Offroad-Express

I think my terrano is stuck in 4wd I was driving back from the beach and my front diff started to smoke up and burn oil but the gear lever said it is in 2wd it has automatic hubs what do you think is wrong?

smells like a not so auto hub.

jack the front up and spin the wheels, one of em will turn the CV...If it still drove home okay and didn't bind up and hop around corners, that's what im putting my money on

If the tyres were chirping trying to turn then yeah the transfer is still engaged. check the selector on the transfer case is still in one piece.

How do I check the transfer selector ? I think the cvs we're spinning

1....Need to detirmine if a hub is still locked in. jack the front up and spin the wheels if unlocked the whels should turn freely but not the axles.
if you cannot spin one of the front wheels freely you have identified the problem component

2....If they do spin freely, then with the front still off the ground and the transfer in 2wd try and turn the front drive shaft(between the transfer case and the front differential)
you should be able to turn it around 3/4 of a turn before you hear the auto hubs lock in and start turning one of the front wheels.

3....if the shaft will not turn, the transfer case is still in 4wd(you have identified the problem component), check the linkage between the 4wd lever and the transfer case for damage or excessive wear.

also check the gearbox crossmember for damage or broken mount as excessive movement in relation to the gear leaver maynot allow the transfer to disengage properly.

I had the front up and was in 2wd the front wheels were easy to spin not jammed up, when I did spin the front driveshaft I did hear a click then one of the wheels started to spin.

auto hub likely engaging randomly then,
pull it off and replace with manual hubs or free the autos up