Transfer Case Stuck in "N"

[4running1990]

My girlfriend just bought a 1988 t4r (5-speed) 4X4. I then noticed the transfer case shifter is suck or locked in the N position. i changed the t case fluid but still no luck, does anyone know if there is a fuse or perhaps a loose connection? Thanks!

 

[Bad_Vision]

thats a hard one is it a mechanical or electric t case?

 

[4running1990]

mechanical i believe its what im guessing since its a 5 speed '88.

 

[Iroke17]

UN bolt it from tranny and check it out.

 

[Bad_Vision]

before you go that far make sure its not just bound up.
try to shift the transfer case wile driving at slow speed like 2-3mph you can also try rocking the truck forward and back in gear might also help if its bound up.
if both these dont work then you may have to take the tcase off to inspect.

 

[hoe_nah]

Roll it backwards if nothing your going to have to take apart and inspect...my friends go stuck in 4lo and if I remember correctly he had to disassemble the tcase

 

[zidaro]

its a mechanical.
you could also pull the shift lever from the top of the case to see if there is any binding there. sometime the two bushings there wear and cause slop or binding. Shift forks may be out of alignment as well, if someone took the lever off and didnt know how to put it back in.
marlincrawler.com sells replacement bushings

 

[SV_Dude]

Are you able to drive it right now? If so, then it's not stuck in neutral. If it's stuck in 4hi or 4lo then unlock the front hubs and drive it back and forth a few feet and try again. If that works then I would be curious if it has matching front and rear gears.

 

[Bad_Vision]

Are you able to drive it right now? If so, then it's not stuck in neutral. If it's stuck in 4hi or 4lo then unlock the front hubs and drive it back and forth a few feet and try again. If that works then I would be curious if it has matching front and rear gears.

i didnt think of that he would bind all the time in that case

 

[fourwd1]

My girlfriend just bought a 1988 t4r (5-speed) 4X4. I then noticed the transfer case shifter is suck or locked in the N position. i changed the t case fluid but still no luck, does anyone know if there is a fuse or perhaps a loose connection? Thanks!

It's mechanical.
As someone asked, can you drive it now?
Don't go tearing anything apart yet as others have suggested.

 

[4running1990]

Actually now that i look at its position it looks like its stuck in 4hi which is concerning since i drove it back home (150) miles going about 65 - 70 mph. im going to remove the boot tomorrow and check it out if all else fails ill just replace the t-case since i happen to have one laying around
thanks guys for the help!

 

[Bad_Vision]

if its in high just drive slow offroad and shift it back into 2 or 4low if its bound up it will unbind when driving on soft terrain like sand or dirt.

 

[4running1990]

Ok got it the t case was in 2hi but I guess the previous owner didn't adjust the shift lever before installing it so it was in 2hi while shifter was in the 4hi position, so I just pulled the shifter off and adjusted the forks to 4 hi and reinstalled it works great now thanks guys

 

[Hyde802]

Gotta love easy fixes. Thats alot better than swapping out the t-case!