Won’t go into 4 low

[AndyG]

Consistently? Shifting into 4lo at a standstill can only happen if everything is lined up. There has nothing special about your transfer case.

If the Jeep is barely rolling , it seems to want to grind as it engages .

If I'm sitting still , in neutral , it shifts right in as long as the internals line up...and if the don't , putting it in hear and bumping the clutch , then back to neutral, and she clicks in, nice and sure .

Just doesn't seem to want to rolling , maybe I'm not knocking it in neutral is why.

Not a big deal, I just want to do it right , my first Jeep in a long , long time ... relearning.

 

[JDS123]

If the Jeep is barely rolling , it seems to want to grind as it engages .

If I'm sitting still , in neutral , it shifts right in as long as the internals line up...and if the don't , putting it in hear and bumping the clutch , then back to neutral, and she clicks in, nice and sure .

Just doesn't seem to want to rolling , maybe I'm not knocking it in neutral is why.

Not a big deal, I just want to do it right , my first Jeep in a long , long time ... relearning.

Try it with it in neutral or with the clutch in. Makes sense that it might shift when it you are stopped if it lines up. Not sure about shifting with the jeep in gear. I've never tried it. I'm in the habit of putting the clutch in when shifting. And anyway, even crawling at idle in first might be too fast to get the transfer case into 4-low. I usually crawl in first, clutch in, wait a second to slow down, then pull back and into 4-low.

 

[AndyG]

That makes sense . I'm always clutch in at least , just seems the less it's moving the better , I never attempt 4lo with clutch out. It seems great ...a good example is if it won't shift ,sitting still in neutral, I can bump it , then stop, in neutral and she clicks on in . It just needs to be still, or it grinds . I realize even engine vibrations can make gears misalign , just like reverse will...that's why if you go to 2nd before reverse , it won't grind..stops them a sec .

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[JDS123]

That makes sense . I'm always clutch in at least , just seems the less it's moving the better , I never attempt 4lo with clutch out. It seems great ...a good example is if it won't shift ,sitting still in neutral, I can bump it , then stop, in neutral and she clicks on in . It just needs to be still, or it grinds . I realize even engine vibrations can make gears misalign , just like reverse will...that's why if you go to 2nd before reverse , it won't grind..stops them a sec .

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The reason you go to 2nd before reverse is because reverse is unsynchronized. By shifting to second, you're making the gears stop within the transmission. I think that is what you're saying.

In terms of the transfer case, I think you might just be going too fast if it is grinding when you're trying to shift. It makes no difference whether or not if you're in neutral or not if the clutch is in. You have to be going real slow. Sometimes these transfer cases can be finicky. You just have to learn how to deal with them haha.

 

[AndyG]

Yes , I agree on reverse , and agree on all. Seems like mine just doesn't like to be moving at all as it engages , but moving it a tad by bumping the clutch can help,then stopping , to make em line up.

Probably more of a "is this normal" thing in my head and should I care ?

I remember having to make older Jeep's and 4wd vehicles "jump in" by rolling them and yanking the lever .

This one just seems to not want to coerced .
I love the savvy cable , it took the vagueness out of the whole process.

 

[AndyG]

On a similar note , when I got it it had a horrible , skyjacker short arm kit with mush bushings , and the stock linkage engineering marvel.

I had it long armed and everything freshened up, but not lifted , and lost 4lo simply because it couldn't throw the lever back far enough ..so I watched a video, loosened the 13mm linkage rod bolt , raised the handle , manually put it in 4 lo, and snugged the bolt . Bingo .

Anyway ,back to Earth, I really agree on each one having its own personality and quirks ..kind of a lot going on under there .

 

[Rob5589]

Have you tried to adjust the shift linkage? I have the 6 spd and mine will go into any position while stopped, in or out of gear, clutch in or out. There are some YT vids on it, takes about 5 mins and a 13mm wrench. Spray all the moving joints with some silicone lube while you are under there.

 

[AndyG]

Yes , I went through that when the suspension got straightened out , needed more throw ...worked great and still does...I have noticed lifted tj's have cocked linkages , and a plate is sold to compensate.

Then I took that engineering marvel and removed it and put a Savvy cable in....love that , and how it shifts into all modes ..it just doesn't want to be rolling when you hit 4 low . Grinds.

Nothing is wrong really , and it's definitely engaging solidly in all gears.

 

[AndyG]

This thread title got changed . The
deal was mine grinds when you try to engage it if the vehicle is moving any at all it seems , otherwise ,it engages great

 

[Rob5589]

This thread title got changed . The
deal was mine grinds when you try to engage it if the vehicle is moving any at all it seems , otherwise ,it engages great

Mine will too, although I stop before going into low. The 6 spd, 4.88's, and 31's make for a pretty low crawl ratio. Generally I believe the rec is less than 3 mph but may be wrong on the exact speed.

 

[AndyG]

That makes sense and also mine is a Rubicon so I'm sure that may have a little to do with it if the gearing is lower.

 

[JMT]

I wonder why mine doesn't seem to like it does better sitting still.

X2. Going int 4L mine lines up sitting still, most grind when they try that. Mine also doesn’t like making the switch while rolling. 6-speed.

 

[AndyG]

Thanks guys , I think its just the nature of these to be a little finicky from vehicle to vehicle .

 

[Tjrubicon]

So a quick question on adjusting the tc linkage. I popped my 03TJR into 4lo yesterday and had some grinding going on. I was able to get it to stop grinding by moving the lever some. About to try to adjust the linkage but curious of the right procedure bc I’ve seen one video that stated to put in 4lo first then loosen nut and press forward on rod bout 1/4 inch then tighten. Then here I read to loosen the nut first then move lever to 4lo position. Is there a correct sequence for this ?

 

[Shatto]

I impressed the girls a little and flabbergasted the guys by shifting up and down, through all six gears, without using the clutch.
And, yes I was driving it and, yes I used to be pretty damn good, but today I adore my Rubicon with an automatic.