bazoomkee

Greetings all. My previous question related to the general use of 4wd and I received some excellent advice. Thank you again. Now to move forward I attempted to select 4WD and got all sorts of problems!. By way of explaination I have had this 95XJ for eleven years and have never had need tp select anything other than 2WD for general motoring..Now any attempt to select say 4WD high range seems to select Low range (orange light appears on dash panel} and selecting 4WD low range is very difficult and when trying to move upwards out of that position the levers is very stiiff and hard to shift..
Am I seeing years of no use to be the cause?? I am not overly concerned by not using 4WD but am interested to know if something within the transfer case is the problem.any adice would be most appreciated. Bazoomkee.

Rogue4x4

Your linkage is probably out of adjustment. Crawl underneath where the selection lever is and you'll see it. Follow the linkage to the transfer case where it enters, and try moving the selector by hand. It should shift through all of them. If it does then adjust the linkage accordingly. There should be a write up somewhere on the site...

cruiser54

And, you should be MOVING to shift.

Here's how the factory suggests you shift the transfer case and I've been doing this since these things were new and I worked at the dealership. Quoted from the owner's manual. The suggestions in CAPS are mine.

"To engage, shift the transfer case lever from 2H to 4H while the vehicle is moving at any legal speed". I LET OFF THE GAS, THROW THE LEVER, TAP THE GAS AND LET OFF.

4L position: " To engage, slow the vehicle to 2-3 MPH , shift the transmission to Neutral, then shift the transfer lever to the right and pull firmly rearward to 4L".

TO SHIFT OUT OF 4L, SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPED, SHIFT THE TRANSFER CASE LEVER TO 2H, THEN THE TRANS TO D IF YOU HAVE AN AUTOMATIC, OR INTO FIRST GEAR WITH A MANUAL, AND CONTINUE ON.

Rogue4x4

Also, there's several options available to replace that linkage with something more substantial than stock, here's an example

bazoomkee

To the responders to my question on transfer gear selection many thanks for your excellent advises. It now seems clear to me that the linkage mechanism is out of adjustment due mainly I think more from non-use than constant use. Being a bit ancient and physically unable to clamber under vehicles anymore my trusty mechanic can do the re-adjustment. Also many thanks for the excellent u-tube links.Bazoomkee.

cruiser54

Ya know, the fluid may be real low or dirty. Have him check that also.