4x4 full time wont engage, grinds when shifting out of

[dawall032]

I have a 1990 jeep cherokee(XJ) limited. i cannot get the 4x4 to work, when i switch to 4x4 it just grinds. 2wd works fine as well as 4x4 part time, to switch to 4x4 full time i have to put tghe vehicle in neutral to even engage it. all it does then when i shit back into a gear is grind. 4x4 lo also works fine, to get into this gear though i must put the vehicle in neutral to get past 4x4 full time though

[mastertech1964]

if the linkage adjustment is good then you need to pull the transfer case and take it apart to see whats broke. sounds like a issue with the viscous coupler itself maybe a broken snap ring keeping things from lining up properly. your positive its a 242 and not a 231 and somebody put the wrong indicator in the car?

[LittleHoov]

Sounds like a linkage issue to me...I actually just solved a linkage issue tonight on my NP=228, its nice to have a functioning low-range, full-time 4wd is not so hot offroad sometimes....but i have a completely different case than you.

mastertech does have a good idea about making sure which case you have....crawl under the Jeep and there should be a tag, usually red in color, that has the model number of the transfer case...its located on the case itself, usually near the fluid holes.

Also, while mastertech makes a good point about something possibly being broken inside the case, the NP-242 does not use a viscous coupling (thank heavens) but instead uses an open differential for the full-time setting, much like my NP-228 does...so you can rule out one of those being broken.