Shifting into 4WD

[pennsoxfan]

Mine was difficult the first few times but seemed to loosen up after that.

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[JIMBOX]

Don't get angry at this xfer case---always be gentle, but firm because every time you "FORCE" the shift, you'll damage the worthless nylon bushings in this linkage--

Try 1-2-3 mph(N) then pull easy on the lever--try dead stop, then reverse then (N) always with light(firm) force on that lever--

Yeah, I know, it's a PITA, but after treating my '08 Ruby like that for the first couple months--she lasted over 8 years without a failure-

There's an engineering reason for this lousy nylon bushing and that's so that the WEAK LINK will always go before serious damage can be done to the expensive xfer case !

Whatever

JIMBO

 

[AZCrawl]

Yes! Totally agreed - my first time shifting into 4H I thought something was wrong. I was parked (didn't do any rocking or back and forth to help) and trying to shift, and I just couldn't believe it was taking so much effort to drag the stick back into position. I even stopped a couple times, afraid I was going to damage something.

In retrospect, I just think I was tackling it wrong. Don't just try to snap it back with one quick motion, but go for a firm and continuous shift. I've since shifted in and out of 4H probably half a dozen times, and it definitely feels easier now, probably not from breaking it in but moreso just becoming familiar with the motion and what it takes.

I don't know about the logic in making it so tough to avoid accidental shifting from bumping into it, because you'd have to somehow be bumping the stick from the direction of the console, which would be incredibly difficult to do. I could see people mistaking it with the gear shift, though, so maybe that's valid.

You should be moving when going from 2H to 4H.

 

[mquinn13]

Finally got my new JL Sport! Having previously owned a Cherokee Trailhawk (4wh kicked in automatically) and a Liberty (would flip a digital switch), this is my first Wrangler (Command-Trac). While 4h works great, it takes a very hard pull to get it into 4h. Is this normal for Wranglers or should I be concerned?

This is my first post but I've lurked on the forums here for a while. Thanks for the help!

I have noticed this as well, to the point where its bending. I will say that it is much easier when the vehicle is in motion. In the manual it recommends if it doesn't pull with ease to release the break and try again while in drive.

 

[mquinn13]

also I will add driving in 4H and 4L on dry pavement is terrible for your vehicle for many reasons.

 

[drogers]

There's an engineering reason for this lousy nylon bushing and that's so that the WEAK LINK will always go before serious damage can be done to the expensive xfer case !

That explains the JK we rented in Kauai back in '11. Used 4H on a little offroading adventure, and it never went back into 2H. Nothing odd, never had to force it or anything, but after we got off the pig trails the selector just moved freely. Oh well, glad it was the rental and not *my* JK that had that happen, and glad it stuck in 4H instead of N!

 

[AZCrawl]

also I will add driving in 4H and 4L on dry pavement is terrible for your vehicle for many reasons.

It is fine if you drive straight.

 

[JIMBOX]

Man ain't that the truth and-

The reason the INDIANS lost the war because their arrows wouldn't curve around trees--

Whatever

JIMBO

 

[rallydefault]

You should be moving when going from 2H to 4H.

Personally, trust me, I see the wisdom in this and totally agree with you. But if that's the case, they shouldn't be saying in the owner's manual that it's perfectly fine to shift from 2H to 4H while not moving. The quote from the manual is, "Shifting between 2H and 4H can be made with the vehicle stopped or in motion." If it is preferable, and certainly if it may cause damage to the case, they NEED to not tell you in the owner's manual that the shift can be made while not moving.

Also, living in the real world, many times you need the 4-wheel drive to get out of a stuck situation, whether that be mud or snow or sand or whatever. Sometimes it's literally impossible to be moving 1-3 mph to perform a shift.

My area in the NE got slammed with over a foot and a half of snow early this week. I needed to shift while not moving lol

 

[Rubi18]

Just wanted to post a follow up. Shifting in 4h is a lot easier now. Able to be done on a roll or at a dead stop. At about 4k on the odometer. At red lights i put it into 4h every now and then.

In regards to it being hard at first I really thought i was going to break it. Had the equivalent of 50 lbs for the first 2 times, now its about 10lbs.

 

[JIMBOX]

Just remember--it's NEVER IMPOSSIBLE to "NOT MOVE", you are always able to cause wheel spin forward/backward and that's sometime required to use the xfer case--

That happened to me in the first year I had my '08 RUBY--so from that time on, I always went to 4hi when going off-road and USUALLY I would free the front stab., so I never got stuck again in 2wd !

Whatever

JIMBO

 

[Ruby Jack]

Interesting. The JLU Sport I test drove had no issues putting it on 4h and then back to 2. It was stiff, but no stiffer than what I have on my JK.

 

[jlroman2]

Mine is kinda tough to get in 4h, hopefully will go away with time. TJ was much easier. I’ll ask dealer on Monday while I’m getting lift installed

How much are they charging you for the lift installation at the dealer if I may ask?

 

[Rubi18]

Just wanted to give another update. I have not shifted into 4h since my last post. Was driving home last night and was stopped at a red light and deiced to give it a try. went into 4h pretty easy, went into 2h with absolute no effort. They were both shifted from a dead stop.

 

[crackpastu]

Hi all - just got my new Jeep JL and loving it so far. I agree it was tough at first to shift into 4H but I think maybe that’s just because it was never done before in the car. Useful tip - as you pull down, pull a little bit to the right and it seems to shift into 4H smoother. A little light will come on which will tell you that you’re in 4WD. I tried it for the first time today going at about 20mph and not having my foot on the accelerator (as others mentioned).

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