ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

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Topic author
candymancan
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ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by candymancan »

I suspect my 249 transfercase is going bad on my 5.9 ZJ, i had replaced the viscous coupler in it only about 5 years ago and i often change the fluid in it. But i recently changed the fluid which was purple and very watery.. I always put in dexron 3 or atf4 whatever i have on hand. I dont d rive in deep puddles or go offroading so i dont know why its watery or dark purple. Anyway only a couple thousand miles later and the transfercase fluid is already dark purple a gain and watery. Like if i unscrew the filler nut and dip my finger in the fluid is dark purple and runs down my finger like water not like oil... There is no water in it though as it isnt strawberry milk shake or frothy like transmission fluid gets when you get water in it. Its like the fluid is breaking down quickly and not staying very viscous.

Also the last few months my Jeep has been making weird vibration noises underneeth i cant pinpoint exactly where but it only does it from 0-30mph if im accelerating or coasting doesnt matter. Once i get above 30mph the vibrations underneeth go away. I dont feel anything in the steering wheel, but i noticed if i push the tcase shifting lever in all the way foward the last half inch it gets louder, and if i pull it slightly back like im going to neutral but not quite in neutral it quiets up. So i suspect the vibrations are coming from the tcase.

I went under and started wiggling and pulling everything, and the ujoints on the front drive shaft seem fine. But the actual tcase pops or clicks inside the case when i push and pull down on the front drive shaft. There is a little bit of play. There is play when i twist it counter and clock wise as well but i think that is normal chain slack ? The popping/clicking though does not sound normal.

What do you guys think is the cause of this ? Could my vibrations be coming from the tcase.. like i said they get louder/softer in tone based on how i move the shifter lever slightly in or out. (Its never been hard to move the lever either its always been very loose) and i also c ant explain why dexron 3 gets so liquid like and dark purple after such a short time.

I recorded a video of me wiggling the drive shaft ill upload it soon
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited 219k
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 I6 laredo 430k
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 155k
1976 Jeep J10.. 85k(repaired)

Cheapthrills
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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by Cheapthrills »

Sounds like your in need of a tcase rebuild... don't quot me on this but I do believe there is a special additive that needs to go in it, and after market parts SUCK anyways.

If there is a ton of slack in rotation your planetaries are probly going at a rediculous rat considering what you have said about your fluid becoming Super thin. Not to mention your out shaft bearings are bad if you have up and down play, caused by thin fluids combined with particles in it. There is a pump in the tcase that could have gone bad too.
I would switch to a non vc tcase such as 231

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Topic author
candymancan
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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by candymancan »

There is no additive for a 249 youre thinking of the 247 in the WJs. I dont like the 231 tbh, quadratrac 249 is much better and safer and stronger tc on the road then a 231 . 231 is an open center differential.. the later 249's like mine is a locked center diff in 4high all the time.. and in 4 low. a 242 again is a open diff in 4wd there is no lock only in 4 low and part time. My viscous coupler is newer and a 249 tc will always be better on the road and in the snow over any select trac or command trac t case, a 242 and 231 TCase is essentially still 1wd when in 4wd mode. the 249 is 2wd thanks to the locked center diff.

Only downside a 249 has is the viscous coupler and thats easy to replace. Only reason people go to the 242 IMO is because they are too lazy to swap the viscous couplers and wanna do burn outs in their Jeeps.

Anyway, ill just take the tcase off and take it apart i guess and see whats bad. Something has to be bad if the fluid is turning watery and dark so quickly like you said
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited 219k
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 I6 laredo 430k
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 155k
1976 Jeep J10.. 85k(repaired)

Cheapthrills
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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by Cheapthrills »

Well that would be my preference... each to their own. Let us know what you find.

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REDONE
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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by REDONE »

Candy, thanks for editing your post. Your 249 isn't locked in 4hi (full time), it uses the VC to apply torque to the front axle and locks out the VC in 4lo only. Early 249s like mine (1993, still titled as an American Motors) use the VC in hi and lo (great for snow but not much else). The 247 has a clutch style limited slip diff in all wheel drive mode and locks it in 4lo, which is why it take special fluid. The load bearing components of the 231 and 249 are almost identical, there's really no difference in strength (except the VC being a weak link under abuse).

If my crystal ball is working, the reman'd VC you installed popped and it's leaking it's magic juice into the case oil, making it runny and purple. If either output shaft has up/down travel, the bearings are shot so you might as well take it apart. Let us know what you find, we all love carnage pics.
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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by Cheapthrills »

Thank you for clarifying what I said pretty much, I may have been a bit vague ... lol

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candymancan
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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by candymancan »

REDONE wrote:Candy, thanks for editing your post. Your 249 isn't locked in 4hi (full time), it uses the VC to apply torque to the front axle and locks out the VC in 4lo only. Early 249s like mine (1993, still titled as an American Motors) use the VC in hi and lo (great for snow but not much else). The 247 has a clutch style limited slip diff in all wheel drive mode and locks it in 4lo, which is why it take special fluid. The load bearing components of the 231 and 249 are almost identical, there's really no difference in strength (except the VC being a weak link under abuse).

If my crystal ball is working, the reman'd VC you installed popped and it's leaking it's magic juice into the case oil, making it runny and purple. If either output shaft has up/down travel, the bearings are shot so you might as well take it apart. Let us know what you find, we all love carnage pics.

The viscous c I didnt buy a remaned VC, the VC in the 249s is non servicable it was a brand new viscous coupler i spent almost $400 on 5-6 years ago. Where are you getting that info that i purchased a rebuilt one ?


The 231 is somewhere around 1600-1900ft lbs the 249 is near 2400 there is a big different between the two. Why do you think V8's 5.2 and 5.9 only got the 249 even the base laredos. There was more a difference between the older and newer 249's then just a low lock. The older ones were always 50/50, the newer ones were more 10-90. They also cant supply more then 50% power to the front. I read about this a long time ago
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited 219k
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 I6 laredo 430k
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 155k
1976 Jeep J10.. 85k(repaired)
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REDONE
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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by REDONE »

Well, take everything you think you know, stuff it in an envelope labeled "Excellent life choices", and remember to look at it every time you think about asking a question here. Then, walk away for 20 minutes before you hit the submit button. You're not editing your snarky know-it-all post before I've been reading them. Peace out.
79 J-10 (Honcho Mucho) KE0LSU
304/Performance Fuel Injection TBI/MTA1/SP2P/Magnum rockers
T18/D20/D44s&4.10s/33" Mud Claws
Grizzly Locker Rear
4" front spring drop, 5" rear shackle flip
Chevy style HEI (ECM controlled)
Dolphin "Shark" gauges in a fancy homemade oak bezel
3/4 resto, rotting faster than I've been fixing it.

Topic author
candymancan
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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by candymancan »

do you have a ZJ ? No you dont. i have had a ZJ longer then you clearly.. I know the 249 better then you do my friend. Where did i say i bought a remaned viscous coupler.. Unlike your FSJ'S they actually make the vc brand new.. also the NV249 is a lot different the NP249.. the NV is a superior transfercase in every way...

Ask yourself why they put the 249 in the v8's.. you never answered that smartass

Also what makes you think you know more then me. You are like a Liberal who thinks he is better then everyone because i or someone else disagrees with you ? Go on any ZJ forum and ask.. The newer 249 is completetly different transfercase then the older one on your 93. That 93 was a bastard ZJ. Just like the 96's with their missmatched parts..


Ask yourself.. why is the part number for the Viscous coupler different for the 97-98's then the 92-96's. Did you even know they werent different and do you even know why they are differnet ? No you probably didnt. You simply believe the older 249's had a low lock added and that was it. Did you not think the viscous couplers were different ? And wonder why. I edit my post a lot because typing cannot begin to express what i want to say.


I know a lot more then you do when it comes to the 249. That im 100% confident on. I have had my ZJ 5.9 for almost a decade. Go to thespeedfreaks.net and inform yourself.


You know what you are ? You are superciliōsus, i see people like you daily. You are a nice guy and helped me with the FJS's. and yes i asked a question here but i dont need you to tell me something that isnt correct on the 249 and think your superciliōsus about it because you have some reputation and roots here on this forum.

Thanks for you help on FSJ's i actually appritiate it.. but ill stick to forums for the ZJ just thought id ask it here
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited 219k
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 I6 laredo 430k
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 155k
1976 Jeep J10.. 85k(repaired)

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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by Nikkormat »

BTW they do sell remanned couplers for the 249. http://m.ebay.com/itm/Jeep-NP249-Factor ... 0408.m2460

And it is a serviceable part. Unlike Jeep would have you believe. Even the 229 fluid is serviceable if you know how.

Don't believe everything you read on the internet, folks.

Oh and also, if you want a strong reliable transfer case with a VC. Swap in a 229. :P 90:10 AWD is lame.
Gabe, "reformed" Jeep hoarder.

Topic author
candymancan
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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by candymancan »

Well mine wasnt remand it was new lol.


And i drove just fine in 3 feet of snow stock height last winter. You forget the vc moves torque you know that right ? Why would you want 50% in the front all the time, you just eat up tires and wear out the front end quicker.

Problem is the 249 is known to be better on the road then a 242, but i believe the people use the 242 because of the imediate 50/50 split in the open center diff for off-roading.



Anyway im beating a dead horse. Going to fix my tc myself hope its just the bearings
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited 219k
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 I6 laredo 430k
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 155k
1976 Jeep J10.. 85k(repaired)

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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by Nikkormat »

Personally I like the 50/50 split because I think it's more predictable sliding around. On dirt or snow or whatever...

To each there own though, right?

Also IIRC the 242 isn't 50:50, I believe it is 40:60 or there about. The input tourqe rating is higher on the 249 than the 242 or 231 because of the input and lowrange planets. If you swap the 249 input into whatever case you swap in you'll have the 249's rated tourqe input.

Whatever you do, good luck man.
Gabe, "reformed" Jeep hoarder.

Topic author
candymancan
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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by candymancan »

The reason the 249 97-98 viscous coupler has a different part number is the liquid is slightly more viscous. it responds quicker to wheel slip over the 92-96 ones. Yes 96 is a 2nd gen ZJ but the 96's were bastards and had parts left over on the shelves from the 95's put on em. Anyway because of the wheel split the liquid is thicker to begin with, so it reacts quicker to wheel slippage. The I may be wrong on the 10% front.. its probly 30% or something. I'll have to go on speedfreaks.net if its still around and do some digging on the official numbers.
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited 219k
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 I6 laredo 430k
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 155k
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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by ghcoe »

candymancan wrote:Why do you think V8's 5.2 and 5.9 only got the 249 even the base laredos.
Jeep knew the Dana 35's were too weak to hold up to the V8's especially in towing situations. Rather than upgrading the rear end on all V8 models, and/or running a risk of people blowing out D35's pulling trailers in 2wd, they opted to just use the 249 full time case. This allowed the V8 torque to be shared by both front and rear axles. Real early V8 ZJ's could be had with a 242 before they realized they had a problem.

I converted my ZJ to a 242. Cheaper and than a viscous coupler.
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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by Stuka »

The Jeep NP242 torque split is 48:52, I have owned two.

Also, there is more than one version of the 242. Some have an open center, some have a viscous coupler.
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candymancan
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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by candymancan »

which 242s had a vc, thats the first ive heard of that. Must be really old ones ?
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited 219k
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 I6 laredo 430k
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 155k
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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by Stuka »

candymancan wrote:which 242s had a vc, thats the first ive heard of that. Must be really old ones ?
The WJ used a different version, and I think ZJ's with the 4.0, and actually now that i think about it, it was a torsen, not a viscous.

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Re: ZJ 249 Transfercase making noises, need help

Post by candymancan »

Yea no zj with a 242 used a viscous coupler that im 1000% positive on
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited 219k
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 I6 laredo 430k
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 155k
1976 Jeep J10.. 85k(repaired)
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