What years have "part-time" 4 wheel drive?

coppa · 04-02-2005, 12:14 AM

I am new to Jeeps and just purchased a 98' 4.0 Sport auto and my buddy has a 02' 4.0 5-speed. He was asking me the other day about "part-time" 4 wheel drive. I explained I only have 4 high and low on my Jeep'. Can anyone explain this to me?

thanks,

Jeff

bfr · 04-02-2005, 12:27 AM

All TJ's leave the factory with part time 4wd. (selectable tansfercase ranges of 2hi, 4hi, N, 4L) the transfer case in TJ's is designed to force the front and rear driveshaftes to spin at the same RPM while in 4wd. this is great in low traction environments, but not so great on the road. Some cherokee's, grands, & libbys have trransfer cases that allow the Front and rear driveshafts to spin at different speeds. this is great on road, in rain, light snow, etc but is less desirable offroad. All TJ's except the rubicons have the same transfer case(New Process 231) with variation for input shaft based on transmission.

coppa · 04-02-2005, 12:30 AM

Can you explain how to put it in part-time 4 wheel and is there any indicator light that says this? I still only see 4 high, N, and 4 low on my setup on the floor.

thanks,

Jeff

coppa · 04-02-2005, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarefootRubi

All TJ's leave the factory with part time 4wd. (selectable tansfercase ranges of 2hi, 4hi, N, 4L) the transfer case in TJ's is designed to force the front and rear driveshaftes to spin at the same RPM while in 4wd. this is great in low traction environments, but not so great on the road. Some cherokee's, grands, & libbys have trransfer cases that allow the Front and rear driveshafts to spin at different speeds. this is great on road, in rain, light snow, etc but is less desirable offroad. All TJ's except the rubicons have the same transfer case(New Process 231) with variation for input shaft based on transmission.

So, when I have it in 2 wheel high that is part-time 4 wheel drive? When do you put it in N?

Sorry, just new to all this Jeep stuff.

Jeff

chrisbr · 04-02-2005, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coppa

So, when I have it in 2 wheel high that is part-time 4 wheel drive? When do you put it in N?

Sorry, just new to all this Jeep stuff.

Jeff

I put mine in neutral tonight to put my new driveshaft in.

**Jerry Bransford** · 04-02-2005, 01:37 AM

All Wranglers have part-time transfer cases, none ever came with a full-time system. Only a few rare Jeep CJs had a full-time transfer case which was called Quadratrac. Other than the old CJ, you have to go to the Jeep Liberty, Cherokee, or Grand Cherokee to get full-time 4wd.

ProfessorCRX · 04-02-2005, 02:06 AM

All jeeps have part time 4wd. When you put it in 4hi or 4lo, you're using part time 4wd. I think you're confused with full time 4wd like on the cherokees. That's the kind you use ALL the time, on the street and everything. Part time is what you have. You only engage it part of the time (when you need it off road.)

coppa · 04-02-2005, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfessorCRX

All jeeps have part time 4wd. When you put it in 4hi or 4lo, you're using part time 4wd. I think you're confused with full time 4wd like on the cherokees. That's the kind you use ALL the time, on the street and everything. Part time is what you have. You only engage it part of the time (when you need it off road.)

See,

When I don't have it in 4 high or low, I just say it is rear wheel drive. I guess in reality it is part-time 4 wheel drive. I guess that is where I am confused. LOL

1BadTJ · 04-02-2005, 08:23 AM

i think you confused me, now. if you are in 2 wheel drive its just 2 wheel drive, if you put it in 4 wheel hi or low its just 4 wheel drive. the "part time " refers to the fact that you can select 2 or 4 wheel drive.

b3x · 04-02-2005, 08:40 AM

**crgrissom** · 04-02-2005, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1BadTJ

i think you confused me, now. if you are in 2 wheel drive its just 2 wheel drive, if you put it in 4 wheel hi or low its just 4 wheel drive. the "part time " refers to the fact that you can select 2 or 4 wheel drive.

Actually the "part time" refers to the fact you only use the 4 wheel drive settings (4H and 4L) on a "part time basis", when you are offroad or on a slippery surface. You can only use 4wd "part time" because the front and rear driveshafts are locked together in 4wd, as opposed to having some sort of differential between the F&R driveshafts like in full-time 4wd systems, which allow you to use 4wd on any surface. Having the F&R driveshafts locked together offroad is much better than having a differential in the TCase, just as lockers in the axles are better than open differentials. Of course selectable lockers in the axles are like "part time" lockers in the same sense--that they are not locked except when manually engaged.

Chuck

1BadTJ · 04-02-2005, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crgrissom

Actually the "part time" refers to the fact you only use the 4 wheel drive settings (4H and 4L) on a "part time basis", when you are offroad or on a slippery surface. You can only use 4wd "part time" because the front and rear driveshafts are locked together in 4wd, as opposed to having some sort of differential between the F&R driveshafts like in full-time 4wd systems, which allow you to use 4wd on any surface. Having the F&R driveshafts locked together offroad is much better than having a differential in the TCase, just as lockers in the axles are better than open differentials. Of course selectable lockers in the axles are like "part time" lockers in the same sense--that they are not locked except when manually engaged.

Chuck

so it refers to the option of being able to select if you want to be in 2 wd or 4wd.

coppa · 04-02-2005, 10:35 AM

So, let me get this straight...when I am in 2 wheel drive on the floor, that is part-time 4 wheel drive? lol

1BadTJ · 04-02-2005, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coppa

So, let me get this straight...when I am in 2 wheel drive on the floor, that is part-time 4 wheel drive? lol

yes.... lol

**crgrissom** · 04-02-2005, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coppa

So, let me get this straight...when I am in 2 wheel drive on the floor, that is part-time 4 wheel drive? lol

Holy Crap, Batman! Are you jerking our chain here?

When you are in 2H you are in 2 wheel drive. Period. When you are in 4H or 4L you are in 100% 4 wheel drive. Period. You can only use the 4wd "part time" as conditions allow, not whenever you want. That is what is meant by "part time 4wd." "Part time" refers to when you can use, not how it works.

Chuck

04-02-2005, 12:30 AM	#3
coppa Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 57 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Can you explain how to put it in part-time 4 wheel and is there any indicator light that says this? I still only see 4 high, N, and 4 low on my setup on the floor. thanks, Jeff

04-02-2005, 02:06 AM	#7
ProfessorCRX Web Wheeler Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New York Posts: 1,295 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	All jeeps have part time 4wd. When you put it in 4hi or 4lo, you're using part time 4wd. I think you're confused with full time 4wd like on the cherokees. That's the kind you use ALL the time, on the street and everything. Part time is what you have. You only engage it part of the time (when you need it off road.)

04-02-2005, 10:35 AM	#13
coppa Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 57 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	So, let me get this straight...when I am in 2 wheel drive on the floor, that is part-time 4 wheel drive? lol