4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/Jeep trouble

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Expert: - 7/9/2006


Question
Hey Carl,
I went off roading today in stock Jeep Wrangler and got bogged down in a sinkhole pretty bad. I was stuck up to the bumpers while I was winching out.
The problem I am having is that since I went into that sinkhole, the clutch has stopped working. The vehicle will start, but if I try to put it in gear, the gears just grind. It will start in gear (with the clutch pedal pressed) but when I release it, the vehicle doesn't move at all.
The Jeep has been towed since, on hardball for about 12 miles.
Ever hear/see something like that? Any suggestions are appreciated.
4 Low and Go, baby,
Saif

Answer
Saif,

Yep, seen this more than once.  Depending on how deep you were, and what the composition of the stuff you were stuck in can take it's toll on many of the drive-train components.

Some times the mud, (I'm assuming that the sink hole was mud) contains a high concentration of clay.  If this is the case, and it got into the clutch and dried, it can dry as hard as rock.  The muck may have ruined your throw out bearing also.  You can try to hose out everything with a pressure washer, but it this doesn't work then it sounds like it's time to pull the tranny, and check out the clutch, pressure plate, and throw out bearing.

If there was a lot of water in the mix, you should check the fluids in your transmission, transfer case and both differentials also.  It is real common for water to get into these components, and if not changed soon, it can ruin the bearings.

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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