lackey454

I have a 98 Dodge Clubcab with a Cummins diesel engine and 5 speed manual trans. with 4 wheel drive 2500. When I engage the floor shifter into low or high 4x4 the light comes on and it locks in only to pop out for a split second and then lock in again. The indicator light goes off when it does this and you can feel the truck clonk. This has been getting worse as time goes by. Of course it only does this when I have it locked in which is not very often. Any ideas?

torqmonster

Check your vacuum lines, you could have a vacuum leak and/or actuator problem. I ended up replacing mine with a posi-lock cable kit, now I know when it's in or out and it stays!

lackey454

Thank you that sounds better than having to replace the transfer case

lgp9999

I think it is transfer case. Mine was doing something similar... see if it does the same thing in 4L. I got a low mileage transfer case for $350 on Craigslist. It was from an earlier truck, and I found out that they got a different shift pattern, but it works great! It only took an hour or 2 to switch it out.

lackey454

Yes, it does do it in 4L. I plan on tearing into it tonight and thought I could get some advise from someone who had this same issue. Thank you, Anyone else?

iker42

yeah, be ready to replace your intermediate shaft, the collar and possibly the axle shaft. Also I would find an actuator.

Trust me, I went through all of this..I have a posi lock now.

lgp9999

I would say it's probably not the t-case then. 4H and 4L use a different shift fork. Look to the front axle as others have said.

lackey454

Thank you lgp9999, I will start there since it will be the easiest to do. I have owned this truck since it was new but I don't know much about working on it because it has been just about trouble free.177000 and counting

infidel

If the light is going on and off it has to be the CAD, not the t-case.

Easy homemade $30 Posi-Loc instructions> http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=595515

lgp9999

Right, I wasn't sure if he was saying that the T-case popped out of gear (which was my problem), which would turn the light off.