote:
>
> On Tuesday I brought my Jeep (01 Sahara) in for service. Standard
> stuff, change the transfer case fluid, check the breaks, oil change,
> and adjust the 4x4 lever. (Previously if you pulled back to the 4x4
> high location it would be in neutral.. you had to be in the middle of
> the position to be in 4x4 high..)
>
> After picking up the jeep I drove around (all different speeds) for
> 15-20 miles. No out of place noises nothing.
>
> Yesterday after lunch I was driving on the freeway (it had been
> raining, but luckily had stopped). Just turned on the cruise control
> to 65 MPH.. and suddenly "_BANG_", "screeetch".. Something broke at 65
> MPH and the wheels locked up! 65-0 in about 10-15 seconds.. dead in
> the middle of the freeway with on coming traffic going 65-80 MPH!
>
> Luckily I avoided getting rear-ended and was able to get highway patrol
> there within a few minutes. When loading the jeep onto the flatbed we
> put the transmission and transfer case into neutral. The rear tires
> "lurched" and turned.. the front fires wouldn't turn at all. Had the
> jeep towed back to the dealership (15 or so miles away).. ($500+!
> dealership picked up the invoice on that...)
>
> I'm still waiting to hear what went wrong and whats broken..... but I
> was wondering, if anyone has any idea what the hell happened.... and
> what I need to look out for (damage wise).
>
> My suspicion right now is either all 4 tires locked up or only the
> front 2. If all 4 locked, then I suspect the transfer case blew up.
> If only the front 2 locked then the front differential blew up.
>
> If the transfer case blew, then could the front/rear differential,
> drive shaft, etc be damaged? (I already expect the tires to be flat
> spotted).
>
> If only the front differential blew up.. would there be any damage to
> anything other then the front axel?
>
> (Needless to say, it was damned scary going from 65-0 without being
> able to do anything about it.. highway patrol, highway helper, tow
> truck driver and jeep service guy were all amazed I didn't flip/roll
> it.. geez..)
>
> Thanx,
> Mark
>
> (First time I've posted here.. been reading the group for the last 4
> years.. all sorts of great tips!)

 

> That almost sounds like you were in 4 high on dry roads and it
grenaded
> the t-case. I have seen that happen, the t-case was literally in
pieces
> with the front driveshaft blown right out.

That had definatly cross my mind. The lever was definatly in 2 HI.

Also I had taken many turns, nothing felt jittery or anything.. it's
possible something minor broke and it flipped into 4x4 HI and then
grenaded.

It had been raining all day, but wasn't when this happened.. in some
ways I think the slightly slick roads helped me... If it wasn't for a
little bit of slidding, it may have flipped.

I kind of am kicking myself now that I didn't look under the jeep at
all when I dropped it off.. but the adrenaline was a bit much for me to
be thinking about what actually happened.... (took 2+ hours for my
hands to stop shaking!)

 

> That almost sounds like you were in 4 high on dry roads and it
grenaded
> the t-case. I have seen that happen, the t-case was literally in
pieces
> with the front driveshaft blown right out.

That had definatly cross my mind. The lever was definatly in 2 HI.

Also I had taken many turns, nothing felt jittery or anything.. it's
possible something minor broke and it flipped into 4x4 HI and then
grenaded.

It had been raining all day, but wasn't when this happened.. in some
ways I think the slightly slick roads helped me... If it wasn't for a
little bit of slidding, it may have flipped.

I kind of am kicking myself now that I didn't look under the jeep at
all when I dropped it off.. but the adrenaline was a bit much for me to
be thinking about what actually happened.... (took 2+ hours for my
hands to stop shaking!)

 

> That almost sounds like you were in 4 high on dry roads and it
grenaded
> the t-case. I have seen that happen, the t-case was literally in
pieces
> with the front driveshaft blown right out.

That had definatly cross my mind. The lever was definatly in 2 HI.

Also I had taken many turns, nothing felt jittery or anything.. it's
possible something minor broke and it flipped into 4x4 HI and then
grenaded.

It had been raining all day, but wasn't when this happened.. in some
ways I think the slightly slick roads helped me... If it wasn't for a
little bit of slidding, it may have flipped.

I kind of am kicking myself now that I didn't look under the jeep at
all when I dropped it off.. but the adrenaline was a bit much for me to
be thinking about what actually happened.... (took 2+ hours for my
hands to stop shaking!)

 

"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:424C3B10.CC90B52C@sympatico.ca...
> Wow, you were lucky.
>
> Too hard to guess at the damage. Too many things could have jammed but
> having the linkage adjusted and something like the t-case blowing up is
> too strange.....
>
> That almost sounds like you were in 4 high on dry roads and it grenaded
> the t-case. I have seen that happen, the t-case was literally in pieces
> with the front driveshaft blown right out.
>

That's what I was thinkin' too, he thought he was in 2WD, but was really in
4WD and the tcase couldn't take it anymore.

 

"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:424C3B10.CC90B52C@sympatico.ca...
> Wow, you were lucky.
>
> Too hard to guess at the damage. Too many things could have jammed but
> having the linkage adjusted and something like the t-case blowing up is
> too strange.....
>
> That almost sounds like you were in 4 high on dry roads and it grenaded
> the t-case. I have seen that happen, the t-case was literally in pieces
> with the front driveshaft blown right out.
>

That's what I was thinkin' too, he thought he was in 2WD, but was really in
4WD and the tcase couldn't take it anymore.

 

"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:424C3B10.CC90B52C@sympatico.ca...
> Wow, you were lucky.
>
> Too hard to guess at the damage. Too many things could have jammed but
> having the linkage adjusted and something like the t-case blowing up is
> too strange.....
>
> That almost sounds like you were in 4 high on dry roads and it grenaded
> the t-case. I have seen that happen, the t-case was literally in pieces
> with the front driveshaft blown right out.
>

That's what I was thinkin' too, he thought he was in 2WD, but was really in
4WD and the tcase couldn't take it anymore.