How to operate the transfer case w/an automatic transmission.

[jadmt]

I noticed the first few times offroading 4L tended to pop out even tho the light would indicate it was in 4L..it took a firmer pull back to ensure it was engaged all the way. I think biggest issue for me after being used to JK's the lever has to come back further and the parking brake handle occupies some of the space.

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[arnie_mueller]

Each Jeep is different. Some come to a complete stop before doing the tranny to N then x-fer to 4Lo. If I do that, it pops out of 4Lo.

In my Jeep, I have to go about 1-2mph, any faster and it grinds going into 4Lo.

 

[KevinM60]

Move the gear lever from Drive to Neutral
Move the transfer lever to Low
Move the gear lever from Neutral to Drive

You transfer lever has it's own Neutral. Don't stop there, just go straight through.
.

Good point to specify between transmission neutral and transfer case neutral to avoid confusion.

 

[Apexcars]

It's because you bought a JT. No one actually expects you to ever go into 4-Lo in one of those. You spend too much time high centered or the rear bumper lifting the back tires off the ground to ever need to use the transfer case.

 

[Heimkehr]

This is when rolling a bit will help smooth the shift.

Yep. I'm also careful to keep my right foot off the accelerator for a few seconds, to give the gears a chance to engage. Thus far this M.O. has worked very well.

 

[Bandana]

I had similar issues as the OP when I first got my JL. I found that shifting into 4Low on a slight incline was a big help. I come to a complete stop, pop it in neutral, and then shift from 4Hi to Low as soon as she starts rolling. Works going forward or in reverse.

 

[gato]

Mine shifts better into/out of 4LO in neutral and rolling 0-1MPH (barely moving). My JK shifted better at a full stop in neutral. My friends JL likes it better at ˜2MPH and a fast yank. Each transfer case is a bit different.

Thing is you don't really have to put a lot of force - just experiment with the sweet spot for your jeep in that 0-3MPH. But being in N on the transmission is key. Sounds like OP was trying to do it while in D.

 

[DubaiMarauder]

Hi,

I just bought my first Jeep w/an automatic transmission yesterday.

All the others I owned were w/manuals, but w/my last one, a 2024, the transmission failed at 1500 miles. It was replaced after waiting 1 1/2 months w/a new one.

Once I got it back, everything seemed to work OK, and then all of a sudden I started getting error messages.

I once again brought it back, and after two week trying to figure it out, they ended up replacing the Clutch Pedal, which required tearing the Dash apart.

I drove it, and no more errors, but after having the dash torn apart, no thank you. I went and traded it in for my first Jeep w/an automatic, a Gladiator no less.

I went to Christen it today offroad, to make sure everything worked OK.

I could easily get it into and out of 4Hi, but going into 4Lo was a problem.

I originally slowed down to a crawl and tried going from 4Hi into 4Lo. It wasn't easy, and when I did, it would pop out of gear into Neutral.

I then came to a complete stop, put the transmission into Neutral, as well as tried Park. In both cases it was hard, but at least it stayed in gear both cases.

Even switching from 4Lo up to 4Hi was a pain.

With manuals, all I needed to do was to come to a crawl, relieve the clutch, and shift into 4Lo, and as well as doing the same into 4Hi.

Any suggestions on what I may be doing wrong, or is it simply a case of the transfer case being brand new, and thus needs breaking in?

How did they replace a clutch pedal on an automatic? I'm confoosded.

The way I've always used the transfer case is to come to a complete stop, place the regular transmission in Neutral, shift the T-case to 4H or 4L, then shift the transmission back to drive. Never had any issues with it that way. I also come to a complete stop before engaging or disengaging lockers and sway bar too.

 

[Flip]

@GoHack

The first 3 to 4 times were very tight. Mine started to feel a little easier afterwards. In neutral, I still prefer a very slow forward roll, from my experience, this makes for a smooth transition from 4H to 4L and from 4L - 4H-2wd.

Best of luck my friend & happy trails.

 

[tomk62]

The correct process of shifting into 4L is not a mystery, it is well documented in the owner's manual.

 

[GoHack]

How did they replace a clutch pedal on an automatic? I'm confoosded.

The way I've always used the transfer case is to come to a complete stop, place the regular transmission in Neutral, shift the T-case to 4H or 4L, then shift the transmission back to drive. Never had any issues with it that way. I also come to a complete stop before engaging or disengaging lockers and sway bar too.

I had a 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon w/a 6 speed manual, which I bought last summer.

At around 1500 miles I started hearing a grinding noise in the transmission, when I would shift down from 4th to 3rd.

I brought it into Service, they confirmed it, and when they emptied the oil, metal chips came out.

Also too, when they pulled the transmission, they took a look at the clutch and found a broken spring on it as well.

It took over 1-1/2 months to get a new replacement transmission/ clutch assy.

Once they replaced it and I got it back, it drove just fine from over a week, at which time, I started getting Error Lights.

I brought it back, and it took over two weeks to diagnose the issue w/Jeep Engineers. They determined that a sensor on the clutch pedal failed and in order to replace it, they had to pull the entire dash.

When I got it back there were no more Errors popping up, but I wasn't at all too happy w/them having pulled the Dash. I could live w/the transmission replacement, but w/the pulling of the Dash, no, and so I decided to get rid of her, trading it in for a new 2024 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, but w/an automatic transmission, which essentially would be my first one.

So far so good, other than w/the issue w/the transfer case.

With the transfer case, I never had any issues in the past w/one w/a manual transmission. W/the automatic on the other hand, going into, and out of 4Lo seems to take a little effort.
With the manual, I would slow down to a moving crawl, hit the clutch, and shifted into 4Lo, while w/the automatic, I have to put the transmission into Neutral, and play w/the transfer case to get into 4Lo.

This morning, arriving at work, after using the system offroad several times yesterday, I tried it there, and it appeared to go easier into 4LO, and back into 4Hi.

So, my conclusion is, the transfer case simply needs to get broken in.







,

 

[DubaiMarauder]

I had a 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon w/a 6 speed manual, which I bought last summer.

At around 1500 miles I started hearing a grinding noise in the transmission, when I would shift down from 4th to 3rd.

I brought it into Service, they confirmed it, and when they emptied the oil, metal chips came out.

Also too, when they pulled the transmission, they took a look at the clutch and found a broken spring on it as well.

It took over 1-1/2 months to get a new replacement transmission/ clutch assy.

Once they replaced it and I got it back, it drove just fine from over a week, at which time, I started getting Error Lights.

I brought it back, and it took over two weeks to diagnose the issue w/Jeep Engineers. They determined that a sensor on the clutch pedal failed and in order to replace it, they had to pull the entire dash.

When I got it back there were no more Errors popping up, but I wasn't at all too happy w/them having pulled the Dash. I could live w/the transmission replacement, but w/the pulling of the Dash, no, and so I decided to get rid of her, trading it in for a new 2024 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, but w/an automatic transmission, which essentially would be my first one.

So far so good, other than w/the issue w/the transfer case.

With the transfer case, I never had any issues in the past w/one w/a manual transmission. W/the automatic on the other hand, going into, and out of 4Lo seems to take a little effort.
With the manual, I would slow down to a moving crawl, hit the clutch, and shifted into 4Lo, while w/the automatic, I have to put the transmission into Neutral, and play w/the transfer case to get into 4Lo.

This morning, arriving at work, after using the system offroad several times yesterday, I tried it there, and it appeared to go easier into 4LO, and back into 4Hi.

So, my conclusion is, the transfer case simply needs to get broken in.







,

Yea, it's a little stiff the first few times you use it, but it gets a little easier the more it gets used.

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