87 Cherokee 4wd not engaging

[TomJennings]

Having trouble with it engaging into 4wd, last time I used it 3 weeks ago or so I thought it worked. Is there any fuses or relays someplace I need to change the light in the insturment cluster does not come on either. Anything else I should check under the hood? vac leak or something?. Your help to this matter would be great. Thanks Tom

 

[CherokeeGuy42]

Did you check the linkage from the 4wd shifter to the transmission? Mine would pop out sometimes.

 

[graewulf]

RE: workin

i second that... will it not go into 4WD at all? or just low range?

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

IF the lever engages properly and you have low range, it's likely a vacuum problem at the front axle or transfer case.

Pull the vacuum harness from the front axle and check for equal strong vacuum alternating between two ports when the transfer case is switched from 2wd to 4wd. If it's weak or non-existant in either port, there is a vacuum leak or bad vacuum switch at the transfer case.

IF the vacuum checks out, remove the vacuum shift motor (four 7/16" bolts) from the front axle. Make sure the shift fork moves freely by hand, and test with the vacuum attached.

 

[TomJennings]

RE: workin

it looks like a vac hose, one hose on one side and two hoses on the other the single one was off and the double one seems to be real loose could this be the problem?

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

RE: Will this work?

Yes. The single hose is what activates the 4wd light, the other two on the same side are what move the shift fork. They may still work if loosely connected, but you may want to ziptie them to the disconnect.

 

[TomJennings]

RE: engine dies? is it overheating?

Got it to work thanks for all the info on this issue.

 

[KrazyJeeper]

Undercarriage Cancer

My new 98 cherokee does not indicate a four wheel light neither. I noticed it yesterday when I was pulling my boat out of the water. I checked it out again today and it seems like it is going into 4 high, but I am not certain. I am new to the cherokee's. When I really torqued the steering wheel, I felt a grinding. Is this normal for a cherokee 4x4? I have a TJ with a 3 inch lift and 33s and I have never felt this grinding. Thanks, L

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

There shouldn't be any grinding, it really should behave the same as the TJ when in 4wd.

The '98 doesn't have the vacuum disconnect, so your inop light is likely a bad switch on the transfer case. It's easy to replace.