Tranny / Transfer case problem / Confused

[loneranger626]

Good afternoon. I'm new to TRS so bear with me please. I drive a 99 Ranger 4x4 with a manual transmission. Last night as I was pulling away from a traffic light I heard 3 successive loud bangs and it stopped pulling. Like it is in neutral. Now I get a whirring noise from in the direction of the transmission / transfer case. The clutch is functioning properly and the transmission allows me to put it in all gears but when I let out the clutch it whirs and sounds very trashy. Any ideas or suggestion before I drop the tranny and transfer case? It does not grind when I put in gear.

 

[Earl43P]

Try 4 Low. I had an Explorer (99 automatic) that did that, but 4 Low worked enough to get it off the highway and onto a tow dolly.

Sounds like the transfer case took a dump to me.
I'd leave the transmission in place till you know for sure.

Once it's out, you can spin it and tell if it operates or not.