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n00b 4wd Question

1K views 13 replies 9 participants last post by  Koch 
#1 ·
About a month ago I finally found my Jeep I've been looking for since 1996. 2016 JKU Rubicon, Manual Transmission. It was everything I was looking for and as a CPO with only 3600 miles on it and a price I couldn't turn down.

This evening I was out goofing off enjoying the wet stuff finally falling from the sky and went to shift it into 4lo and found it to be REALLY difficult to engage 4hi, but then it slid into Neutral very easy. From there it "got stuck" it wouldn't move easily to 4lo and wouldn't move easily back to 4hi... eventually it dropped into 4lo and everything seemed fine. Went to shift it back to 2wd it slid right out of 4lo through neutral past 4hi and straight back to 2wd.

So before I take it back to the dealership to be told "we can't reproduce the issue", what kinds of things can I take a look at and/or what things do I need to educate myself on so that I know it wasn't a n00b issue.

To add detail. The Jeep was stopped, Clutch was engaged, Transmission was in Neutral while I was shifting.
 
#2 ·
That's normal, nothing wrong. This is an standard 2 speed transfer case. The Rubicon transfer case 4lo has very aggressive gearing (can't remember the ratio). I shift in to 4 high while rolling a few mph, just put a little pressure on the lever, let off the gas, add a little more pressure and slide it in.
4lo- I'll be in neutral (I have an auto) at about a walking speed or less, same as above, slight pressure, and you'll feel it drop in.
Do not force it, you just need a little movement for engagement, preferably while drivetrain is not under load. I practeced in the grass, so I had timing better, for when I actually needed to switch between.
 
#4 ·
You'll see some here replace the plastic clip at the lever that goes to the cable, with an aftermarket metal option. Just my opinion; but I think that plastic clip is there to intentionally break, since you can force in to gear and cause further t-case internal damage. Regardless of that; keep in mind the clip will break if forced, but if operated correctly, little to no force needed.
 
#5 ·
as stated, just roll a bit and apply slight pressure to the shifter and it should just pop in. if im stopped and it wont go to 4lo, i let off the brakes and apply pressure. if that doesnt work, a quick touch of the brakes to shuffle the driveline usually gets it.
 
#7 ·
And by slow that means like 3 mph, a walking speed ... not 45 mph.
 
#9 ·
The previous owner probably never engaged 4WD.

The first several times I used 4H on my 2016 (6spd), it was stiff and sticky shifting, and did not like to go into 4H when stopped. Now I have no problem sliding into 4H at any speed.

4L is a different beast. The first times I tried 4L, it was extremely difficult to get it to engage, and the transfer case would frequently get "stuck" in N (until I finally got the gear teeth to line up). I tried it moving slowly like the owner's manual suggests; I tried it stopped; I tried it clutch in/out; in/out of gear. All manner of configurations, and it was definitely a bear to shift. First few times, I was worried I might break the transfer cable clip because of how much resistance there was.

Now that I've used it several times, I slow down to creeping, take it out of gear, leave the clutch out, and it will usually slide right down from 4H to 4L and engage without issue, giving me the little ding and "ESC off" on the dash. And, like you, when I reverse the process to get out of 4L (using "firm pressure" per the owner's manual), it frequently just slides all the way up to 2H - do not pass go; do not collect $200.

A break-in period was definitely required for my transfer case.
 
#12 ·
4L is a different beast. The first times I tried 4L, it was extremely difficult to get it to engage, and the transfer case would frequently get "stuck" in N (until I finally got the gear teeth to line up). I tried it moving slowly like the owner's manual suggests; I tried it stopped; I tried it clutch in/out; in/out of gear. All manner of configurations, and it was definitely a bear to shift. First few times, I was worried I might break the transfer cable clip because of how much resistance there was.

Now that I've used it several times, I slow down to creeping, take it out of gear, leave the clutch out, and it will usually slide right down from 4H to 4L and engage without issue, giving me the little ding and "ESC off" on the dash. And, like you, when I reverse the process to get out of 4L (using "firm pressure" per the owner's manual), it frequently just slides all the way up to 2H - do not pass go; do not collect $200.

A break-in period was definitely required for my transfer case.
I've been wondering...what happens after the transfer case gets stuck in N? How do you get the gear teeth to line up if the Jeep won't move? I've only shifted into 4L a few times so far (yes it is a bear still), and always worry about getting stuck in N, both trying to go into 4L and out of 4L. Need to find some dirt around here to go practice some more.
 
#10 ·
Koch, Your describing exactly the behavior I was seeing last night.. I was able to engage and disengage 4hi a couple of times on some wet streets this AM for no other reason than I wanted to be sure it was working. I'll need to work with 4lo a couple of times. I want to be sure that:

A. Everything is working the way it should
and
B. That I know how its supposed to work and feel before I put my self in a place where i need it.

Thanks of the input everyone it was really helpful
 
#11 ·
Koch, Your describing exactly the behavior I was seeing last night.. I was able to engage and disengage 4hi a couple of times on some wet streets this AM for no other reason than I wanted to be sure it was working. I'll need to work with 4lo a couple of times. I want to be sure that:

A. Everything is working the way it should
and
B. That I know how its supposed to work and feel before I put my self in a place where i need it.

Thanks of the input everyone it was really helpful
 
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