Truck info (In case it matters). I've got a 1986 Bronco with a 351w, c6 tranny, manual superwinch hubs, dana 44 front axle/ ford 9in rear. Everything in the drivetrain is stock other than the hubs. The instructions on the sun visor advise to stop the vehicle, place the transmission in neutral, then you can shift between 2H,4H,N and 4L, or with the vehicle moving you can switch between 2H and 4H. I tried to switch between 2H and 4H while driving at about 40mph by putting the transmission in neutral and pulling the transfer case out of 2H into 4H and it made a rattling noise like and did not engage so I shut the engine off and coasted to the side of the road and placed the transfercase back in 2H, cranked the engine back up and drove off slowly and while moving at about 5-10mph I placed the transmission in Neutral and was able to shift between 2H and 4H. I don't know if the grinding noise was cause because I was going too fast while attempting to shift between 2H and 4H but as long as it works at slow speeds I'm fine with that.

PROBLEM: The only way I have found to shift into or out of 4L is with the engine off. I have tried to shift into 4L with the car stopped and the transmission in Neutral and Park and it make a grinding sound both times like a manual transmission trying to be shifted without using the clutch.

I'm I doing something wrong or is something worn or broken in my transfer case or are the instructions on my visor wrong?

thanks to anyone with help/ advise

 

try backing up before you try to go to low torsional stress will sometimes keep it from shifting . leave the hubs unlocked and see if it goes in easy if so I would guess just stress keepin ya down.


Jeff

 

Remember to either be on slick pavement or off the pavement for 4wd because front and back may not rotate at the same exact RPM.

 

just dont be on pavement period unless its icy or snow covered.

I would inspect the linkage and make sure the Tcase is full of fluid. you shouldnt have to put tranny in neutral when going from 2wd to 4hi. to engage 4low you just need to be stoped and use neutral then.

 

Kemicalburns is right about shifting you can go from 2H to 4H while moving leave the trans. in drive (or reverse) just keep it under 25mph in an 86. Now are you having trouble going from 4H-N or from N-4L? To change from 4H-4L come to a complete stop, put the trans. into neutral or park and shift the t-case. If it try’s to grind try shifting back into 4H and drive (or back) the truck about 2 feet (with the hubs locked) then try again things might me a little out of alignment.

 

ok I tried shifting the transfercase from 2H to 4L while stopped with the transmission in Neutral and it made a grinding/rattling sound so I left the transfercase in Neutral and it still made the grinding/rattling sound and as I attempted to shift from N back through 4H and into 2H it was still grinding/rattling like it was inbetween gears so I left the transfercase in N and put the transmission in park and the transmission made a griding sound like an automatic transmission makes when you put it in park while driving down the road (I know this sound from experience, although not while driving this bronco). Anyways so I then put the transmission back in Neutral and shut the engine off, switched the transfer case into 4L, started the engine backup, and away I went. Then to shift it back out of 4L I put the transmission in Neutral, shut the engine off, put the transfercase back it 2H, unlocked the hubs, and started the engine back up and drove away. I haven't had a chance to try any of the tips ya'll have given me put I'm gonna check the fluid level in the t-case asap. If I can't ever figure the problem out atleast the 4wd works and the transfer case can be shifted with the engine off.

This is my first 4X4 and I fear I've bought a lemon but with the help of this website I'm learning a whole lot and having fun! thanks!

 

what transfer case do you have in that truck?


Jeff

 

I think it's the (New Process 208) as per a repair manual that I have advising that's what came stock in a 1986 bronco

 

man thats just plane weird. lol I have a 79 bronco it did that once in a while but my shifter was messed up . I cant immagine a 208 having a problem they are usually bullet proof. I dont know but its buggin me


Jeff

 

I'm gonna check the fluid level in the t-case, heck I'll probably just change the fluid cause I'm sure it needs it, and I'll get a positive Id of it and let ya know which t-case it is for sure and if changing the fluid fixes the problem.

 

well do that and let me know as soon as the sun comes up I got a buddy that might know I will give him a call .


Jeff

 

One thing to bear in mind is the xfer box won't have any synchros so it is likely to clunk/ grind when you change 2h to 4h etc.

Its a shame these trucks don't allow you to go from 4l to 4h on the move - its great if you've got a big trailer and need to get it moving...

 

What is happening is the back half of the trany is rotating when it shouldnt. Normally, when you stop, the back half stops (because it is hooked to the wheels) You can than shift in to park and the key engages. The key is in the very back of the tranny. IT locks the back half. You should be able to shift the transfercase anywhere at this time. But if you just shift to neutral (on the tranny) and you shift the transfer case in to neutral also, sometimes the back half will start to spin. Probubly there's a sticky (or leaky) valve in there. At this point, your only option is to shut it off. Do not shift in to park! You will grind the park key. Eventually, it (park) wont work at all. You could get the tranny rebuilt, but I lived with this problum for a long time onmy other truck. It's not that big of a deal.

 

Well helirich it appears as though you were right and the problem lies within the C6, not the NP205. Eveything works as it should except when I put the tranny in N and then the t-case in N everything starts to spin and when I try and get the t-case out of N it grinds and my only option is to shut the engine off. My options are to either put the tranny in N and quickly pull/push the t-case through N so nothing has a chance to spin, or put the trans in P and then I can swith the t-case back and forth between 2H-4H-N and 4L. So it doesn't work right but atleast it works! thanks for the help!