1999 durango SLT 5.9 4x4 automatic 242D transfer case

drove it to the snow, put it in 4x4PT(thinking it was right thing-didnt come with manual and im normally a chevy guy)

acts like one front tire and one rear tire are trying to turn backwards while opposites are trying to go forward.
this is in snow/ice in not dry or grippy conditions.

tried 4PT, 4FT and both the same

turned around to go home-tranny got hot im sure.
finally pulled over after trying to put it in 2wd. backed up a few times to get positioned for tow truck and it popped into 2wd(like im reading on forums.)

so... i wient out today, rainy pavement, with engine OFF, i pulled it from 2wd into 4Fulltime and then started engine.
nope-all 4 tires going opposite directions.

went 100 feet couple times, same result.
got turned back around(reverse didnt fix into 2wd this time)
put front end up in air with shifter forced into 2WD and frotn tires rolled backwards maybe 1 full turn once wieght off.

what am i looking for?
stuck front axle parts?
is there front axle disconnect?
broken chain in transfer case?
bad acutator(is there one) on transfer case?

 

update:

I think there is a problem in the transfer case.
when i had my fail-i got it out by serpentine reversing(and forward) cause at that time I didnt know the trick-it came out by accident.

at home on dry-i was testing on street-engine off, trans in neutral. shift to 4FT, start engine, put in drive. crazy binding between axles.
trans in neutral, engine off, transfer in 2wd, start engine, put in reverse, serpentine wiggle for half a block-NOTHING.
still in bound up locking 4wd...

in neutral, jacked front end off ground and wheels spun backwards almost a whole turn. then it was finally in 2wd.

my biggest issue now appears that when 4FT(fulltime) is selected, i SHOULD be able to drive on dry pavement without binding.

it acts like my old chevy when 4hi lock was selected.

so it seems like maybe the planetary inside transfer case is broken or failed or binding.

ideas?

confirming that the front axle has no disconnect-right?
and rear axle has no binding for the last 5,000 miles in 2wd
only thing left is a fail in transfer case.

rant: I wish I had manual locking front hubs and a 208/241 manual transfer case....
nothing easier than engaging hubs in the valley on a snow trip then driving in 2wd till snow hits the road and reaching down at 25mph and pulling the lever for 4HI.

 

Well have you checked the fluid in the transfer case? The 242 is like a differential so when FT is selected there is slip. PT and Lo lock it to function like a normal transfer case. Sounds like it hasn't been used in a long time and is possibly low on fluid.

 

so involved with the hard ideas, i didnt go to basics-thats a real good idea.
im so new to modern mopar.
my newest mopar before this was a 1956....

takes dex/merc 3-right?

 

No dex/merc in a Chrysler. ATF +4

 

DPO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and the shop that did it.

DPO had rear axle swapped.
might explain why rear locks up all the time-bet it doesnt have the ABS tone ring.

oh----and the real story.

fronts are 3.92
rear is 3.55!!!!!!!!!!

#@%$^&*%&! previous owner!!!!!!!!!

jacked it over weekend and had wife spin 1 wheel while i count driveshaft.
she spun twice and rear axle went 3.5 turns.
front went almost 4 turns...

DPO!!!!

oh-and according to dodge and factory build-its also supposed to be LSD

 

I'd just put a 3.92 gear set in the rear, but I'm comfortable doing r/p's. If thats too daunting, just get a salvage yard rear axle with 3.92 ratio. It's easier to swap the solid axle rear to 3.92 than to take the front to 3.55. You also use the rear 100% of the time, so freshening it up also makes sense.

 

gear set is 300 or so, ive done one and dont really want to again.
shop wants 1100 for total job...
rather goto pick/pull for 150 and some of my time and do whole axle swap.
thanks for the advice.
if you were closer-id hire you for the gear swap.
gonna stick with the 3.92 ratios. we dink around town and will use it to tow our vintage trailer and the occasional car trailer so will keep the deeper gears.
i also dont relish swapping the front diff.