Shifting into 4WD

[sm16]

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).

Do you have to have it in Neutral as well?

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[GhostDivers]

Do you have to have it in Neutral as well?

No need to be in neutral to go to or from 2H to 4H. Steady throttle or light lift, and shift (under 45 MPH I believe). For 4L, yes you'll need to be in neutral/clutch depressed and low single digit speed (2-3 MPH, more or less).

 

[Sean L]

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).

It gets much easier after a few times.

 

[sm16]

No need to be in neutral to go to or from 2H to 4H. Steady throttle or light lift, and shift (under 45 MPH I believe). For 4L, yes you'll need to be in neutral/clutch depressed and low single digit speed (2-3 MPH, more or less).

Thanks bud

 

[mgroeger]

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).

I have found now that we have used it a lot in 4WD it's become easier to get into it. You can go all the way up to 45MPH and let off the gas and pull it into 4WD.
4LO you need to have tranny in N no gas no brake gently rolling like 2MPH then pull from 4WD to N to 4LO.

 

[crackpastu]

Do you have to have it in Neutral as well?

Nope - no need to have it in neutral

 

[Tunland]

No need to be in neutral to go to or from 2H to 4H. Steady throttle or light lift, and shift (under 45 MPH I believe). For 4L, yes you'll need to be in neutral/clutch depressed and low single digit speed (2-3 MPH, more or less).

The light lift is the key for smooth shift

 

[RubenZ]

Add me to the list of those who tried 4H for the first time. It was HARD, but I learned that if I just do a quick JAB BACK it worked pretty easily vs trying to move it back slowly. I was worried because it was actually very HARD when it tried to move it back slowly that I thought it would break.

 

[foofykid]

Getting into 4h is a pita on mine as well. I hope it gets better over time. The one day i went to try 4l almost wasn't able to get it back in 2h and thought i was going to need a tow. I almost broke the shifter how hard it was to get it back to 2h.

 

[mgroeger]

The light lift is the key for smooth shift

It was my understanding to let off the gas briefly while you shift from 2H to 4H. You are saying that you can heavy a steady throttle or even a gentle increase (lift) while you shift?

 

[IPvFletch]

Shifting Procedures

2H To 4H/4H Auto Or 4H/4H Auto To 2H

Shifting between 2H and 4H/4H Auto can be made with the vehicle stopped or in motion. The preferred shifting speed would be 0 to 45 mph (72 km/h). With the vehicle in motion, the trans- fer case will engage/disengage faster if you mo- mentarily release the accelerator pedal after completing the shift. Do not accelerate while shifting the transfer case. Apply a constant force when shifting the transfer case lever.

2HTo4H/4H(P-T)/4HAutoOr4H/4H(P-T)/4H Auto To 2H

With the vehicle rolling at 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h), shift an automatic transmission into NEUTRAL (N), or press the clutch pedal on a manual transmission. While the vehicle is coasting at 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h), shift the transfer case lever firmly to the desired posi- tion. Do not pause with the transfer case in N (Neutral). Once the shift is completed, place the automatic transmission into DRIVE or re- lease the clutch pedal on a manual transmission.

You know, read here, cuz there's a bunch of scenarios: https://www.mopar.com/moparsvc/tweddle/publications?id=9594

 

[mgroeger]

That's interesting... I let off the gas during the pull from 2H to 4H. They are saying let off the gas AFTER you make the pull.

 

[old8tora]

Thanks for the quick replies.I'll get some pics in later. I haven't tried 4 low yet but can say it worked really well in 4H (was on a loose dirt road). It shifts into 4H smoothly but justvseems to need a pretty strong pull. Turning felt great.

Whaddya need 4L for ? Military Jeeps didn't have 4L , and they did just fine in 4H .

 

[Goin2drt]

Wow I was doing this wrong. I was stopped, auto in neutral and that was the only way I could get it to shift into 4L. Even just rolling slightly didn't want to shift. also going from 2L to 4H it wanted to be stopped. I tried at like 10 MPH and it wouldn't shift. Have to play with this again.

 

[Tunland]

It was my understanding to let off the gas briefly while you shift from 2H to 4H. You are saying that you can heavy a steady throttle or even a gentle increase (lift) while you shift?

I only did the shift at a roll. It was very hard to shift without lifting slightly up on the shifter.

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