Ok so i got a 2000 Dodge Durango today. Equiped with 4 wheel drive. first time having a 4wd vehicle. well i was drivin home and put it in 4low and not relizing i shouldnt, it engaged and locked.

next thing i know the 4wd floor lever is completly loose, not like it should be.
I think i am still in 4low, not to sure. help i have to drive this to work and from what i have read its gonna kil the tranny if i have to do that.

 

Crawl underneath and check to make sure the linkage in in tact.. sounds like something fell loose... if that's the case you can manually move it back into 2H... 4L is for under 15mph so i would NOT drive it again till you have it fixed and pray you have not killed something already...

 

I think it is the linkage. It went back into 2wd i guess when it got messed up. the 4wd lock light isnt on.

 

Thanks for your help. Problem is gone. the linkage was hanging loose. took a whole 30 seconds to fix this issue. but now i know hwo to use 4wd properly.

 

Just gonna add a bit more info for you since this is your first 4x4:

On your transfer case shifter you're going to have either
2HI, 4HI, N, 4LO OR 2HI, 4HIPT, 4HIFT, N, 4LO
(FT is full time, PT is part time)

Only use 2HI and 4HIFT (if you have that position) on pavement.

4HIPT/4HI can only be used on slippery surfaces, and not on pavement.

4LO is also slippery surface only and very low speeds.

You can change between the HI ranges while moving under 45mph and NOT feeding gas. If you want to go to or from 4LO you have to completely stop, shift the transmission into either neutral or park, and then shift the transfer case.


hope this helps

 

I'm 99% sure the full-time transfer cases (NP242's) where phased out in 99 unless his 2000 was custom built. 2000 is when the 4.7l became standard with the 45rfe trans and came with the NP231's. 2000 is also when they started using the all wheel drive system on the 5.9 commonly used on the R/T.. Honestly i have never seen a 2000 that didn't have a NP231.

 

My 2000 came with the np 242 full time t-case, although it may have been changed out since then considering everything else that is wrong with jt

 

Its a 2000 5.9l engine. I have the 4lo, n, 2wd, 4hi
I have figured it all out now. Thanks guys

 

Just to chime in here my 2000 5.9 came with the full time transfer case.

 

AWD Transfer cases were available on all gen 1's
2001-2003 use electronic switch
STEVE