My 2002 mazda 4x4 first time this happened it rained and turned off cold that night next morning went to drive and it did not want to move went back and forth and something popped and everything was free and then the other day I parked it on a saturday and it was warm and Monday turned cold and went to move truck and it did not want to go there was a small snow on and my back tires would spin in the gravel and it was like something in my drive train was holding it back tried to move it back and forth several times with back tires spinning I was bare moving. It was parked in front of my garage and I got my boy to hook the 4wheeler to it and I put it in nuetral and he coulod not pull it so I started it and had to push on the gas and it barely would move and he was pulling me got it about halfway in garage and jacked front end up and I could turn the front wheels and liked to never got it all the way in garage I put it in low 4x4 and the back wheels was spinning and I was barely moving and I got my boy to try to move it back and forth while I was looking under it we took in out of 4x4 and I got in it and all the sudden everything was free my boy drove it to the store and I have checked all the fluids and they were good. It acted like the transfer case or something working against me. When I parked it I never switch it in 4x4 or nothing and when I got in it it wouldn't move its funny both times it has turned off cold. I'm lost I don't know were to go from here only owned it for 3 months. Sorry about the long thread but just trying to explain what happened and help would be appreciated. Thank You Glenn

 

Right now with the clues given, the only thing that comes to mind is, Next time it's wet or snowy & turns cold, Don't set the emergency brake, as it can freeze up & not release.

 

I never set the parking brake the back tires would spin. Thank you Glenn

 

Good grief I can't read, you certainly did say in the initial post that the rear wheels were turning/spinning.

When you finally got it in the gararge & jacked up, you say you could turn the front wheels, I'm not clear on what you mean. Were you saying that the front wheels would freely rotate/spin around, or were you saying you were turning them left & right????

Had you been off roading in water before the problem began???? Thinking maybe water has gotten into the transfer case or wheels & frozen????

Are all the rubber boots in good condition, no holes, splits, tears, dryrot, ect????

EDIT: BTW, welcome to FTE
Maybe another 4X4 owner will chime in..

 

they would freely spin and I don't off road. I looked at the boots on the right side but not on the left side I will check them It has turned cold again and haven't had no more trouble. Thanks for your help