2018 JLU 3.6 - Transfer Case is Hard to Shift

[Valpo Jeep]

Apologize if this is in the wrong forum.

Our 18 3.6 is very hard to shift in or out of 4 HI. I can do it but my wife struggles to get it to shift at all. As a result she left it at home today with the current snow storm we have and opted for the Quattro system in the Audi.

Are there any adjustments that can be made to make it shift easier? I read another thread that mentioned you just have to use the crap out of it to get it to move more easily. We are second owner and bought it at 60K. There are ZERO underbody scrapes and it had the Michelin highway tires on it so I am pretty sure it has lived a road queen life and maybe saw 4WD 3 or 4 times a year so far.

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[58Willys]

My ‘18 was very stiff to shift when new, but now shifts pretty well. The JL transfer case is much stiffer to shift than any other 4x4 I’ve owed though.

I assume you are shifting while moving? Try tapping the throttle a bit just before making the shift.

 

[aldo98229]

Do it like Dennis

 

[LCW]

Because of people like this, Jeep will get rid of the manual lever...

 

[Valpo Jeep]

My ‘18 was very stiff to shift when new, but now shifts pretty well. The JL transfer case is much stiffer to shift than any other 4x4 I’ve owed though.

I assume you are shifting while moving? Try tapping the throttle a bit just before making the shift.

Yup, shifting on the move. I will need to take it out and experiment with the shifter and use it to free it up which I hope will help my wife out. This past summer when we flat towed it getting into neutral was a real chore even for me. I would bet the previous owner never had it in neutral or low.


We have had Grand Cherokees in the past that were a breeze to shift but they also had the select track.

 

[fat_head]

It might still be stiff from the factory. The more it gets used the easier it gets.

 

[Ratbert]

It's pretty easy to get into / out of 4HI in my current Wrangler. My previous one was incredibly difficult to coerce. That did not improve significantly over the year and a half of off-roading that we participated in.

After comparing it to my current Jeep I'm fairly confident that my previous one was defective or simply needed to be adjusted. Unfortunately I assumed that it was normal.

 

[Ratbert]

Because of people like this, Jeep will get rid of the manual lever...

You're blaming them for being the victims of a crappy transfer case activation mechanism?

To be clear: some are (relatively) smooth from the factory (my current Jeep). Others are crappy from the factory and smooth out over time. Others are crappy from the factory and don't get better (my previous Jeep). Some are so bad that our spouses can't activate them.

 

[LCW]

You're blaming them for being the victims of a crappy transfer case activation mechanism?

To be clear: some are (relatively) smooth from the factory (my current Jeep). Others are crappy from the factory and smooth out over time. Others are crappy from the factory and don't get better (my previous Jeep). Some are so bad that our spouses can't activate them.

Go buy a Bronco

 

[hoch]

Wow, there are some internet tough guys in this thread. ?

Mine was pretty stiff. I’ve had other manual t-case levers (mostly Toyota’s), and they were much much smoother.

The more I used it, easier it became. Hopefully that’s the same case with you.

 

[Ratbert]

Go buy a Bronco

Is that your reply for anyone dealing with a sub-par Jeep?

 

[Valpo Jeep]

Went out for a drive after work and exercised it probably 50 times. There were times it moved fairly easily and others were a real bitch even for me. Coasting, slight gas pedal, just lifting from the gas pedal; the effort needed seemed to be all over the place.

 

[Jeep Dude]

Mine was stiff back in 2019. Fast forward to 2023, smooth as butta ??

I use mine at least once a week though. I also drained out the old transfer case fluid, and refilled it with Redline.

Went out for a drive after work and exercised it probably 50 times. There were times it moved fairly easily and others were a real bitch even for me. Coasting, slight gas pedal, just lifting from the gas pedal; the effort needed seemed to be all over the place.

I wouldn't recommend accelerating, while engaging the lever.

In fact, if memory serves me right, the owners manual specifies this warning. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong?

 

[Roky]

Apologize if this is in the wrong forum.

Our 18 3.6 is very hard to shift in or out of 4 HI. I can do it but my wife struggles to get it to shift at all. As a result she left it at home today with the current snow storm we have and opted for the Quattro system in the Audi.

Are there any adjustments that can be made to make it shift easier? I read another thread that mentioned you just have to use the crap out of it to get it to move more easily. We are second owner and bought it at 60K. There are ZERO underbody scrapes and it had the Michelin highway tires on it so I am pretty sure it has lived a road queen life and maybe saw 4WD 3 or 4 times a year so far.

Sounds normal to me if that’s all it’s been used in it’s life….. some Jeeps are smooth as silk, but for the most part it’s a crap shoot if it’s gonna fight you or not, the more you use it the better it will get…..

we use it several times every weekend, mine is where I can shift into 4 lo stopped and in neutral ( no grinding at all) easier than the conventional method of slightly rolling. Also I switched out the lever with the B&M shifter, a lot more leverage, it also makes it easier……

 

[Jubi351]

Yep, definitely easier to pop it into neutral and 4LO drops right in.

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