Locked in 4W offroad

Apr 05, 2005 13 Replies
F

I loaned my jeep (1999 XJ limited) to a friend who drove it to Wallmart and back (about an hour total). The next time I drove it, she was "locked" in 4WD, the kind that ain't supposed to be on dry pavement. The person who dove it swore she never touched the shift lever, and the Jeep never drove funny. I drove it very slow to a garage. They said the grease in the hubs was old and sticky, and would not release back into



2WD. They replaced the grease (free) and all is well.

Questions:


1- this jeep does not have locking hubs..it's all done at the TC, so what is the garage talking about?


2- Is it even remotely possible for this to have happened without the driver touching the 4WD shift lever?


3- as a side question, the TC also has a 4WD option that is meant for dry pavement, kind of like AWD. How deos the front end diff know which setting the shifter is in?
Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
M

Wow....

Well you have 'no' grease in your 'hubs' except what is inside the sealed bearings.

All the 4x? shifting is done in the t-case, your front wheels, axles diff and driveshaft always turn.

When you go to 'full time' it has a center 'differential' of sorts so again the front end don't care, it's always spinning along.

The gear shifter could move if you have a snapped off engine or tranny mount and floor it hard or pop the clutch a few times, you know like the beginner 'bucking bronco' trip with a clutch. Something has to be broke to move the shifter that way though.

If the shifter will not come out of 4 high because you have bound up the drivetrain by driving on the street, you can usually goose it in reverse to unwind things. Sometimes you even have to spin the tires to let it loose.

Then the shifter linkage could just need grease too, they can seize up....

Mike

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

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote:

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
M

Meaning the OP just got fleeced by the garage.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
M

Custom automatic hubs? LOL!

Mike

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
M

Well...you know there 'are' things to be said for automatic hubs..... I have remembered half way through one big hole about one hub I missed..... Lots of folks got photos figuring I was going to fall off the hood and muddy bumper....

Mike

"L.W.(ßill) Hughes III" wrote:

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
M

Ahh, I missed the "free" part. They didn't charge him because they really didn't do anything but have a good laugh.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
K

Yes, they gave him a line and told him they fixed it for free. After all it is a jeep and it will be back for more repairs. Only next time, it will be an expensive set of muffler bearings. KH

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
L

And see that leaking shock absorber, the one I shot the rubber lube on last week.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
C

Now you do it for free on the net!!

-Brian

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
C

I'd bet Bill's left testicle that you have a low tire. The shop had it up in the air and it slipped back into 2WD. I'd bet Bill's right testicle that they made up the hub story because they don't know what they did to fix it. Next time you're there ask them to show you where/how they greased the hubs.

-Brian

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required