The exact same thing happened to me back before winter hit here. It turned out that the linkage will rub on the front drive shaft over time, and that caused a little plastic lock cap to get obliterated. When that happened, the whole linkage fell apart. There are places online that sell the parts, but I had to spend about $50 at a stealership to get it. That damn plastic lock cap was like $8-$9 or something like that.
It isnt hard to replace, just pisses a person off....
I prolly should have had mine towed home when it happened, but instead I limped home in 4x4 about a thirty mile trip on dry pavement.

Also, did the shifter get really loose?

 

The shifter has always been a bit Jiggly...and would rattle like hell when running hard in 4th or 5th gear......i have only had the truck about 2mo....think the guy was looking to shaft me since i'm a chick....damn men....LOL...sorry no offense guys...

I am gonna crawl under there this evening and check it out better...found some great diagrams of what to look for on this site and online...you guys are awseome...thanks for all the help......

 

Good God Grandpa, you're old.

BFE = Butt F*#K Egypt.

 

Must be a texan thing with "butts". Where I am from it is BUM F&*k Egypt....

 

jesus. outsmarted by a gd texan. i best go home.

 

OK...so how hard is this "snap ring" to replace and what does replacing it involve?

I just wanna know if its a job too big for this ole girl to handle or not.....i can do alot to a vehicle...but i do have my limitations when comes to dropping heavy parts or needing a lil too much elbow grease....damn bolts are a lil too tight for me sometimes...and i have to employ some help......

 

if its the same issue I had problems with, its not hard at all. Just crawl under neath and you will see if the linkage has came apart.
It might just be a simple case of the linkage just needing to be adjusted too.

 

i haven't had to fix mine yet, so i don't have any pics.
this is an optional kit that replaces the snap ring with a heavier gauge lockring.
here's pics and instructions.
http://www.drivetrain.com/parts_cata...ase_saver.html

drain t-case fluid. inside plug is 10mm, not 3/8, 3/8 will strip it out. if you don't have a hex key use a bolt head.
remove driveshaft.
remove t-case rear housing.
check snapring on output shaft. look for broken pieces inside the cover.
replace and re-assemble.

 

Given the reaction to your posts and pic requests, guessing you'll have plenty of volunteers to try to help.

 

After reading all the great information the more "mature" guys have posted i crawled under the truck Friday and the damn yoke on the back of the transfer looks shot....i dont thing the thing has a drop of oil left in it...and the lil rubber seal on the back of the transfer at the yoak is dripping...and you can see where oil has spun out....
I think the thing is probably trashed....i can see where someone has had it apart before and didn't use actual gaskets to put it back together because the silicone is hanging out the creases of the transfer case....

SO i have found me a "new" used transfer and plan on trying to swap it out this weekend after i borrow my dads floor jack....I also gotta pick up a converter....or modify the other....legally of course...LOL...because it is clogging up.....