4H won't engage

[jugghead23]

98 TJ 4-banger 50k miles

I had some rattling issues lately which the dealer diagnosed as "loose transfer case linkage" and supposedly fixed because the noise went away.

We've been getting a ton of rain/flooding in NJ this week and I decided to throw it in 4h to plow through some mud and deep puddles that seem to be everywhere. Anyway, 4h all of a sudden won't engage...I mean its like I'm in neutral....tried shifting while stopped and at a slight roll. The light never comes on....I put it in 1st hit the gas and nothing but a reving engine. Shift back to 2h and all is normal again. I shifted into 4L and it seemed to engage fine...light came on and drove about 20 feet in low.

I'm assuming this week's jeep issue was brought to me by the dealer's fix...anyone care to shed the light on what they might have ef'd up and what the potential fix is?

According to my invoice, when they fixed the rattling transfer case linkage, all they did was "adjust transfer case linkage for excessive slack".....sounds pretty hard to mess up if you ask me (not very mechanical mind you).

 

[White]

Went Wheelin for the First time today !!!!!!!

Does the shifter go all the way to the normal 4hi position ?
I think if a vac line was off, no 4wd would work.

 

[jugghead23]

yea, shifter goes all the way into position...

the light comes on for a second as I'm shifting then once its in position, light off and I'm technically in neutral

I tried shifting in and out of 4H and putting in into first...at one point I heard some slight grinding which made it seem like it was almost engaged just couldn't get it all the way in.

There was no problem shifting either...the handle was as smooth as usual

 

[White]

Sounds like they screwed the linkage up.

No body lift ?

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

It's in the linkage. No vacuum controlled 4wd on a '98.

 

[jugghead23]

no body lift.

a 2" coil spacer lift, but I have used the 4wd since that was installed

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Make the dealer fix it for free.

 

[dick_wilderness]

98 TJ 4-banger 50k miles

I had some rattling issues lately which the dealer diagnosed as "loose transfer case linkage" and supposedly fixed because the noise went away.

We've been getting a ton of rain/flooding in NJ this week and I decided to throw it in 4h to plow through some mud and deep puddles that seem to be everywhere. Anyway, 4h all of a sudden won't engage...I mean its like I'm in neutral....tried shifting while stopped and at a slight roll. The light never comes on....I put it in 1st hit the gas and nothing but a reving engine. Shift back to 2h and all is normal again. I shifted into 4L and it seemed to engage fine...light came on and drove about 20 feet in low.

I'm assuming this week's jeep issue was brought to me by the dealer's fix...anyone care to shed the light on what they might have ef'd up and what the potential fix is?

According to my invoice, when they fixed the rattling transfer case linkage, all they did was "adjust transfer case linkage for excessive slack".....sounds pretty hard to mess up if you ask me (not very mechanical mind you).

What did they bang you to put that new linkage on?

 

[jugghead23]

they didn't install a new linkage...they 'adusted the tension'

about $75

 

[graewulf]

sounds like it's adjusted wrong.. you are shifting past 4hi into neutral.... which is why the light goes on as you shift to it then out.. .try pushing it forward just a bit and see if 4 hi engages. there is an adjustment on the linkage.. all you need is a wrench to adjust it yourself, you can fix it with a friend to help in 5 minutes (10 if you do it yourself)

 

[jugghead23]

I wouldn't even know what to look for...care to give me a hint?
I looked in the haynes manual and there is no good diagram of the t-case linkage

 

[88Wrangles]

Just look under the vehicle, and you should see where the transmission shifter and t-case shifter come through the floor, to the transmission and case. On the one going to the t-case, there should be a place on it for adjustment. Just play around with it for a little while. If you'd rather not do it, I'd just take it back to the dealer, make them do it for free, then try it out right there in the parking lot to make sure it works properly. If anything, go to the dealer and GET YOUR MONEY BACK!!!

 

[ChuginSudz]

I . H A T E . D E A L E R S !

don't know anyone who has ever gotten a fair deal - either the repair is not completed properly (99% of the time) or folks are charged astronomical amounts of money for simple fixes. Funny thing is - ppl keep going back for more!!!

if there are any dealership mechanics on this board or reading this - you suck - & i don't care who you are or how good you say you are - bottom line - incompetent crooks - EVERYONE of 'ya...

 

[ChuginSudz]

they didn't install a new linkage...they 'adusted the tension'

about $75

case in point - the only thing that got adjusted was your wallet, unfortunately

 

[TwistedCU]

Don't sugar coat it Sudz, let them stealerships have it!!!

 

[ChuginSudz]

Don't sugar coat it Sudz, let them stealerships have it!!!

aaah, i feel much better now...

 

[88Wrangles]

ya man, you're going way too easy on those stealerships

 

[graewulf]

Just look under the vehicle, and you should see where the transmission shifter and t-case shifter come through the floor, to the transmission and case. On the one going to the t-case, there should be a place on it for adjustment. Just play around with it for a little while.

If I remember correctly, you either pop a clip or remove anut, the adjuster slips off the linkage, then you spin the adjuster in or out (try one turn at a time) then put it back on and try it. its real easy. Where you from? might be someone local can give it a looksee