Hi, newbie here. Just got a 91 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4.0 with an NP242 Transfer Case. There is a grinding/clicking noise when I accelerate and the TC has been suggested to me as the possible problem, but the noise only occurs when I'm am turning left. My question is, will steering in one direction while accelerating make the transfer case make a different sound then when accelerating straight or the other direction? Isn't it doing the same thing regardless of wheel position? Also, is that the stock TC? I had a parts guy argue with me about what TC I needed even though I had read the numbers right off the TC itself.
Thanks in advance!

 

Sounds like it could be a bad u-joint in the front axle shaft. Check to see if they look rusted or worn. I couldn't see how it would only make a noise when turning left enless you are in part time 4wd or full time. This is in 2wd right?

Also yes that is the stock transfer case, I have the np242 in my jeep they are rare compared to the common np231. Although it could have been swapped out from the np231 or another np242

 

I am supposed to be in 2 wheel drive. Here is the deal (first off, this is my first 4x4). I took it to a shop that claimed to have 4x4 experience, as well as everything else, when I should have waited the one day required to get it into the local actual offroad place.

They basically drove it around for a few minutes, told me they put it on a lift, turned the wheel and heard noise from the TC. So they dropped it down moved the gear selector into 4 wheel drive, got a terrible noise, pushed it back into 2 wheel drive somewhat forcefully (although the lever goes all the way foward with ease) and made sure it was fully in two wheel drive. They then drove it around and voila, noise gone. Unfortunately as I drove off $40 poorer, I noticed not one thing was different than from when I first pulled up. The reciept made mention of the TC chain but again, why only when turning left, is the front differential an option? I have only driven it up ramps at home, not lifted the tires to inspect. Should probably do that.

Since taking it to the shop, I have not dared to pull the lever for fear off hearing the aweful noise they heard, but before taking it there I had tried it in all the 4x4 and 2 wheel settings. I'm not sure how to tell the difference without observing the tires on a slippery surface (first time driving 4 wheel drive), so I can't say for certain that it is fully out of 4x4 or even out at all. But the dash light that indicates part time came on and off at the appropriate settings.

I did drive it on an 8 hour round trip the other day averageing 80 to 85 mph and it did fine, it ate alot of gas but I attributed that to the high speed I had to travel to make up for being late (shaved an hour off the GPS estimate)!

I did a quick shake of all the axels and drive shafts and they seem tight but I will look closer tomorrow after I got my girlfriends volvo fitted with a new harmonic balancer.

Thanks so much for your help, I posted earlier today and the post quickly got burried with zero replies.

 

hmm... Well I have the NP242 and I replaced my chain yesterday because when i was in 4wd either (full time, part time, and esp 4low) I would get this terrble clunking/snap noise when it would gas it out.

The best way to find out if the chain has stretched is put the transfer case in 4low, put it in referse and give it a good amount of gas. and do this going straight. If you hear "snap snap" than your chain is stretched. I think these chains stretching is quite common but im not sure.

Now if it is not the chain I personally dont have enough experience. Fortunatly these transfer cases are all mechanical. Also if it isnt the chain your best bet is to just swap the case out. It 6 bolts and its out and if ur gonna be 4 wheelin alot get the np231 because they are more common, and there is much more support for it than the np242. but the np242 is nice on the street.

-Mike

 

Also if your mechanical here is somthing that may help, helped me for sure

http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8549

 

X2..it sounds like to chain is going. Here is a link on how to change it if you want to do it yourself...It will cost you about $80-100 and take a few hours ...Tj
http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoChainChange.htm

 

My I had the same issue... Have you checked the CV joint on the front axle? Mine blew apart and its sounded like the TC because its bolted to it, and its hidden behind the crossmember. Check that first, all you could need is a new front shaft. Then get the bad one rebuilt and you will have a spare.

Much cheaper then the TC.

 

I was under the impression that the cherokee did not have cv joints, is this incorrect?

 

Well what ever its call, here its marked 11 & 12... That joint.

 

I think havensov means the CV joint in the front Drive shaft, in the front axle of the cherokee there are U-joints. And yea it could possibly be the CV joint in the shaft, my friend blew his out plowing with his xj, it was making a nastly clicking noise. If you look inside you will see a little ball like thing, and u should be able to tell if its broken. Its inside the double u joint peice on the transfer case side

 

[QUOTE=mikeXJ1020;514072]I think havensov means the CV joint in the front Drive shaft, in the front axle of the cherokee there are U-joints. And yea it could possibly be the CV joint in the shaft, my friend blew his out plowing with his xj, it was making a nastly clicking noise. If you look inside you will see a little ball like thing, and u should be able to tell if its broken. Its inside the double u joint peice on the transfer case side

ah i meant to beat your post havensov*

 

AH, I see now where I screwed up... LOL

 

i blew the cv joint in my 94 and when you would put it in 4wd it sounded awful i too had a NP 242 and i thought it was the chain as well but it was not.
have you trued to take out the front shaft and drive it around?
even with the front shaft out if you put it in 4wd and give it some gas you will still hear the chain if it is bad if you hear no noise then it is the front drive shaft.

 

Ok, so I got over my fear of what the idiots at the shop told me about terrible noises when they engaged the 4 wheel drive and tried all the positions. I went to a gravel parking lot so I could easily tell if front wheels where engaging or not. Everything functioned perfectly as far as I can tell. Full time and part time dash lights lit accordingly, and front wheels spun while in all 4 wheel drive positions only. The noise I got from accelerating and turning left was consistantly the same in every drive option, leading me to believe the noise is not TC related.

mikeXJ1020, I tried the reverse in Lo4 tip. Laid on the gas a bit and damn near hit my head on the steering wheel! Wasn't expecting that much torque! Did not hear a snapping sound though, tried a few more times even harder (this time bracing myself) and still no snapping sound. I'm starting to get a good feeling about my TC Will look at the double cardan joint in the morning with daylight.

alwaysxj, that sounds like a great idea, I will try that. Is it difficult to remove the front drive shaft? Could it be the axle u-joints which would still be turning with the driveshaft removed?

And on an unrelated side note, has anyone ever heard of the "rope trick" to hold the engine still when installing a new crankshaft pulley? May be old news to you but it blew my mind (and worked like a charm). It basically involves filling a cylinder with rope through a spark plug hole so the piston cannot make a full trip thereby freezing the engine! I'm sure a search will bring up full details but for those of you who have not heard of this trick (like me), it can save a whole lot of headache!

Big thanks to everyone, I feel like I am finally starting make some headway!

 

So I got underneath and shook every u joint I could find, they all seem tight as can be to me, perhaps I dont know what I'm looking for. Opinions seem to go back and forth over whether it is my Transfer Case or a joint/axel/driveshaft issue. Does anyone know for certain if a messed up TC would make noise all the time on acceleration? Could the noise occur just when turning left/accelerating and still be the TC? (recap: noise does not occur driving straight or to the right)
Another thing I dont understand is if I am in two wheel drive, aren't the front driveshaft and axles just a long for the ride? Why would accelerating change their behavior?

Thanks, with your help, I will beat this!