PLS HELP 2001 3.0 Wont Move in D or R rolls in P

[maddogmontana]

I know its been brought up before, I'v read thru all the threads but I am posting anyway. I need help, I need to get the car fixed, and my mechanic just wants to throw a new trans & transfer case and is confident that will fix the issue.

Here goes:

Car starts strong, but wont move in D or R and I hear that grinding noise when put back in P. Also rolls slightly in P before coming to a stop.

We put it on a lift yesterday, when in D or R the rear wheels spun when impacting the gas pedal (tho they don't appear to spin with much power), front wheels nothing.

The drive shaft from the transfer case to the front diff spins and you hear a rattling coming from the front diff & a grinding noise when coming from D or R to P.

Today we swapped out the front diff, same result, but you could feel the car trying to move a little better than yesterday.


There were a few lights on the dash ( abs, traction control, maybe another) prior to swapping the front diff, I am not sure if he cleared them but they were all gone when we finished the diff and tried driving the car.

I brought up the front CV issue and how they have to be very tightly installed and he said "come on man I know what I'm doing, etc"

My gut tells me the transmission doesn't need to be replaced. It is not leaking fluid and when in R the drive shaft spins in the proper direction and the rear wheels do as well, just seemingly lower power, When in D, the shaft spins in the proper direction, rear wheels move, front do not.

Do I need to open up the transfercase and take a look at the chain or the actuator gear? Could the front axel assembly be worn out and need to be replaced?