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The NV247 (often written NP247) is the full-time Quadra-Trac II transfer case used in the 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ. Unlike a part-time case, it is driving the front axle, or ready to, every mile you drive. The rear output turns all the time, and a gerotor pump and progressive clutch pack hand torque to the front when the rear starts to slip. That means the chain spins and sees load far more often than the chain in a part-time NP231.
At this age, the most common NV247 complaints are a clunk or knock on takeoff, a rattle that comes and goes with throttle, and a case that starts binding or chattering in tight turns. Some of that is the chain. Some is fluid. Getting the diagnosis right decides whether you spend about a hundred dollars or several hundred.
How the NV247 Chain Fits In
The chain links the sprocket on the rear output side to the front output sprocket, so every bit of torque the front axle receives goes through it. The replacement is the HV-071, a 1.00-inch wide link chain. When it stretches it does not just get noisy; a long chain slaps the inside of the aluminum case halves and can eventually wear through them, and under load it can jump a tooth on the sprocket.
The NV247 also has a low range (2.72:1) selected with the floor lever, so chain stretch tends to be most obvious when you are crawling in 4LO and the chain is carrying the most torque.
Symptoms of a Stretched NV247 Chain
- Knock or clunk on takeoff and when lifting off the throttle. It feels like driveline lash, because it is.
- Rattle or slapping noise that follows vehicle speed, often loudest at low speed under light throttle.
- Metal in the fluid. Aluminum glitter means the chain may already be touching the case. Steel fuzz on the magnet means the chain and sprockets are wearing.
- A bang under load in 4LO, which is the chain skipping a tooth. Stop driving it hard at that point.
- Front driveshaft play. With the engine off and the lever in 4LO, rotate the front driveshaft by hand. Excessive free travel before it takes up points at chain slack.
Rule Out Fluid First
Before you pull the case, check the fluid. The NV247 does not use plain ATF. Its gerotor pump and progressive coupling are designed around a specific Mopar NV247 transfer case fluid, and a case filled with ATF or gear oil often chatters, binds in turns, or groans on tight parking-lot maneuvers. That gets blamed on the chain all the time.
If the fluid is old, dark or the wrong type, drain it, refill with the correct NV247 fluid, and drive it for a week. If the binding goes away and only a speed-related rattle remains, the chain is still a suspect. If everything goes quiet, you just saved yourself a teardown. Our wrong transfer case fluid guide covers the symptoms in more detail.
NV247 Chain Replacement Cost
| Route | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DIY chain only | Chain + RTV + NV247 fluid, roughly $130-$170 | Case comes out; a long day for most DIYers |
| DIY chain + seals + pump inspection | Roughly $180-$300 | Add bearings if any feel rough |
| Independent shop, chain + reseal | About $600-$1,000 | Labor varies with how seized the exhaust and crossmember hardware are |
| Used or reman NV247 swap | $800-$2,000 installed | Used cases are plentiful but just as old as yours |
On a 20-year-old WJ the economics are simple: if the case halves are not worn through and the sprockets are healthy, a chain and reseal is almost always cheaper than a swap with an unknown-history used unit.
Bench Notes
- Drain the fluid, remove both driveshafts, disconnect the shift linkage and any vent hose, support the case and remove it from the transmission adapter.
- Remove the rear extension housing and the gerotor pump. Note the pump orientation before you pull it.
- Split the case halves at the RTV seam. Lift the chain, front sprocket and front output shaft out together.
- Inspect both sprockets for hooked or worn teeth, and look at the inside of both case halves for a polished track or gouges where the chain has been rubbing.
- Inspect the gerotor pump and the progressive clutch pack while you are in there. Burnt or glazed clutches explain a lot of binding complaints.
- Reassemble with the new chain looped over both sprockets, fresh RTV, new output seals, and refill with the correct NV247 fluid.
Make Sure It Is an NV247
The 1999-2004 WJ was offered with more than one transfer case. Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive trucks use the NV247, but WJs with Selec-Trac use the NV242, which takes a different chain. Read the tag on the rear of the case and compare the old chain's number and width to the new one before you close it up. If your case turns out to be an NV242, see our NP242 chain replacement guide instead.
Other drivetrain hard parts are listed under hard parts in our shop.
HV-071 Chain for the NV247
1.00-inch wide HV-071 replacement drive chain for the NV247 Quadra-Trac II case in the 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ. Match the chain number and width to your original.
Shop the NV247 Chain → CoreTransmissionParts.com →FAQ
What chain does the NV247 transfer case use?
The common replacement is the HV-071, a 1.00-inch wide drive chain for the NV247 Quadra-Trac II case in the 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ. Always compare the number and width to the original chain.
Can I put regular ATF in an NV247?
It is not recommended. The NV247 is designed around a specific Mopar NV247 transfer case fluid, and ATF or gear oil commonly causes chatter and binding in turns.
Is the NV247 knock always the chain?
No. Worn U-joints, a dry front driveshaft slip spline, motor and transmission mounts, and wrong fluid all cause similar complaints. Check fluid and driveshafts first, then measure chain play at the front driveshaft.
Do I need to replace the case halves?
Only if the chain has worn through or deeply gouged the inside of the housing. Light polishing is common and acceptable; a groove you can catch a fingernail in is not.
Is it worth fixing an NV247 on a high-mile WJ?
Usually yes, if the housing and sprockets are good. A chain and reseal costs less than a used case of the same age and unknown history.