4 Wheel Drive/SUVs: 4x4 stuck in low and wont disengage, rear windshield wiper, transmission shop

Question
The other day on my way home from college I couldn't see out my back window and I thought the button was for my rear windshield wiper(turns out it was 4HI and 4Low for 4 wheel drive) I hit the 4 hi button and the light turned on.  Then i hit the 4lo button and it started to flash, then i hit the 4 hi again and it stayed on.  A few seconds later I hit the 4 hi button again and the light shut off and my radio stopped working.  I checked the fuse for my radio and it was blown.  I replaced it and turned my car back on and it blew it again.  I talked to a mechanic and he said that from what i told him that it sounds like it is stuck in 4 low.

When I try to move it now it seems really tight like im holding down the brakes lightly while trying to drive.

What should i do to get my car out of 4 wheel drive? Is it even stuck in 4 low?

Answer
Quinten,

First of all DON'T drive it in 4-low.  This will tear up the transfer case, and is very hard on the front axles.  What has happened, is that by driving the vehicle in low range on the pavement, it put the transfer case in a bind.  There are several things that can cause this.  One is the 4x4 switch, a bad ground, broken wire, bad sensor in the transfer case, or the transfer case is still in a bind.
The first thing I would do, would be to drive it forward and backwards for 10 feet or so while switching it into 4Hi.  If the transfer case is in a bind and all the other components are working, then by backing up and going forward, it can free up the gears so it can shift out of 4-Low.
If this doesn't work, then you may have to have it towed to a reputable transmission shop that is familiar with transfer cases.

Carl