Help with A Jeep Qud Track Drive system.

[Jim W]

I am posting for my son. He just got a used 2001 Grand Cherokee Limited with all wheel drive, Quad Track II in it. The jeep has 84K on the OD and is a one owner vehicle with no-warranty. This will be his work vehicle only, he will not drive his 1 ton Dodge, 06 QCLB during the winter months. This is do to the snow and ice on the road with salt being applied to the roadways.

Now here is the problem, he says the all wheel drive will not work. Last night he changed the Transfer case fluid and he said it smelt burnt and looked burnt. The jeep was up on a lack and he was able to engage the transmission to put the drive train in gear. The rear wheels did engage first then the front finally engaged. But when he lowered the jeep and tried to drive in the snow the front wheels would not drive. He is thinking of changing out the Transfer case for a used one? Anything else to look for such as Electrical issues.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[jgillott]

Sounds like a Viscous Coupler issue to me. It's a very common problem with the Grand Cherokee with the full time 4x4. Usually before they fail, you will feel a skipping/jerking when turning tight corners in parking lots etc. He's actually very lucky that it failed the way it did. When the one on our former GC went bad, it locked solid and ended up breaking the left rear axle shaft in the process. Don't quote me for sure, but if I remember correctly, they are somewhere in the $450-$500 range.

 

[opjohnny]

I would look for a 242 model to replace it. They had two versions one for the 4. 7 one for the 4. 0. Change out the shifter and drive shaft and your good to go. I had a 99 gc. The 242 had part time, full time, and 2wd. More choices then the 247 case. I switched my 247 to the 242 but sold everything for the truck. You will need a short wiring harness to make the dash light work.



John

 

[Jim W]

Thanks Guy's for the reply's. He changed out the transfer case last night. My son bought a used one for $375 with a 60 day warranty. He is on the road today drive the jeep to work.

Thanks again.

 

[opjohnny]

Tell him to keep an eye on the vent line. It goes up behind the back of the engine and has a little plastic piece with what looks like a coffee filter material in it. This tends to get dirty and plug then the tc will force fluid out past the seals. This is for the 247 model. It has th e funny viscous fluid. I had this happen twice to me.

 

[WDixon27]

those transfer cases suck! i don't even work on american vehicles and have been through like 6 of them between 2 grand cherokees for people i know, we eventually had the last one rebuilt as installing removing and shipping back bad used units was getting old, i went 3 bad ones in a row