sloppy transfer box stick

HELP ! i,ve just been off road and i went to put my 300tdi into 4x4 i took
the gear stick out of 2 wheel and went to put it into 4 wheel and it was all sloppy as if the plate had been removed, i could move the gear stick through 360 degree,s in a circlular motion so i then could not tell if i was in 2 or 4 wheel drive and the 4x4 light just keeps flickering.

has anyone had this problem or know the cause ?

I cant answer the main question but as far as i know, they are permanent 4x4 drive and the stick thats buggered just changes from high to low ratio (forwards/backwards) and also controls the diff lock(left/right)

It sounds like the pivot for the stick has come off but i cant guess how a bit of offroading could do that????

Remove centre console, drill out rivets and remove transmission cover gasket and take a look in. The transfer case mech is all visible so you'll be able to work out what's come adrift...

Chances are the collar on the linkage has come off, you should be able to get at it from underneath, it's a splined clamp the moves backward and forward for hi/lo and pulls another lever left and right for diff lock, if the clamp comes off the stick just floats around and the linkages don't move. I wouldn't use the vehicle until it's sorted as if it gets stuck in difflock.... well, that can lead to a whole world of sh*t!