4 wheel drive noise

My 4 wheel drive (1990 Cherokee) always made obnoxious noises when I turned it on, but yesterday I slid off the road in my driveway and got stuck. WHen I got pulled out, it won't even move in 4 wheel drive any more and makes this loud grinding noise. In 2 wheel drive going down the road, it makes a weird noise that sounds like I'm dragging something (but I'm not) and if you put it in part time, it is a little quieter, but still an obnoxious noise. So what is it's problem now? I thought maybe something was froze up from being in the snowbank, or maybe the 4 wheel drive was stuck half way on or something, but driving it didn't make it any better. So I want to know if I have to take it in cuz the wheels are about to fall off or if it'll get better if it warms up or if it will cost a million dollars to fix it or what? It's an embarrassing noise, but it still works and I don't want to spend much on it. I don't even care if the 4 wheel drive works now that winter's almost over, but I want it to be quiet in 2 wheel drive again. Anyways, does anyone know what could cause this and what I should do with it or if I should even be driving it like this?

Yikes! I'm no expert and I can't give you a clear diagnosis but the kinds of noises you are describing are those associated with parts being ruined. Try this: Put the Jeep's transmission in neutral and move the transfer case shifter through it's full range of motion. Hopefully it goes everywhere it should. Move it back into 2WD and shift into drive (assuming you have an automatic). Try to drive, but go slowly. If you still have noise, stop; you need service. If it were my Jeep, I'd have it trucked in rather than drive it to the service place.

Maybe someone has a more optimistic view, but, in my opinion, if your problem is not just that the transfer case is improperly engaged, then you have a serious and expensive problem. Driving without a clear diagnosis may leave you stranded somewhere on the road.

Oh yeah, it's an automatic and has 275000 miles on it. Could it just need grease? I haven't tried your advice yet, I am scared to find out. I've been reading about $1100 viscous couplers and all that and I don't even want to know right now. I did try all the gears the day it happened and the only quiet one was 4-lo (except for a high pitched whining sound), but I don't suppose I can drive around in that? Thanks!

very first thing I would do is check the linkage - it is on the drivers side connected to the body and crossing to the tranny (around 5 inches long), over time the bolt that determines the transfer case handle location loosens and will slip - it sounds like the "fork" is not fully engaging on your front axle, which was the case with my 87 when I had a sound like yours - in addition one of the vacuum lines had a crack (your front axle is vacuum controlled).

gunny

Okay, I finally took it in after driving it like this for 2 months, and found out there is a big hole in the top of the transfer case. Duh. Anyways, everyone is asking me how it keeps oil in it, and obviously I didn't even know there was oil in it cuz I'm a girl, not a mechanic. It will take another week or 2 to get it fixed and it's all I got to drive, so I'm wondering if I should put some oil in it somewhere (in the hole?) just so it has a better chance of lasting until the part comes? And if so, what kind of oil do I use and how much? Since the hole is towards the top and it's lasted this long, I assume something is still in there; but I'd hate for it to lock up the week before it's getting fixed (that would be my luck) and wreck something else. Like I said, I don't know anything about it except where it is, so if you can help me in the least complicated way, please do!!!!!