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[eddscott]

From advice on here I've put my XJ into perme 4WD several times and its always felt bad.  The steering becomes notchy and it makes some nasty noises on or close to lock left or right.  Its like a binding sound and when moving forward in a straight line theres some faint rumbling going on. 

Now, the other day I put it into 4WD and after a while the issue went and the steering was smooth and it rolled back and for on full lock with no gas applied.  Today I put it back into 2WD and had the same horrible feelings for a while.  Now its gone again and business as usual.

Would there be some reason why it seems to take the jeep a while to adjust from 2 to 4?  I haven't fully investigated it and I may have been making these changes whilst everything is still cold so not sure if its when everything is warmed through that the problem disappears.

[gazjeep]

OK i'll ask the obvious, you are putting it into Full time 4WD not Part time aren't you ?

[scrw]

And are your tyres worn evenly? even just a few mm difference causes issues going between the TC settings

[Dave69]

sounds like it's not fully switching to FT4x4 and still in PT4x4. more use will help it engage if you don't do it often. Also when engaging FT4x4 and it doesn't seem right, drop out of drive into neutral and then put back into drive. Ideally don't try this when you are on a twisty road or comming upto a corner.

[eddscott]

My old Impreza had the adjustable centre diff and that would bounce on full lock if the diff was closed.  I does like its not moving through PT to FT properly but my concern is that theres something expensive lurking in the front diff - or summat

[JamesH]

Keep trying to get it moving. Change while going straight and slow on a quiet bit of ground/road. blip the throttle, drop in and out of drive and reverse and keep trying. If it feels like it is binding then don't drive far on tarmac - although short distances won't kill it straight away.

If you have the ability to change the oil easily then giving it a flush and fresh lubrication is always a good idea.

[eddscott]

So its OK to change the transmission when in motion?  I've only ever moved the lever stationary.   

Its not stuck in PT so driveable right now.  Its only when the lever is moved it seems to take it a while to fully engage (or pass through the PT setting)

I plan to do a fluids change shortly anyway so that might help matters - I had been told before not to flush the gearbox before - don't the gearbox and transfer case share the same fluids?

[scrw]

So its OK to change the transmission when in motion?  I've only ever moved the lever stationary.  

yes, up to 50mph (but don't quote me on this)

I plan to do a fluids change shortly anyway so that might help matters - I had been told before not to flush the gearbox before - don't the gearbox and transfer case share the same fluids?

Nope.

What is the tread depth on the front & rear of your tyres?

[Dave69]

move the lever when the jeep is moving in a straight line. the more you move it the better it gets. it can be swapped while stationary but your relying on the gears being in the right alignment for shift to work

[eddscott]

I did wonder whether moving would be better to help the meshing process.  Tyre depth is even front to back.  The fronts were a bit worn on the outside edge which I assume is due to steering.  I swapped them round last week to keep the wear even. 

I'll do a couple of days in 2 and then a couple of 4 and hopefully should get it feel a bit smoother. 

[eddscott]

OK, So I've been moving the lever about over the last few days and it really does not like switching drives.   At best I get 2WD or Part Time - When its in 4WD and on lock, one of the wheels hops.   Its very hard to move it into 4Lo (does the Part Time sign come back on?) and usually won't go past N - when moving and trying to go into 4Lo it grinds so I assume its just moving too fast (20MPH ish)  If I really yank it, it will go into 4Lo. 

The lever does seem to flick into Part Time very easily and moving it all the way down so its supposed to be in 2WD its not - it still winds up.   I drove round for half an hour this morning doing all sorts of things to get it back into 2WD from Part Time.   Once its warmed and I yank the lever flat it will go into 2WD (on lock it moves gently with no gas applied) 

My first XJ never had this problem and selected stationary no problems at all. 

[Dave69]

the part time light should be on when in 4lo.  if it works fine when warm it might be an indication that the fluids either need topping up or changing

any gear selection where you go from full time 4wd to a lower range needs to be selected when stationary.

another option is that there could be a bit of play in the linkages which dont allow the selector to be more positive. Not sure if there is some adjustment that can be made on them

[eddscott]

When you say fluid change is the for the transfer case?  Is there a guide on how to change it - its Dexron II yes?

I wouldn't say its better when its warm but with the lever flat is doesn't hop in lock so I assume its out of Part Time.  I think its going back into 2WD when warm but I'm not its going into 4WD or if its getting stuck in Part Time.

[JamesH]

Changing into 4lo should be done with the gearbox in neutral and vehicle stationary of moving very slowly (less than 5mph).

I think I put DexronIII in my transfer case, it would eb worth changing the fluid if only to rule that out as a problem.

[eddscott]

Is it obvious how to change the fluid when looking under neath?  i.e. where the fill and drain plugs are.

[Dave69]

i assume you have looked here at the xj manual


http://www.birtydastards.com/frm/index.php?topic=11890.0