No. 3 Part time 4WD?

As long as I'm flooding the forum, I might as well add this one.
My Part time light is staying on and my 4X4 lights won't come on. I've ordered the new transfer case switch and will replace it next week. My question is this: How does it get in 'Part Time'??
There's no indication on my shifter! I can put it in 4X4H - no indicator comes on but I can obviously tell it's engages - I can put it in 4X4L and it OBVIOUSLY engages but when I put it back in 2WD - it indicates Part Time on the dash???

How do I engage Part Time and therefore, how do I disengage it? **regardless of the new switch. I assume it will indicate correctly but there doesn't seem to be a position or way to differentiate 2WD and Part time???
Thanks again... and again....

 

Part time is 4wd. Depending on which transfer case you have, you may have a 4wd Full Time and a 4wd Part Time (NP242 transfer case). This transfer case can be driven on pavement in 4wd Full Time like an All wheel drive car can. 4wd Part time is meant for off road or where the conditions allow the tires to slip (dirt, snow pack, mud, etc)

If you just have just have 4H, 4L, N, and 2wd (NP231 or NP241 transfer case) then it will still indicate part time when you are in 4wd as it is meant to be used off pavement. Using 4wd on the pavement will bind the transfer case and cause damage.

 

sounds like transfer case switch #2 in attachment.

they follow a detent (rooster comb) and age as well as varnish sludge causes them to stick, removing to clean or often just replaced - labor to remove and time to clean vs just replace is a cost vs time call.

 

I'm going to crawl under and see if I can find the ID tag for the transfer case. It's just puzzling me that the light comes on for "Part Time" but there's nothing that indicates that on my shifter... but.... maybe, since it's a universal switch - once it's cleaned up - it will indicate correctly.

Thanks!

 

Thanks!! I ordered one today.

 

Does your shifter have any shift pattern on it?
Like this?

 

Yes, that's it but all black - no red lettering...

 

But it doesn't show 2hi, 4hi or 4lo?

 

Oh no, it looks exactly like the one in the photo - but all the lettering is black - non of the lettering is in red. (irrelevant comment and I shouldn't have noted it)

 

If the pic on post#6 represents your Jeep shifter then you have a part-time 4WD system. 2HI your rear wheels are powered, 4HI or 4L power is sent to each axle 50:50 part-time for trails off-road. When the "part-time" lights are on the dash is there any binding when making turns?

 

No grinding. I can definitely tell when 4WD is engaged and there is no indication when it is. I hadn't driven it in a while and there's some whine in the driver front. I'm trying to determine if it's just me not remembering how much the mud grips hum or a building problem. Figured I'd start with the indicator and the Part time thing.
I've owned many 4WD but ever one that was 'Part Time'. That really threw me.
Thanks for all the help.