89 XJ Cherokee

upnover

upnover

Grumpy, decrepit Old Man
Moderator
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Morganton NC
I am posting under newbie since I know a lot about somethings, and nothing about others, while still I have forgot a lot while not having such creatures, soooo


I recently bought a 1989 Jeep Cherokee Limited.
4.0, auto, and no clue what transfer case, or transmission for that matter.

It has issues.

First off, when I bought it it had no muffler or tail pipe. The owner was not misrepresenting it in no way I feel. The original muffler and tail pipe was in the rear, and had rusted and or burned off. It came with a new muffler and tail pipe that I had to install. After installing it, I cranked it up and it had a pretty bad low end rumble of mains and or rods, then it goes away. Warm it would hold 0-5 PSI in oil pressure. and keep around 40PSI with highway RPM's. I could tell the oil had been changed so I dumped in a Qt of Lucus. Now warm it holds around 25 PSI at idle. I have to thoughts. One, baby it and see how long it lasts, and two, drop the pan and put new bearings in it. I know the later would be a short term fix and the first is just a gamble. Not gonna put a lot into this Jeep as it will not be a daily driver, just something to go play in the snow, very light wheeling and so on.

Whatcha think?

Second issue is the transfer case. It has selections of 2wd, part time 4wd, full time 4wd, N, and full time lo 4wd. When I backed it off the trailer I put it in 4wd low, From then I had an issue getting it into 2wd, I did once, and have no clue what I did. Well I took it wheelin in the snow and had to put into 4wd to get it out of my yard. So, since then, I have not been able to get it to go back into 2wd. Is this common? what's the fix? Is it part of the vacuum system that is causing this?

Third issue is related to the second. I knew when I had it up on the lift getting some used tires put on the rear that it had a front left u-joint going out. I heard it most of the day while wheeling in the snow. I think that because the U-joint was bad it wasn't running true. Just before I got back home( I had drove about 130 miles playing) I smelled 90w oil smell. I drove it on home and when I stopped, it was smoking. best I could see was it coming from the axle tube. Messed up inner axle seal?? maybe??

TIA for your response.
 
1, I say run the 4.0 till it drops. There really cheap in good running condition ($150-350) Then when it goes out on ya just pop abother in there. If you drop the pan and fix it its only a short term fix oh and you have a 242 case.
 
High volume oil pumps are cheap and help a lot too.
 
High volume oil pumps are cheap and help a lot too. Not much help with the rest.
 
I agree run it till it dies.. and I would bet you have 242 transfer case..

as for it being stuck in 4wd.. did ya happen to check fluid level in transfer case? I have also seen the linkage bind and make it hard to get out of 4wd..
 
i had a 242 in my old cherokee and it was a pain sometimes to get from part time 4wd/ low range back into 2wd. i never messed with the linkage, but that was causing the problem. maybe you are not supposed to do this, but sometimes i would let the car roll at idle speed in gear and try to move the t case lever back into 2wd (from 4wd PT, not low range). This usually worked. from low range, it would usually go back into 4WD high with a little effort, and then from there try and rock the vehicle into 2WD. make sure the fluid is full. I have bought some XJs in the past that had almost dry Tcases but showed no signs of leaking. the linkage is easily accesible and can be lubed and tinkered on if what i mentioned doesn't work.
 
the np242 is a shift on the fly t case you can change into all wile in gear and moving up to 55mph exept for 4low. the linkage sounds like your prob thou if you have someone in the jeep with it in the air you can adjust it very easy. one bolt and it slides you might have to try a few times but it is easy. good luck and have fun you will be wheeling this thing more than you think you will now.
 
Well you know what the Tcase is. I have had the most luck with the Jeep running, put the shifter in nuetral and then shift the Tcase. Will grind a little sometimes, but take your time it will drop in.And yes, sound like the inner seal on the front , but haven't seen one smoking because of it. Did it get on the rotor? Another cause of "the smell" is the rear of the valve cover leaking and running down the back of the motor onto the exhaust pipe. Oh and run it, will probably run for a long time.
 
I never had a problem shifting my 242 from 4wd to 2wd until I put on 2 different tires. I currently have BF Goodrich mud terrains on the front and Uniroyal mud terrains on the rear. The fronts are more worn then the rears. The only time I have ever seen a Jeep axle leak gear oil when hot to the point of smoking it had 2 different size tires on the same axle, had a 235 75 15 on one side and a 225 75 15 on the other and you would have to drive it for at least 50 miles for it to act up, I know this because I had a cop pull me over due to the smoke coming from under it.
 
Ive been reading several threads that mention this valve cover gasket leak. Mine definitely leaks... BAD. It needs to be replaced soon!

Ive been surfing a few auto parts websites and I've found two different gaskets for sale... both Felpro. One is $5. The other is $50. Which one should I get?

Also, someone on here suggested that 4.0 valve covers can be RTV'd on rather than using a gasket. Is that true? If so, could I use the same RTV I put my diff cover?

Sorry for the hijack but I need answers and didn't want to start a new thread. Thanks!
 
dmoore714 said:
Ive been reading several threads that mention this valve cover gasket leak. Mine definitely leaks... BAD. It needs to be replaced soon!
Ive been surfing a few auto parts websites and I've found two different gaskets for sale... both Felpro. One is $5. The other is $50. Which one should I get?
Also, someone on here suggested that 4.0 valve covers can be RTV'd on rather than using a gasket. Is that true? If so, could I use the same RTV I put my diff cover?
Sorry for the hijack but I need answers and didn't want to start a new thread. Thanks!
Click to expand...
If the cover is cast aluminum you can use RTV without a gasket.
 
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