Part Time indication

[fredjacksonsan]

Firstly, yes I know I have a Grand Cherokee, but since powertrain is similar to the Cherokee and there are a lot of experienced folks here, I'm posting this issue up here as well as the GC section. Thanks for reading.

2004 Grand Cherokee 4wd, 4.0, 88k miles. It's got the part time transfer case (2wd, 4wd Part Time, 4wd Full Time, Neutral, 4Lo)

I'll say first that the TC is working correctly, engaging and disengaging 4wd normally.

The problem is in the indication on the dash. The "Part Time" light stays on in 2wd, but the light goes out in 4wd Part Time. It indicates correctly in 4wd Full Time, Neutral, and 4Lo.

This has never happened before and started after driving on the beach in 4Lo last weekend. Less than 15 minutes of movement on the beach. When getting back to pavement, the light stayed on.

I could understand if a sensor is malfunctioning and leaving the "Part Time" light on all the time. But that doesn't seem to be the case.

Ideas?