Any idea of how to troubleshoot the 4x4 function? How does it work? What controls it? What happens after you put the transfer case into 4 Hi? Thanks. Coach.

 

What is the problem you are having?

 

easiest way (I think) would be to jack up the front end so both tires are off the ground and put the tcase in 4wd. Crawl under and try turning the driveshaft, it should not turn.

or, just find a loose dirt/gravel parking lot or road, throw it in 4wd and floor it. If the 4wd works, there should be minimal/no wheel spin, it will just take off.

 

Inside the transfer case there is a Chain, that connects the two axles.
There is two shift forks inside the case, one slides a gear, this gear slides in and out of a drum, the drum has two ratios, thus HI and LO.
The second shift fork slides a collar, this collar is cogged internally and slides up the mainshaft, and this what catches the cog and sprocket assembly that drives the chain and that drives the front shaft.

I've got pictures of a tear down on here someplace. On my 87 Cherokee build thread. I already reassembled the thing and didn;t take pictures of that though.

 

Thanks for all the replies, I'm not sure if it's working or not, the light doesn't come on anymore. I've tried the parking lot trick but can't get it to spin in 2WD so I can't tell the difference. I think it's working but don't want to find out when the snow shows up. What's the vacuum pod for? Thanks again. Coach

 

Try putting it in 4 wheel and driving in a complete circle on pavement and see if the front tires "Jump" and pull...Tj

 

You cant get the tires to spin in 2wd?! wow...

You could jack up front and back ends, put it in 4wd and see if the front and rear tires spin together. But thats not very safe, What TJ says is a good option. Mine even pulls on grass if its in 4wd. You will feel the steering wheel try to pull out of your hand.

The "vacuum pod" is the CAD (center axle disconnect) If you read my writeup, you will have an idea of how it works. Vacuum is applied to one side of a diaphragm and it pulls the locking collar over, locking the axles together.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/fr...ss-91-a-38629/

 

When I make a tight turn on pavement in 2 HI, the jeep's front end bucks and jerks already so trying it in 4 HI probably wouldn't tell me much. My Jeep has 327,000 miles on the original untouched motor so it's a tad tired. Here in Montana we have quite a bit of cold weather and it's coming pretty quickly so I just want to make sure everything is working right. This is not my first 4x4, nor my first Cherokee (although the first one I've been allowed to play with) so I've already tried most of the suggested methods, also I don't think I have the center axle disconnect but I'll have to look to make sure. I appreciate all the responses and welcome them. Thanks. Coach.

 

Well I know the 4x4 works as it's been engaged since November, thanks for all the help. I also know that I don't have a vacuum actuated axle so I must be full time right? Anybody know what year they stopped doing the vacuum actuated axle? Thanks. Coach

 

it might also be a vaccum problem. i had a loose vaccumm hose on the driver side of mine closest to the driver and it wouldn't engage

 

A simple linkage with shifter at the driver side of the t-case (range selector) the linkage simply rotates this you can see it by getting under the jeep and looking just by the lower side just behind where t-case/trans meet ...the stock jeep linkage is a mess ,So I sure do appreciate my Novak z-link .

 

yep that's all i have is linkage, no vacuum at all. Works great!!