4WD operation

[Travis]

read the manual, with the automatic you need to be moving, 2-3mph as you pull from 4HI thru N into 4LO, without pausing in N.... and same 4LO to 4HI.

From the TJ Operating Manual

4H to 4L or 4L to 4H
With the vehicle rolling at 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h), shift an automatic transmission to N (Neutral) or depress 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 position. Do not pause in transfer case N (Neutral).

NOTE: Pausing in transfer case N (Neutral) in vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission may require shutting the engine OFF to avoid gear clash while completing the shift. If difficulty occurs, shift the auto- matic transmission to N (Neutral), hold foot on brake, and turn the engine OFF. Make shift to desired mode.

NOTE: Shifting into or out of 4L is possible with the vehicle completely stopped, however, difficulty may oc- cur due to the mating teeth not being properly aligned. Several attempts may be required for clutch teeth align- ment and shift completion to occur. The preferred method is with the vehicle rolling at 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h). Avoid attempting to engage or disengage 4L with the vehicle moving faster than 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h).

It takes some practice plus getting used to the sound of a few gears clashing, as the gears mate.

Thanks @billiebob for providing the exact information I was looking for today. I got the Jeep buried in snow today, it took me awhile to get 'er un-stuck, but I got it in 4HI. I couldn't get into 4LO, come to find out, I wasn't engaging it correctly.

Edit to add pic:

 

[Farmergreg]

I have googled it and only find service manuals and even the link you give is not my manual. Mine is a 1999. I'm going to guess there is some differences as mine doesn't have all the fancy electronics in the turn signal switch and all.

There's a salvage yard here in Indiana, I haven't bought from them but keep the link handy for future.
Maybe they would have a manual?
http://midwestjeeps.com/

 

[tworley]

Ive always stopped completely to engage 4lo, just what I learned growing up in an old GMC. Not sure what I am doing but my TJ will pop right into 4lo completely stopped, Ive never had an issue with it:nusenuse:

 

[billiebob]

my TJ will pop right into 4lo completely stopped,

The 2-3 mph thing is more for automatics than standards. But yes, when the gears mesh, stopped is fine. I find 4LO to 4HI works best rolling tho, even with a clutch.

 

[billiebob]

Thanks @billiebob for providing the exact information I was looking for today. I got the Jeep buried in snow today, it took me awhile to get 'er un-stuck, but I got it in 4HI. I couldn't get into 4LO, come to find out, I wasn't engaging it correctly.

Edit to add pic:
View attachment 73715

a day in heaven !!

 

[Boinked]

Ive always stopped completely to engage 4lo, just what I learned growing up in an old GMC. Not sure what I am doing but my TJ will pop right into 4lo completely stopped, Ive never had an issue with it:nusenuse:

X2..... mabey we are the luckiest people on the planet. Im always stoped before shifting into 4lo.

 

[Nathan Stanfield]

Last week I may or may not have been able to get mine into 4L. I shifted into it the way the instructions say to do, but it didn't seem like L and the light said "part time" like it does when I'm in 4H. Its weird, but too cold in the garage for me to want to mess with it right now.
I seriously doubt its going from 4H to N then back to 4H though.

 

[billiebob]

too cold in the garage for me to want to mess with it right now

You need a parking lot to get familiar with the 4WD shifting. The lever does not always engage/disengage instantly. 4HI to 2WD can require driving a block or two to disengage. I think there is a preload but the actual gear does not move until the bind releases. Same with all other selector positions, if the gears are not aligned to mesh, they won't engage.

As the manual states, shift moving 2-3 mph 4h/4l. 4l/4h. And shift on the fly for 2wd/4wd. Sure often it will shift parked, but it will always shift moving. The garage is not the spot to learn how your Jeep shifts.

My old Fords, 1970s, you could not move the lever until the bind released. The manual stated shifting from 4WD to 2WD, reverse 15' to relieve the bind. Old Fords has 4.10 front axle ratios and 4.11 rear axle ratios. Driving on pavement you knew you were in 4WD cuz the transfer case would howl. And yes, you had to reverse 15' before the lever would move.

 

[Nathan Stanfield]

You need a parking lot to get familiar with the 4WD shifting. The lever does not always engage/disengage instantly. 4HI to 2WD can require driving a block or two to disengage. I think there is a preload but the actual gear does not move until the bind releases. Same with all other selector positions, if the gears are not aligned to mesh, they won't engage.

As the manual states, shift moving 2-3 mph 4h/4l. 4l/4h. And shift on the fly for 2wd/4wd. Sure often it will shift parked, but it will always shift moving. The garage is not the spot to learn how your Jeep shifts.

My old Fords, 1970s, you could not move the lever until the bind released. The manual stated shifting from 4WD to 2WD, reverse 15' to relieve the bind. Old Fords has 4.10 front axle ratios and 4.11 rear axle ratios. Driving on pavement you knew you were in 4WD cuz the transfer case would howl. And yes, you had to reverse 15' before the lever would move.

I know how a Jeep shifts... ;-)
Its engaging into a gear, it just seems like I have 4H no matter what position the lever is in.
I wasnt in the garage when I noticed this, I was on a trail and wanted 4L. I shifted exactly the way you (and the manual) stated.

When I said I didnt want to be in the garage messing with it I was refering not wanting to get unger the Jeep in a cold garage to look at the linkage to see if it needs adjusting.

 

[lulzpwndyah]

@jjvw I knooow this is an old thread but i'm still confused... once I've shifted into 4lo in neautral do I go back into drive on a 42rle? It's my first 4x4 and I can't find anything concrete... i'm guessing the answer is yes but want to make sure before I commit an error.

 

[jjvw]

@jjvw I knooow this is an old thread but i'm still confused... once I've shifted into 4lo in neautral do I go back into drive on a 42rle? It's my first 4x4 and I can't find anything concrete... i'm guessing the answer is yes but want to make sure before I commit an error.

The 42rle is a notoriously lazy transmission. It won't go back into drive by itself.

 

[mrblaine]

The 42rle is a notoriously lazy transmission. It won't go back into drive by itself.

It isn't so much lazy as it is mindful. It only does what you tell it to.

 

[Shropshirewrangler]

PLEASE do not laugh at this post but what is the correct way to put my 2000 Sahara in 4WD hi or low? I mean, can you do it while you are moving slowly forward or do you need to fully stop and put the automatic transmission in neutral and then move the 4WD lever? The reason I ask is this Jeep is the oldest vehicle I have ever had and my other 4WD trucks I could change into 4WD while driving. Its getting cold here in Arkansas and it even snowed a bit this past weekend so if I need to use the 4WD in my Jeep I want to do it the right way. Thanks in advance.

I know that this is an old post but it seems that the OP has the same 3 speed auto transmission as I do.
Changing from 2hi to 4hi should mean that you just pull up the lever at any speed, then you have 4wd in high ratio, I have found that the Jeep remains in 2hi until there is a gear change (1-2 or 2-D or D-2 or 2-1). I found this the hard way off road when I locked the auto box into 1 then pulled the 4wd lever up, got bogged down and saw that the 4WD lever had returned to 2hi.
So Q1 - Do I have to pull the 4wh lever to 4hi and then force an auto box gear change to actually get into 4hi?
Q2 - Do I have to have 4hi properly engaged before shifting to N at 2-3mph and engaging 4lo?
Thanks