'93 Grand Cherokee message center

[COJeepz89]

I have the limited edition Cherokee, it has an electronic message center that wont stop telling me to check the four wheel drive switch. Of course i bought the thing without a manual and the internet searches have all come up blank. What does this mean? Also it runs on full time four wheel drive. And won't shift into 4L at all...

 

[Bent Ian]

There is a plug in the left rear quater panell. If you have no power check the corrisponding wire at that connector. The wires splice togeter just before the connector. So if the other brake/tail light is working you know the problem is after that. Hope this helps. Im sure you'll find the problem.

 

[rockfangd]

I wonder if you could have a bad actuator for the 4wd. does it have push button or lever style engagement?

 

[COJeepz89]

Found out that the front drive shaft and possibly transfer case is missing. Don't know how or when that happened....

 

[rockfangd]

wait what? you are saying you dont have the transfer case or front shaft?
That would mean that someone changed the rear driveshaft and possibly the trans. Please give some more info

 

[COJeepz89]

Front drive shaft, yokes, and u joints. All missing, running as a rear wheel drive but it is supposed to be a full time four wheel drive.

 

[COJeepz89]

It is an automatic 4spd. Rear drive shaft looks I'm tact and everything else underneath looks fine as well

 

[rockfangd]

I know this may sounds stupid but I have to ask. according to the vin is it a 4x4? What makes you say it is a full time 4wd? See if the transfer case was removed the rear driveshaft would have been changed also because the transfer case bolts to the rear of the trans and the rear shaft goes to the transfer case. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. How long have you owned it?
Do you have a selector for the 4x4? either push button or a on the floor lever?

 

[COJeepz89]

Yes vin says 4x4. It has a shifter for the four wheel drive from 4h to 4L only. No 2wd option. Apparently it's pretty common to remove the drive shaft on these to conserve gas.

 

[rockfangd]

ok thanks for clearing that up. Now you said possibly the transfer case is gone also. can you confirm this?

 

[COJeepz89]

I've owned it for three months now, I don't think the transfer case is gone at all. It stays locked in 4h and shifts smooth. I ordered a new front drive shaft set up so we'll see if that solves these issues. Definitely a project but hopefully she's worth it.

Once I get the new drive shaft in will there be any issues with the differentials? Could I have caused irreplaceable damage to something else will thus has been off?

 

[COJeepz89]

I got the new drive shaft installed and got new tires all the way around on it at the same time. Now it is making a whining noise from left of center as I'm driving. Really loud and increases as I accelerate. I checked the diff fluid, transmission fluid and bolts. What could this newest issue be?