Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) F.o.r.d.

[KFranco]

Found on road dead! Not the engine but while I was on the highway I heard a loud clunk and then no 5th gear. 4th worked to get me over to the side of the road. Didn't check other gears. Looked underneath and my transfer case was cracked wide open with the guts hanging out! Towed it to dodge and they said needs a transfer case. Well I figured that but what doesn't make sense is they said fixing the transfer case will fix not having 5th gear in the transmission. This doesn't make sense but I'm not an expert. I've heard of the 5th gear nut problem on this transmission but supposedly it wouldn't cause any damage. I've lots of damage! Is dodge correct? Could I have a dual problem? Thanks in advance for your input.



Kevin

 

[JesseJ]

You could have both problems. The 5th gear and nut that holds it on the mainshaft also holds the rear mainshaft bearing in place behind 5th gear. I don't see how your transfer case shelling out would cause a loss of 5th gear but I suppose stranger things have happened. Since the transfer case is shot you have to replace it anyways, do that first and see what happens after that.

 

[AllianceDiesel]

You probably had the 5th gear nut back off, I can't see any reason you woldn't have 5 gear with a bad t-case, my guess is that something went bad in the rear of the trans that caused something to come apart in the t-case, while they are in there replacing the t-case, have them pull off the rear of the trans and check the 5th gear nut.