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D300 Wouldn't Disengage, Whirring, Grinding Sound

D300 Wouldn't Disengage, Whirring, Grinding Sound

Neuner

Old Time Jeeper
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Vehicle(s)
"Oscar":1985 CJ7, 4.0 '98 OBDII, T177, RE 4.5" lift w/ CV Jnts, Dana 300, Dana 30 and AMC 20, 33" BFG KO2s, Raptor Lined Interior and Rustoleum BBQ exterior.
Engaged 4wd HI with no problems and headed off. I later noticed a whirring sound (like a jet flying over but not as loud) when I gave it gas, but not when decelerating. I pulled over to disengage 4wd to see if that was the culprit. Could not move the lever, it was locked in place. I proceeded to head back and the whirring sound got worse and a sortof whirring/grinding sound developed while decelerating. The engine started having to work hard. While pulling into the driveway, I heard a metal on metal periodic grind. Turned the engine off and gave the lever one last try and it moved out of 4wd HI. I then took it back out around the block and it was driving fine. I didn't try 4wd again afraid of what might happen. Tried searching on it not disengaging but didn't turn up anything similar. Anyone have this happen before? I don't use 4wd very often but I've never had this problem when I did.
 
Are you driving it in 4WD on the dry road? You should only use 4WD when on a slick a surface other wise you will ruin your Transfer Case . I have seen one that blew apart from this.
 
Wasn't on pavement when I started. Was forced to drive it on some wet pavement in the rain to get it home since it wouldn't disengage.
 
Did you try unlocking the hubs while trying to disengage the Transfer Case ?
 
Pretty much tried it all with exception to shutting the engine off. That's when it disengaged when I got home. Briefly read in my search about someone suggesting that.
 
With the stock single stick shifter sometimes you have to put in in reverse or take it out of gear to take some on the "bind" out before you can get it out of gear. As OSS said unlocking the hubs will sometimes help also.
Get a twin stick, it make shifting a lot easier.
It sounds like you were on a hard surface even if it was dirt.
 
What Old Dog said is pretty much what I have to do every time to get mine to come out of 4WD. I unlock the hubs first. Get back in and bump the Jeep back with reverse, toss the shifter into neutral and put the 4WD lever into 2WH while it's still rolling backwards. No other scenario works with mine and it took me a while to get the routine down. :rolleyes:
 
I was on gravel. Tried reverse, tried forward, tried just barely forward and reverse in neutral, tried it all.

After we have our company I hope to swap out trannys and will just have to look at it all then I guess. Hope I didn't make it worse with the drive home.
 
Before switching to a twin stick I had a few "fights" with the stock shift lever. Generally bumping the stick while easing the clutch out in reverse worked most of the time, but twice it happened that no matter what I did it wouldn't budge. Shutting the engine off was the only way it would shift out of 4wd. Personally I figured it was my clutch not completely disengaging , but since the twin sticks were installed I've had no issues.
 
Before switching to a twin stick I had a few "fights" with the stock shift lever. Generally bumping the stick while easing the clutch out in reverse worked most of the time, but twice it happened that no matter what I did it wouldn't budge. Shutting the engine off was the only way it would shift out of 4wd. Personally I figured it was my clutch not completely disengaging , but since the twin sticks were installed I've had no issues.

Thanks! Was considering twin sticks during the swap. I'll look into this more now with everyone's suggestion.

Never had this problem before which is what had me concerned. Mine had been easy to switch back and forth. I got the 4x4 indicator light to work and am wondering if that is the real culprit.... :p

The whirring/grinding is what now has me worried. Guess I'll see when I get it apart.
 
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At the very least it's time for a fluid change. ...... don't drive the older Jeeps for any distance while on a hard surface. THat's bad. If it sticks unlock the hubs, back up a few feet to unbind the hubs and go home.
 
At the very least it's time for a fluid change. ...... don't drive the older Jeeps for any distance while on a hard surface. THat's bad. If it sticks unlock the hubs, back up a few feet to unbind the hubs and go home.

Noted and thanks. Wasn't sure if doing that would have been bad. Good to know.
 

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