Hard shift to 4wd

[WahooSteeler]

During our recent snow, and the 2 or 3 other times I've engaged 4wd since buying my truck in 9/07, it has been very difficult to shift in to 4-hi. Once in 4wd, it seems to have operated fine. Any other truck that i've ever had or driven w/shift on the fly was not near as hard to engage as this has been. Is the linkage easily accessible to lube and/or what other items should I check that could affect this? Thanks

[speed_racer]

sounds like a bent linkage to me.

[CWLONGSHOT]

sounds like a bent linkage to me.

 

The way the lever is, its susceptible to rust and corrosion. Its possible the linkage is rusty. One of the XJs I owned wouldn't shift at all. Part of the reason I got it cheap. there wasn't a single problem with the 4WD system accept linkage. I disconnected it, shifted from underneath with my hand and it shifted right in, out and into 4LO. NO PROBLEM. Sometime in its past, someone got the linkage wet from the inside and it completely gummed up the lever and linkage directly attached to it. This is possible because many vehicles don't use 4WD until bad weather and then its only for a couple months a year. So it sits in 2WD and doesn't move.

 

Get under and spray everything good with penetrating oil. Remove the linkage from the T case and check for movement. Movement of the Tcase and linkage.

 

CW

[Pete M]

My 90 was a real pain in the keester to shift when I bought it. Turned out to be rust in the handle assembly. :(