[AJ0]

Hello everyone, I finally got a chance to get into the woods. I posted about my new jeep a few days back and didnt want to post pictures of it all cleaned up so i figured I would wait till I got it dirty... I went with my friend that had a 98 Wranger and another friend with a 02 Xterra.

MY question is... I have an automatic trans, what is the best way to go from 2WD to 4WD... then from 4WDH to 4WDL? Then back down to 4WDH from 4WDL? Im still trying to figure out the best way, because my jeep didnt come with manual anyways on with the pics...

[JSBlu974X4]

ive heard a lot of people turn their jeep off before switching if its an automatic, i have a manual, maybe some auto owners can chime in and lend a hand

[jkulbeth]

It's pretty simple to get into 4-Hi and 4-Lo with an auto.

From 2WD to 4WD Hi... just pull it into 4WD Hi at any time at any speed. Do it on loose terrain... not on the road or on concrete... dirt, mud, gravel are fine. No need to kill the engine or come to stop or shift to netural. You can do it from a stop, but it might not go into gear. If it doesn't go in, put it back in 2WD, roll a little, then try again. The manual says you can do it at any legal speed.

From 4WD Hi to 2WD ... same as 2WD to 4WD Hi.


From 4WD Hi to 4WD Lo... the manual says it's best to be rolling at 2 to 3 MPH and pull it back firmly and with conviction, and don't hesitate in neutral between Hi and Lo. 2 to 3 MPH is a LOT slower than you think it is. You'll idle faster than that, so be careful. Personally, I'll grind the gears everytime, so I come to a stop. Sometimes it doesn't engage, so shift back to 4WD HI, roll a little, and try again from a stop. It's just a matter of getting the teeth in the transfer case to align. Again, no need to shift to the transmission to neutral... unless you like the rolling method.

Same deal from 4WD Lo to 4WD Hi.

That's it! Pretty simple, really.

[red99tj]

hehe that reminds me of two years ago and my first time going "offroad" w/my stepmoms xterra. Its what got me into 4 wheelin and jeeps

[JeepCrawler_98]

Originally Posted by jkulbeth

Again, no need to shift to the transmission to neutral... unless you like the rolling method.

I would think with an automatic you still need to put it in neutral since if you dont wont the output shaft still spin when stopped for the little bit when the t-case is in neutral from hi->lo? If this is the case, it has a bit of power behind it (enough to push a vehicle forward in hi gears at idle) so in the brief moment the t-case goes in neutral from 4hi to 4lo it could speed up and put quiet a bit of stress on the t-case teeth.

[jkulbeth]

Originally Posted by JeepCrawler_98

I would think with an automatic you still need to put it in neutral since if you dont wont the output shaft still spin when stopped for the little bit when the t-case is in neutral from hi->lo? If this is the case, it has a bit of power behind it (enough to push a vehicle forward in hi gears at idle) so in the brief moment the t-case goes in neutral from 4hi to 4lo it could speed up and put quiet a bit of stress on the t-case teeth.

I think it only matters when you're rolling going into 4LO, but not when you're sitting still. That being said, there's a good chance you're right. I'll have to grab my manual. I almost never get into 4LO so I could very well be wrong.

[brrempel]

Originally Posted by jkulbeth

It's pretty simple to get into 4-Hi and 4-Lo with an auto.

From 2WD to 4WD Hi... just pull it into 4WD Hi at any time at any speed.

Just for the record, Jeep says you need to be going 45 or less to go from 2WD to 4 high. As for 4H to 4L, my 98 TJ auto will not do it sitting still, I have to be going about 3 miles an hour and in neutral. After a little practice it's pretty easy. I do it now without even thinking about it.

[AJ0]

So what If i get stuck in 4WD HI an want to go into 4WD lo??

[JeepCrawler_98]

My manual says 55mph either way, you shouldnt be going that fast if you actually neeed 4x4. If youre stuck in hi and need lo, but it in neutral, and try pulling it into lo. My 5speed has no problems going into low at a standstill.

[1BadTJ]

Not trying to get technical here. The only "off-road" pic is the Exterra's Front Right tire!?

[AJ0]

Thats true, but I didnt want to take the camera with me b/c I didnt have anyone to hold it and didnt have anything to put it in so it wouldnt fly all over the jeep!

[brrempel]

Originally Posted by brrempel

Just for the record, Jeep says you need to be going 45 or less to go from 2WD to 4 high.

Ok, I was wrong. The 45 MPH thing is for my Ford Ranger. The manual for my 98 Sahara says I can shift to 4H "at any legal speed". I'm going to stick to 45MPH personaly. I just don't see shifting into or out of 4H at 75 MPH.

[n4phth4]

In an '04 auto roob I am able to shift from 4hi to 4lo while the Jeep is sitting still in neutral. Manual does say to be rolling no more than a few MPH but IIRC it doesn't say it is *necessary* to be rolling in order to shift. Having tranny in neutral appears to be the only real requirement.

[TJ4MUD]

nice pics! congrats on yr first time getting it dirty.

if ya ever have any questions, feel free to IM me. i'm always online willing to shoot the -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= about jeeps. looks like we have the same setup too. 6cyl auto.