Transfer case sticky release

[SkidPalace]

Hi guys, I have always had a slight issue when coming out of 4Hi back to 4Lo. Sometimes the transfer case seems to stick in gear, forcing me to try any combination of quick start/stops, shifting to neutral or park, whatever. It always comes out eventually and sometimes pops out instantly. It happens whether the tranny is cold or hot. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it.
I sort of just acccepted this as normal.
Anyone else have similar issues or is there something I should be looking at?
This is on an '00 with a manual 4wd transfer case, no push buttons or TRAC.
My only guess would be that it could use some new gear oil. It has last been done 40K miles ago. It is entirely possible that it went up to 87K before it's first (and possibly only) drain/fill. However, I recall this sticky situation being the norm as long as I can remember.

 

[p nut]

What kind of transfer case fluid did you use? I use 75w-90 Amsoil fully synthetic and it's been working flawlessly.

 

[SkidPalace]

What kind of transfer case fluid did you use? I use 75w-90 Amsoil fully synthetic and it's been working flawlessly.

No clue. It was last serviced by the dealer. It's due for a fluid change, so I may as well change it and hope for the best.

 

[CharlotteFire]

Never done it.......Is it a long process to change?

 

[brian2sun]

Never done it.......Is it a long process to change?

Probably one of the easiest jobs actually. The t-case and both diffs just have a fill plug and a drain plug:

-Remove fill plug 1st (just in case you can't get it out later your diff won't be dry)
-Remove drain plug and drain,
-Inspect and clean off metal on magnet on the plug itself
-Put the drain plug back in and fill until the fluid starts coming out of the fill hole (a drill or hand pump makes it a lot easier to fill)
-Put fill plug back in, done.

 

[024RunnerSE]

Tip of the day, float the gears..

Coming out of 4low into 4 high or into 2wd, just goose the throttle half way and release and it'll pop right out.

 

[SkidPalace]

Tip of the day, float the gears..

Coming out of 4low into 4 high or into 2wd, just goose the throttle half way and release and it'll pop right out.

That's whhat I usually end up doing, but I was curious if that was normal. It kind of doesn't seem that would be the situation. If you are supposed to just move the selector to change modes, it should go to the mode you select without a bunch of screwing around.
It pissed me off last weekend coming back from the mountain. I had a million beers at the lodge and the GF was driving, so it was pretty hard to explain how to finagle the transfer case out of 4Hi when we got the freeway.
I figured it's time to address the situation.

 

[SkidPalace]

So has anyone else had to do the happy dance to get their transfer case out of 4wd back to 2wd?

 

[jsulen]

Dude, does your transfer case shift mode selector has leak in it? But replacing this part is just an easy job.

 

[Qyota]

So has anyone else had to do the happy dance to get their transfer case out of 4wd back to 2wd?

It's pretty normal to have to work at it a bit.

 

[SkidPalace]

OK good. It actually has been working properly the last few times I have gone in and out of 4WD.
I hope everyone realizes I meant 4Hi to 2Hi, not 4Hi to 4Lo like I wrote in the original post way back then. Sorry for the confusion.